Performing the Everyday in Henry James’s Late Novels

Abstract

Maya Higashi Wakana's Performing the Everyday in Henry James’s Late Novels offers a nuanced exploration of theatricality within the quotidian lives depicted in Henry James's final three novels: The Ambassadors, The Wings of the Dove, and The Golden Bowl. Through meticulous close readings, Wakana examines how James's characters navigate social interactions that are both artfully constructed and culturally significant. Drawing on Erving Goffman’s sociological theories of micro-social interaction, particularly his concepts of "front-stage" and "back-stage" performances, Wakana argues that James portrays everyday life as inherently theatrical. This stagelike quality is evident in the characters' deliberate management of manners, facial expressions, and social protocols. By analyzing these elements, Wakana reveals how James’s realism captures the artful reality of middle-class American life. The book contends that the seemingly mundane actions are imbued with cultural meaning, reflecting deeper societal norms and individual identities. Through this lens, Wakana provides fresh insights into James's late works, highlighting the performative nature of everyday existence in his fiction.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)