The+Portrait+of+a+Lady

Lucy Guo - Director's Project Analysis #4 "MAP THIS." //Plot (what the character wants)//: Isabel wants to be self-independent and explore the world. //Theme (what the character needs)//: Isabel needs a husband that will still let her preserve her self-independence, while she’s married at the same time.

//Explain how this theme fits into the body of themes for your director's work.// This theme fits into the body of of themes from my director because Jane Campion explores themes about the roles of women in society, and how it puts a limit on what they truly want to do.


 * 1) The first scene of the film is of Isabel’s neighbor, Warburton, confessing his love to her, and then proposing to her. She says nothing and angrily storms into the house, Her aunt chides her for not accepting the gracious offer. Ralph approves, saying she’s not to be ‘held down’.
 * 2) She also rejects Caspar’s marriage proposal, because she feels like marrying Caspar ruins her self-independence, even though she’s attracted to him.
 * 3) Isabel’s uncle’s death upsets the whole balance.
 * 4) In his will, the deceased uncle left a part of his fortune to Isabel, so she plans to start traveling the world.
 * 5) While traveling, Isabel meets Merle, and they instantly become friends, and Merle suggests different places for Isabel to travel (especially Florence, where Merle is from) and she meets Osmond at Florence.
 * 6) When Isabel’s about to leave to explore more of the world, Osmond tells her he’s in love with her.
 * 7) Reversal of fortune: After three years of being married to Osmond, Isabel starts disliking Osmond more and more, because he’s not what she expected him to be, caring more for her money than her personality, and not giving Pansy any freedom.
 * 8) Conflicts of act 2: Isabel wants Osmond’s daughter, Pansy, to marry who she loves, but Osmond is sure that he wants Pansy to marry Warburton, because he’s richer and his status is higher. Isabel strongly disapproves of Warburton, and she warns Warburton off Pansy, even though that’s the opposite of what Osmond told her to do.
 * 9) Isabel gets a message from her aunt saying that Ralph is dying in England, while she’s still in Florence. Osmond refuses to let her go visit Ralph, because ‘their love is too strong to separate’.
 * 10) Rising Action : The rising action is when Osmond’s sister tells Isabel the truth about Osmond and Merle, and about how Pansy isn’t actually Osmond’s ex-wife’s daughter, she’s Merle’s daughter. This makes Isabel’s decision to go to England final, and she says goodbye to Pansy, who makes her promise to come back to Florence someday.
 * 11) When she goes back to England to visit Ralph. She apologizes for not doing what she believed in, and she stays with him until his death.
 * 12) Afterwards, she sees Caspar again, as they kiss. Now, she has to choose between going back to Osmond and living without freedom (for the sake of Pansy), or marrying Caspar instead (and bringing Pansy with them).
 * 13) Falling Action: After they kiss, it’s as though Isabel regains her senses, and runs back to the house. The movie ends right when she’s about to open the door, so you don’t know what her decision is in the end.