From the Lists: #27 The Ambassadors

Bon vivant - aka gay expat

After reading Henry James' The Golden Bowl, I was not eager to spend the next several weeks delving into the "vulgar and perverse" lives of the early 20th century English aristocracy; long tracts of thoughts, page after page of internal turmoils, everyone wondering what someone else is thinking, but too polite to ask. Even our omniscient narrator seemed confused by his character's motives.

Perhaps my long hours of reading and re-reading paragraphs chocked full of subordinate clauses, so full in fact that I would often forget which character initiated the dialog at the beginning of the paragraph. Regardless, I was better prepared for #27, The Ambassadors (1903), that, or this book was actually a lot better than The Golden Bowl.

The book opens with our rather nervous hero, Strether arriving in England on a mission to rescue Chad, the wayward son of his wealthy, New England fiancee, from the clutches of a wicked European woman of questionable morals. While Strether makes a small effort to remain true to his straitlaced Puritan heritage, he is determined to complete his task of saving Chad and returning him to Massachusettes to take over the family business. From the start, there is some urgency in completing this task as well as an indication that Strether's future (and fortune) depends on the success of his mission. 

As with all good stories there are obstacles along the way that make Strether reconsider his mission - among them are the pleasures of the Parisian Spring, the city's life, food, music, theater, as well as the delightfully cultured denizens of its art world with whom Chad is ensconced. Streather immerses himself in Chad's world and in so doing. Strether begins enjoying himself, develops a bit of a crush on Chad's "girlfriend," and begins maneuvering to extend his stay in Paris by discouraging Chad from returning to the bosom of his family.

Strether, seduced by Paris and its inhabitants, and possibly a tad bit in love, comes to the realization that his practical life has not been a life of happiness. He explains to a young acquaintance:

It's too late. And it's as if the train had fairly waited at the station for me without my having had the gumption to know it was there. Now I hear its faint receding whistle miles and miles down the line. What one loses one loses; make no mistake about that.... Still, one has the illusion of freedom; therefore don't be, like me, without the memory of that illusion. I was either, at the right time, too stupid or too intelligent to have it; I don't quite know which. Of course at present I'm a case of reaction against the mistake; and the voice of reaction should, no doubt, always be taken with an allowance. But that doesn't affect the point that the right time is now yours. The right time is any time that one is still so lucky as to have. You've plenty; that's the great thing; you're, as I say, damn you, so happily and hatefully young. Don't at any rate miss things out of stupidity.... Do what you like so long as you don't make my mistake. For it was a mistake. Live! 

Of course the remainder of the narrative rests on whether Strether will take his own advice and pursue his own happiness or return to New England. Will he do as his fiancee wishes or will he return home, empty handed, knowing he made the right decision? The book's ends before there is a resolution, so scholarly debate continues as to Strether's choice. 

Middle Age Reminiscence

As I live through my middle years, I sometimes think about missed opportunities for happiness and the choices I sometimes made with my head instead of my heart. Like Strether, I may have come late to the banquet, but I am determined to enjoy all that life offers. I just have to make sure I get to the train station on time. Live!