Henry James, book report Henry James's The Portrait of a Lady and Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth examine the societal constraints of their female protagonists, and the limited possibilities open to them in the midst of wealthy society. Isabel Archer and Lily Bart are victims of a rigid society in which the independent lifestyle they desire is only acceptable for women who are either 'unmarriageable' or exceedingly wealthy. Despite this commonality, the two characters differ greatly in terms of their goals and the resources at their disposal with which these goals could potentially be accom