Valentin De Bellegarde In Henry James's The American

Valentin de Bellegarde, in Henry James’s The American, said, “unhappiness is according as one takes things… To be unhappy is to be disagreeable” (152). In, The American, published 1877, James explores the role of happiness in a French aristocratic society. The pursuit of happiness is seen as a more idealistic American value, whereas in the case of Valentin de Bellegarde, upholding one’s family name and status takes priority in European society. In the aristocracy, these duties of a family are formed by laws which dictate one’s lifestyle. Although Valentin desires to honor his family, he struggles with the pursuit for happiness due to the limits to which each he could pursue his own desires caused by values of the French aristocrat family to

When he is introduced in the novel, Valentin is presented as “in his younger years, he had been suspected of low tastes, and his mother had greatly feared he would make a slip in the mud of the highway and be spatter the family shield…. He had been tied with so short a rope in his youth that he now had a mortal grudge against family discipline” (139). Especially due to his mother’s skepticism if he is actually an honorable man and the restrictions she puts in place, Valentin struggles with his own identity in the French society. In the aristocracy, families are born into nobility and are therefore limited to what they can pursue as a career or whom with they can or cannot interact. Valentin admits to Christopher Newman, an American, that “it is the air [Newman has] of

Despite efforts to prove loyalty to his family, he is killed in a duel to defend his name yet his parents remain ashamed of him. Due to this, Valentin relinquishes evidence to Newman that, if used, would destroy the Bellegardes name. He admits to Newman that “ ‘ it was foul play. My father – something happened to him. I don’t know; I have been ashamed – afraid to know. But I know there is something…. It will – it will –’ here Valentin’s voice sank to the feeblest murmur – ‘it will avenge you!’ ”(342). Here, although Valentin appears to be hesitant, he makes his final decision for himself to betray his family. For years, Valentin has been trapped by the aristocracy, and before death, proves that while he will act like a true European noble, will always desire to be free of the limits that restrict his desire for individual happiness. Despite his betrayal of his family, Valentin died “tranquilly” (343), demonstrating content with his final decision. In this instance, Valentin is apologetic for his family’s actions, recognizing their faults that have created complications for not only Newman, but also for himself. Ultimately, he realized that his efforts could never change the critical views of his family, and accepts his fate of death. Although Valentin demonstrated his loyalty to his family, his mother still believes he