The Spoils of Poynton

by Henry James

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Analysis

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Henry James's novel The Spoils of Poynton is a tale of deception and combat between a mother and her son over the inheritance and valuables the family owns. Adeleh Gereth despises her son's fiancee, who she believes is tacky, poorly bred, and rude. She enlists the help of another woman to convince him to either end the engagement or forego the inheritance—with a secret motive of potentially having her son fall in love with this second woman, Fleda Vetch, to ensure the engagement gets broken.

The novel is written in industrial England's countryside, and the author uses bleak imagery and wordplay to make it seem overcast and oppressive. The air of mystery and deception is pervasive throughout. In several instances, chapters are left on obvious cliffhangers to increase the drama and tension of the novel, making the novel almost feel like a spy thriller. For instance, moments after Owen professes to Vetch that his engagement to Mona has been derailed, an attendant enters the room announcing the arrival of Mrs. Brigstock, Mona's mother, and the chapter abruptly ends.

The story is written to seem more like a wartime novel—about a chess match between generals—than a romance. Mrs. Gereth and her son act as opposing leaders who are manipulating the events around them, making it clear that the mother is not the only saboteur and agent of espionage in the family.

At the end of the novel, it is revealed in a rush that Owen's coup has worked; he succeeds in sending his mother and Fleda into a flurry of action to fix what they've done. He has essentially drawn them (or more accurately, his inheritance) out of hiding so that he can swoop in and take control. The scene where Fleda and Adeleh are riding on the train, enveloped in stress and fear, assumes the tone of a military commander returning to their camp who, having learned that the enemy has sneaked in at night, hopes against hope that they can get there in time to prevent its destruction.

All in all, the book is a unique and an interesting read because it takes a alternate view of the typical romantic family drama of the time. By constructing it more like a battle of wits, it twists the readers' perceptions and makes it engaging and thrilling.

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