Early Twentieth-Century Fiction
English 358:358, Fall 2022
This act, and something in the movement of either party, instantly characterised the performers—they performed for Dencombe’s recreation—as opulent matron and humble dependent.
Henry James, “The Middle Years,” from Henry James: Complete Stories 1892-1898, (Library of America, 1996), 336.
“This was the pang that had been sharpest during the last few years—the sense of ebbing time, of shrinking opportunity; and now he felt not so much that his last chance was going as that it was gone indeed.”
Henry James, “The Middle Years.” Henry James: Complete Stories 1892-1898, ed. John Hollander and David Bromwich (New York: The Library of America, 1996), 337.
Dencombe can be seen reflecting on his life within this passage. He seems to feel that his life has hit its peak and is now declining. Does he feel hopeless or is he just becoming more aware of his situation?
“Only to-day, at last, had he begun to see, so that what he had hitherto done was a movement without direction. He had ripened too late and was so clumsily constituted that he had to teach himself by mistakes.”
Henry James, “The Middle Years.” Henry James: Complete Stories 1892-1898, ed John Hollander and David Bromwich (New York: The Library of America, 1996) 347
Mr. Dencombe figuratively and literally sees the youthfulness in Doctor Hugh, which only furthers Dencombe’s anxieties and regrets about being ill. Dencombe feels unaccomplished, despite Hugh’s assertion that “The Middle Years” is a fantastic work of art. Will Dencombe ever be satisfied? Or will the notion of aging and life moving to a standstill always remind one of how much more they wanted to accomplish? Is it because Dencombe is unable to observe himself from an external, non-biased point of view? Would any feelings of his change if he could view himself externally?
“He thought of the fairy-tales of science and charmed himself into forgetting that he looked for a magic that was not of this world.”
Henry James, “The Middle Years.” Henry James: Complete Stories 1892-1898, ed. John Hollander and David Bromwich (New York: The Library of America, 1996), 348-349.
Dencombe expresses a strong desire for a cure of the illness that has affected him; for Doctor Hugh to find one with the new knowledge of the younger generation. Dencombe observes that such a cure would be a miracle. Is this him starting to come to terms with the fact that the life he has lived has been his one, and only, chance?
“The art had come, but it had come after everything else. At such a rate a first existence was too short–long enough only to collect material; so that to fructify, to use the material, one must have a second age, an extension.”
James, Henry. “The Middle Years.” Henry James: Complete Stories 1892-1898, ed. John Hollander and David Bromwich, The Library of America, 1996, p. 338.
Unclear what “everything else” is referring to. What has happened to delay Dencombe’s artistic success? Why does he not observe this to be a success, as it is clear that even after being setback he was still able to create art in the first place? Why does only one successful artwork not make him a successful artist?