Culture Clash - American Expatriates in Europe in: Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Marble Faun and Henry James's The Portrait of a Lady

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The Relationship between the Continents
  • The Evolving of the Stereotypes
  • The Europe Reception in the Nineteenth Century
• The Literary Methods of James and Hawthorne
  • Romanticism and Realism
  • The Different Approaches to the Topic
• Transferring the Topic into a Story
  • Character Constellation
  • Setting up the Conflict
  • Characterization of the Heroines
  • Inferiority and Superiority
  • The Developments of the Characters
  • Developing into Opposite Directions
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper aims to analyze the differences in how Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry James portray the experiences of American expatriates in Europe, specifically focusing on the female characters Hilda and Isabel. The paper explores the stereotypes associated with America and Europe during the nineteenth century, the distinct literary methods employed by both authors, and how they depict the cultural conflict between the two continents.

• Stereotypes of America and Europe in the 19th century
• The impact of European culture on American identity
• The literary methods of James and Hawthorne
• The representation of cultural conflict in both novels
• The development of the female protagonists

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter introduces the context of American expatriate experiences in Europe during the 19th century, highlighting the growing popularity of travel literature and the evolving stereotypes surrounding America and Europe. It discusses the fascination with European culture and the simultaneous feelings of inferiority and admiration among Americans.

The second chapter explores the evolution of stereotypes about America and Europe, emphasizing the historical connection between the two continents. It examines the impact of European ancestry on American identity and the lingering influence of European culture on American society.

The third chapter delves into the literary methods of James and Hawthorne, contrasting their approaches to the theme of American expatriation in Europe. It explores the influence of Romanticism and Realism on their writing styles and how they each represent the cultural clash between America and Europe.

The fourth chapter examines how James and Hawthorne utilize character constellations, conflict, and characterization to depict the cultural conflict between the American protagonists and their European surroundings. It highlights the recurrent themes of inferiority and superiority that emerge from the interactions between American and European characters.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The core themes and concepts of this paper include: American expatriates, European culture, nineteenth century stereotypes, literary methods, cultural conflict, female protagonists, inferiority, superiority, Hawthorne, James, *The Marble Faun*, *The Portrait of a Lady*.