Freedom vs. Duty

Were Isabel Archer real and not fictitious, I should very much like to make her acquaintance.  I highly doubt the two of us would become “bosom friends,” but I believe we should get along well but only for a small time, as I also believe I should tire of her.  Her insistent independence fascinates me, and I have found that very same thirst for knowledge and thirst for opportunity in choice within myself.  I appreciate her desire to choose, even if she should choose wrongly. 

But Isabel Archer ignites fear in me for her future, but not in the way her dreadful acquaintance Henrietta Stackpole.  Henrietta believes in holding Isabel in what was instead of letting Isabel find was is within herself.  My fear for Isabel is that she should be both unhappy and unsatisfied in what is and then what eventually will be.  But these qualities in her: these are the things I love and yet fear in Isabel.  Her sense of freedom and liberty to go and do and be are beautiful, but perhaps a sense of duty would do her good.  The will to choose and potentially choose poorly sound noble on paper but in practice are much more difficult.

Then Ralph, sweet Ralph…by choosing to divide his money for her sake, I think he enables her too much.  Perhaps he thought Isabel would turn out better than his mother.  Not that I think he holds ill-feelings toward his mother, but because she has a fortune Isabel would be free of the need to marry and leave that someone isolation.  But needing to depend on someone or something is not a bad thing.  I think that makes us real, and it gives us a sense of duty.  Life void of obligation to anyone or anything seems a lie, in my opinion.  Whether or not one acknowledges those obligations, as long as one encounters people, those people will have their own needs and desires for presence and companionship. 

Altogether, Isabel evokes pity and the sense of impending tragedy.