One can believe James's claim to an "imagination of disaster"; so many of his protagonists are unhappy in the end, and yet he gives them an aura of victory. It is because these characters depend on such high degree on their own sense of integrity that for them, victory has nothing to do with happiness. It has more to do with a settling within oneself, a movement inward that makes them whole.
📖 Azar Nafisi
Azar Nafisi suggests that James's protagonists often face significant struggles and end up unhappy, highlighting a recurrent theme of disaster in his narratives. However, despite their lack of conventional success, these characters exude a sense of victory. This paradox stems from their deep reliance on their own integrity, which allows them to experience a form of triumph that transcends mere happiness.
For these characters, victory is not about external achievements or...
