The Portrait of a Lady is a thought-provoking work by Henry James that offers valuable commentary on the tension between the desires of an individual and the pressures of society, social norms, and social roles. The main conflict in the book occurs between the main character, Isabel Archer, and the institution of marriage. Isabel is established early on as a strong, complex character who doesn’t need to rely on others—she enjoys being in charge of herself and having an independent life. However, she regrets her decision to marry Gilbert Osmond, because his lifestyle is directly at odds with hers. He expects her to be submissive to him and only values her for her money and status. This puts her in a difficult position: will she stay in a marriage simply because society dictates that it is the right thing to do, or will she be true to herself and leave a life she is unhappy with?

The outcome of this dilemma was surprising to many, as Isabel eventually decides to stay with her husband, showing the power that social conventions can have over members of a society. In short, the value of this novel is mostly philosophical. It has sparked many debates over an already important issue, because its readers naturally question Isabel’s decision to follow social norms. In the readers’ minds, it raises the question of whether they should do the same when they encounter similar conflicts in their own lives.