Throughout the entire book, it seems almost impossible for people to say exactly what they mean. That's why you find yourself reading ten pages and going "huh?" before a character can come around to saying something concrete.
The inability or unwillingness for people to convey things clearly to one another makes for a lot of confusion, and no confusion is more crucial than Strether's confusion over whether or not Chad's relationship with Madame de Vionnet is sexual. It's the lack of communication on this point, in fact, that basically sustains the drama of this whole book.
If people had just been more direct, they could have saved you 400 pages of reading.
Questions About Language and Communication
- What are some of the things that little Bilham tells Strether about Chad and Madame de Vionnet that Strether misinterprets? What specific words lead to this misinterpretation?
- Do you think that deep down, Strether knows about Chad and Madame? In other words, might he intentionally misinterprets what people say in order to preserve the fantasy of Chad's innocence?
- What are some moments when Strether himself manipulates language to his advantage? Does he tend to communicate things directly in his letters back to Mrs. Newsome, or does he strategically leave out certain thoughts and details? How so?
- Would most of the problems in The Ambassadors be solved if people were just more direct with one another? Wouldn't that just make life easier, anyway?
Chew on This
The world of Henry James' The Ambassadors is a battlefield where the people who are best at manipulating language have the greatest advantage.
In The Ambassadors, Strether knows exactly what people are saying to him half the time, but plays dumb so that he can keep doing what he wants.