The Pupil

Description

Henry James is an author who has defined and shaped much of what we know today as literary realism, as it was during the times of Victorian England. Known for stories that have captivated readers for well over 100 years, such as The Aspern Papers and The Turn of the Screw, James wrote many stories about class struggles and what they meant during the difficult times of social development of the 19th century.

The Pupil is the story of Morgan and his trusted tutor, two good friends who have formed a strong bond together, in the search for a better life, for themselves and their families. Traveling the world in search of money, the two find themselves in a number of unexpected circumstances, and find that, even though they are penniless, being a part of a certain social class has provided them with a few good opportunities.

A story that speaks quite a lot about the importance of certain classes and the privileges that they offered, as they were viewed in the 19th century, The Pupil is an overall enjoyable tale about trust, friendship and the bond that can exist between a boy and his tutor, even in the face of financial adversity. However, with Henry James’ unmistakable style and detailed understanding about the specific psychological issues faced by people forced to play certain roles relating to the societal norms of the time.

Definitely a story that will make you think and ponder the ways in which the world has developed during and since the events that Morgan took part in, The Pupil involves many concepts of deep, psychological and philosophical meaning that modern day readers can relate to in an oftentimes surprisingly natural manner.

Is life ultimately meaningless or without purpose? Or are the lessons it shows us woven more intricately and subtly into its tapestry than we are able to grasp? Henry James may well provide us with a deeper answer to these and many other questions, in The Pupil.
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