The Ambassadors Lesson Plan

Unlike the books of his contemporaries Charles Dickins and Mark Twain, Henry James’s The Ambassadors doesn't seem to have a clear antagonist. Do you agree with this idea? Why do you think this is?

Some students may see fit to mention James's preference for portraying the world psychologically—that is, through the fallible perceptions of ordinary people whose goals are, at worst, morally gray. For example: although for Strether Mme. de Vionnet is initially, if prejudicially, seen as something like an antagonist, he quickly changes his mind after meeting her, and Mme. de Vionnet turns out to be "wonderful." Equally, Sarah Pocock is not a bad person, either: it's just that...