Integration of European and American culture in Henry James’s Works

【Abstract】： Henry James was exposed to the cultural influence of Europe at a very early age. James used his pen as a tool to investigate the best wat of treating these two cultures. He realized that the new culture was no longer a threat. The best of building American culture was learning from others and protect its own characteristics.

【keyword】：Henry James integration conflict culture literature

James realized the difference between the American culture and the European culture but he did not judge the advantage and disadvantage of them respectively. He tselected the most valuable parts of two cultures. And he tried to build an ideal model by integrating these elements. We can absorb the experience and lessons from other culture to enhance our own culture. His thought of the integration also showed in his works.

In the process of building American culture， Americans cannot leave their American specificity aside. In Roderick Hudson， the miserable experience of the death of an American artist reveal a dilemma in which Americans give up wholly the American spirit and accepted European culture without judging leading a marginal identity crisis. In the novel， as soon as Hudson arrived in Rome， he was desperate to abandon his American identity and received European culture. Soon he fell in love with Christina Light and canceled the engagement with fiancée. These two represented distinguished symbols. Christina Light represented the advanced culture of Europe and the degeneration behind it. His fiancée represented the American puritanism like the strong sense of morality and firm faith. It was totally wrong for Hudson to abandon his American identity to cater for the Europe. Finally he was lost in European culture.

Resistance of European culture was not an intelligent way to build American culture. Another novel is The American. Christopher Newman was a traditional American businessman. Newman was looking for a world different from the simple， harsh realities of 19th-century American business. But he insisted on his American identity and was reluctant to accept the new culture of Europe. He regarded America as a greatest country and followed American value system and national characteristics. The tragic ending of Newman reminded that the resistance of European culture was not an intelligent way to build American culture.

Learning from the Europe and remaining personal characteristics was a wise choice. In The portrait of a Lady， Isabel Archer was an ideal representative of American in James’s mind. Different from Newman， Isabel was eager for learning new culture. She liked visiting museums and art galleries and absorbed the positive aspects of the European culture. As an American， Isabel was energetic， passionate and brave. But at the same time， she accepted the new culture to some extent.

參考文獻：

美國文學簡史 常耀信 南開大學出版社

美國文學史及選讀學習指南 吳偉仁 北京大學出版社

英美文學選讀 主編張伯香 2000年版 外語教學與研究出版社