The Princess Casamassima (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Henry James
- First Published: 1885
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Social realism
- Time of Work: Late nineteenth century
- Setting: London, England
- Genres: Long fiction, Social realism
- Subjects: Class conflict, Revolutionaries, France or French people, Suicide, Nineteenth century, England or English people, Illegitimacy, London, Nobility, Princes or princesses
- Locales: London, England
Characters Discussed
Hyacinth Robinson, a self-educated bookbinder in late Victorian London, England. Growing up in poverty, Hyacinth felt the callousness and violence of capitalistic society. He is easily converted to Socialism by his mentors, Anastasius Vetch and Paul Muniment. When he learns that his mother was abandoned by his aristocratic father, he swears to die for the cause of revolution, but when he meets Princess Casamassima, she introduces him to a finer, nobler world. A changed man, he becomes incapable of assassination. When the call comes, he kills himself rather...
[The entire page is 876 words long]
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