As far as Sarah Pocock and Mrs. Newsome are concerned, the only responsibility Chad should have in his entire life is to sit at home with his blah family and run their blah business of an unnameable blah object.
This is why they're offended beyond belief when Chad takes off to live in Paris. For them, it's unthinkable that Chad would choose Paris because it's way more interesting and fulfilling than anything the Newsomes can offer.
So instead, they need to make up an elaborate fantasy about Chad falling under some evil woman's spell. The Ambassadors asks us some tough questions about family, including the question of whether getting away from you family might sometimes be for the best.
Questions About Family
- Do you think Chad should be loyal to his family no matter what? Is going home to run the family business the right thing to do? Why or why not?
- How is your view of Strether influenced by the fact that he has a dead wife and dead son? Does this help explain his sense that he hasn't lived life fully? Why or why not?
- Why does it feel like a trap to be connected to Mrs. Newsome and Sarah Pocock? Why does Strether, for example, pity Sarah's husband Jim?
Chew on This
For Henry James, family is the most important thing in the world. Whether you agree with your family or not, you must always take their side in a conflict.
In the world of this book, "family" refers to the people who are closest to you, not necessarily people who share your DNA.