“THE REAL THING” Henry James

Essayist, critic, and author during the realist movement Social commentary on politics, class, and status Wrote about themes of personal freedom, feminism, and morality Widely respected in North American and Europe Moved to Britain and became a British citizen in 1915 Loved writing about Americans encountering Europe and Europeans Nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1911, 1912, and 1916.

Awkward Conversations The narrator fancies himself a painter of portraits, though his main work is in illustrations that sketch contemporary life. The couple that enters seems “visibly shy” and unsure of how to phrase their request (366). They are not overly beautiful, but well put together and have an air of “prosperous thrift” about them (366). The narrator assumes they have come to have a portrait painted. However, Mr. Rivet, who does landscapes, told the couple of the narrator’s illustration business, a business where the models don’t pay to pose. The couple hopes the narrator can “make something of [them]” as they are uncomfortable with themselves (367).

Mrs. and Mrs. Monarch He has just left the army and they’ve “had the misfortune to lose [their] money” (368). Though modeling for illustrations doesn’t pay much, they’ll take what they can get. They are older than the wife likes to pretend. The husband is the better-looking of the two; she “was singularly a bad illustration” (368). The narrator is not entirely certain the circumstances that have led the couple to him. However, he “feared [his] visitors were not only destitute but ‘artistic’---which would be a great complication” (369). What does he mean by this? They claim that they have been photographed before, though they have none left to show the narrator. They also claim they used to be on display in the shops.

Acting like big shots It didn’t take much to figure the Monarchs out. They were simple people who were used to acting as if they had far more than they did. However, as money disappeared their friends weren’t willing to support them. Though they had interesting stories, the narrator “didn’t easily believe in them” (370). The narrator was also working on what could turn out to be several big books; the Monarchs had hear about that and were attempting to convince him to include them. He’s not big on that idea as he’s hoping to find 2 or 3 models who could do anything he wanted.

The real thing The Monarchs are not thrilled about using the same clothing that others have used…they seem to feel they are too good for it. They want to use their own things. They also ask about “the real thing; a gentleman, you know, or a lady” (371). They are shocked by Miss Churm, who comes in and changes into a gown to pose as a Russian princess. The Monarchs don’t really understand just what it is the narrator is looking for. They leave feeling as if they are better than what they have seen. What is the point of that section? What does this show about the Monarchs and the time period?

Rivalry The narrator takes a chance on Mrs. Monarch. Her husband comes with her because he has nowhere else to be. He feels awkward as the narrator doesn’t talk much while working and they don’t run in the same circles. Though Mrs. Monarch is working for the narrator, she “never thought [him] quite good enough for an equal” (374). What does this show about her? “She was the real thing, but always the same thing” (374). She seemed unable to offer any variety. She also got insulted when the narrator said something about it. Miss Churm does not like the Monarchs and sees them as a type of competition. She feels the narrator is pitting them against each other.

Taking Control Mrs. Monarch comes without her husband one day. While there, an Italian named Oronte arrives. The narrator finds him strangely interesting. The man follows directions well and is taken on as a model/servant. Mrs. Monarch sees Oronte as a threat. The Monarchs get used for some of the narrator’s illustrations for “Rutland Ramsay”; this pleases them. The narrator does realize that he is almost being bullied by the Monarchs. The narrator’s friend Jack Hawley arrives home after being gone for nearly a year. The narrator decides to ask him opinion of his work with the Monarchs.

Danger Jack Hawley is not impressed and says the Monarchs “won’t do” and says the narrator’s current work is awful (379). Jack Hawley was a “voice of warning” saying the narrator “must get back into [his] boat again or [he] should go to the bottom” (380). At first, the narrator doesn’t listen to the warning. Over time though, he gets irritated with the Monarchs. The narrator is warned by the publishers of “Rutland Ramsey” that the many drawings of the Monarchs are not what they are looking for. If the narrator can’t give them what they want, he won’t get the other books. So, he turns to Miss Churm and Oronte.

A Surprising Ending After not showing up for a few days, the Monarchs come back in one last ditch effort. They seem unable to find work anywhere else. They start cleaning the narrator’s studio. “The had accepted their failure, but they couldn’t accept their fate” (382). They don’t want to starve so they are just asking for help. The narrator, after several days, gives them a sum of money and they leave and never come back. The narrator gets the remaining books but never forgets the Monarchs. It is a memory he treasures. What is the author’s goal with the way the story was ended? What is the theme?