The House in Paris: Analysis of Major Characters
"The House in Paris" is a novel that intricately explores the lives and relationships of its major characters through a poignant lens of familial connections and personal struggles. Central to the narrative is Naomi Fisher, who provides a nurturing environment for Karen Michaelis, a young mother grappling with the complexities of her past. Naomi's home serves as a refuge where emotions run deep, especially for Leopold Moody, a nine-year-old boy who yearns to connect with his mother, Karen, whom he has never met. His journey of emotional discovery is poignantly supported by Mme Fisher, Naomi's invalid mother, and Henrietta Mountjoy, a kind-hearted girl who tries to console him.
Karen's character embodies the conflict between personal desire and societal expectations, as she navigates her relationship with her fiancé, Ray Forrestier, and the impact of her past with Max Ebhart, Leopold's biological father. Max, depicted as sensitive and brilliant, ultimately succumbs to despair, highlighting the novel's themes of love, loss, and the consequences of choices made. Ray, who marries Karen, represents the struggle to embrace familial responsibilities despite underlying tensions. Together, these characters weave a rich tapestry of emotions, making "The House in Paris" a compelling exploration of the human condition and the complexities of maternal bonds.
The House in Paris: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Elizabeth Bowen
First published: 1935
Genre: Novel
Locale: France and England
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: After World War I
Miss Naomi Fisher, Karen Michaelis' friend. She helps Karen when the latter becomes pregnant and has a child by Max Ebhart, Naomi's fiancé. Her home is the setting for the story.
Leopold Moody, a nine-year-old boy. He has come to Naomi's house to see the mother he has never met, Karen Michaelis. When he learns she will not come, he tries to be indifferent, but his stoic attitude dissolves into tears. Only Mme Fisher can console him. He seems pleased when his mother's husband, Ray Forrestier, encourages him to go to his mother.
Henrietta Mountjoy, a sympathetic eleven-year-old girl, who tries to console Leopold that day at Naomi's house.
Mme Fisher, Naomi's invalid mother. She helps young Leopold accept, even if he cannot understand, the world in which he finds himself.
Karen Michaelis, Leopold's mother. After her child's birth, she gives up the child and her fiancé, who is not the boy's father. She finally marries her fiancé, Ray Forrestier, and allows him to overrule her resolve not to have her son in their home.
Max Ebhart, once Naomi's fiancé, he is the father of Leopold, the result of a one-night love affair with Karen. Brilliant and sensitive, he is driven by his predicament into suicide. He kills himself by slashing his wrists.
Ray Forrestier, Karen's fiancé at the time of her brief affair with Max. He eventually marries Karen, and it is he who insists that Leopold join the family, despite Karen's doubts.