Henry James The Beast In The Jungle

Henry James was born an American boy in New York City. His family had received their fortune through inheritance, and like many wealthy Americans, he would go on and explore the European cities and countryside, and he would eventually settle there. Most importantly he was a writer who encaptured his writers with stories of European life with an American style. One of his most famous novels The American tells a story of new money type, Christopher Newman, who takes a break from America to travel the Parisian streets. His short stories, “The Beast in the Jungle”, delve into the complexities of relationships in European society through James’ perspective. James explores the interactions and relationships of not only Americans and Europeans, but

James portrays them as the standard wealthy family, but the treachery that lies within the family seems to be representative of the corruption that wealth accompanies. James uses the relationship between the mother and Claire to symbolize the ranks of power within wealthy families, but he also uses it to demonstrate a power that acts like chains similar to a prisoner with Claire’s undying obedience towards her mother. Valentin explains, “‘To do anything else, for the next ten years, that was asked of her---anything, that is, but marry” (153), and James uses the premise of this promise to imprison the freedom of Claire. The forced marriages and the covenants that Claire is forced to apply into her life reflect on the old virtues of European life. It also represents the standards of woman at the time because one path leads to a life chained to a man, and the other chained to religion. The Bellegardes have a highly volatile environment, but James uses it to contrast the gilded lifestyle that Americans perceived of

Duels were reserved for regaining a sense of satisfaction in European history, and they were becoming less popular in the nineteenth century. James uses Valentin of the Bellegardes to duel with another nobleman over Noemie’s hand in marriage which can be compared to Newman’s endeavors to marry Claire. Duelling had become obsolete after the Civil War for Americans, so James seems to be putting an emphasis on a correlation between honor and love with Europeans while the American’s lack the honor and passion in love. Newman’s frustrations can even be observed when Valentin tells him that the point is honor, “‘Oh, damn your point!’ said Newman. That is the trouble with all you Frenchman; you must be always making points” (301), and his anger reflects on the cultural difference of honor between Europe and America. One believes it is worth fighting for always while the other believes it should be fought for