Femininity In The Ambassadors

The women of The Ambassadors’ expressions of femininity become representative of religions all unto themselves. As all religions, the women alternate between quietly and loudly shaping the lives of men. Some instances are as direct and clear as Mrs. Newsome’s demands; others are less clear, such as Madame de Vionnet’s carefully laid plan. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that the novel presents overt acts of female influence as distinctly American; whereas, more carefully nuanced influence becomes synonymous with European sensibilities. The distinction between American and European expressions of femininity becomes James’ way of comparing American Protestant values against those of European Catholicism. Moreover, moments of comparison

America becomes an emblem of Protestant values by the way of Waymarsh’s metaphorical and fictive European monster. Europe is then given entrapping qualities—“quivering, groping tentacles.” The singularity used when describing Europe as an “enemy” and “monster” provokes an interesting notion that an entire perspective of thought, such as Waymarsh’s views of Catholic Europe projected upon Miss Gostrey, can be represented by a woman—they can become iconographic. More importantly, the discussion of her iconographic influence occurs not only in her absence, but also in the distance of in-scene description. The distance makes Miss Gostrey’s influence into an omnipresent and religious experience. However, it does not end with Miss Gostrey. James’ delivers “the multiplication of shibboleths” with Madame de

However, Madame de Vionnet’s absence and James’ distant third person narration allows the aforementioned pair’s iconographic influence to extend beyond Strether’s interiority. Suddenly even the simple porter’s lodge appears grander with its riverside location and “great arch.” Madame de Vionnet’s slight association religiously transforms the simple porter’s lodge into a description fit for Notre Dame and the Seine. Strether’s rich romanticization of Madame de Vionnet is transforming the way he perceives Europe and, by extension, the American Protestant fiancé, Mrs. Newsome. Madame de Vionnet’s influence forces Strether to question his protestant “consistency.” Strether begins to believe his mission to retrieve Chad promises “nothing…for [him].” The realization that there might be nothing to gain is directly connected to Strether’s newfound conflation of figurative and religious iconography—a practice that continues to arise as Strether continues to become better acquainted with Madame de Vionnet. Strether’s shift in seriously analyzing European Catholicism by the way of his fascination with Madame de Vionnet transforms Madame de Vionnet into something far more powerful than religious iconography, but, instead, transforms her into religious figure with her own accompanying iconographic features. Madame de Vionnet becomes a religious figure that converts Strether