The Character Of Roderick In Rome

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‘Be careful what you wish for’, aptly describes what happens to Roderick in Rome, where the desire to see the great works of art result in the young artist experiencing “an indigestion of impressions; I must work them off before I go in for any more” (103). Accordingly, Roderick tells his patron he can no longer look at “other people’s works, for a month — not even at Nature’s own” (103), but instead he is driven to see his own creations. The time spent in the eternal city seems to both men like ten years, when, in reality “it is exactly three months to a day since I left Northampton” (104). In that time, Roderick reflects that he in some way has changed since leaving America, which Rowland confirms, “You are in the literal sense of the word …show more content…
All this made him uncomfortable, and seemed to portend a possible discord. Discord was not to his taste…the idea of finding himself jealous of an unsuspecting friend was simply disgusting.” (120) Even so, James increases the narrative tension with the introduction of a beautiful, elusive, young woman whose face “provoked, but startled submissive admiration” (109) in Roderick, who eagerly stares back. According to Roderick, she seems supernatural, which is made all the clearer in his speech to Rowland, “Beautiful? She’s beauty itself — she’s a revelation. I don’t believe she is living — she’s a phantasm, a vapour, an illusion!” (110) Roderick’s declaration tells the reader that this female phantasm will undoubtedly haunt the young artist’s mind, filling it with sexual desire as well as usurping Miss Garland from the privilege position of being loved by Roderick Hudson. Similarly, this will arouse the young sculptor’s aspiration in recreating a marble likeness of this captivating

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