This study is an examination of James's attitude to affluence and
leisure. Concentrating upon James's two major novels- The Portrait of a
Lady and The Wings of the Dove- this study is an attempt to study the
two facets - affluence and leisure-in all the shades as taken by Henry
James. Affluence and leisure play a major role in almost all the novels
of Henry James. The characters that James deals with belong to the
affluent class having nearly total leisure. They are the sophisticated
ones possessing fine intelligence and manners. Even the situations in
the various works arise and take place in accordance with his theme of
affluence and leisure. James's dealing with these two themes in major
part of his works reveals his strength as a writer. In the context of
these James explores the life of the affluent people having ample
leisure to enjoy. He provides an insight into the life and psychology of
these people. Affluence generally is associated with moral grossness,
crass materialism and moral decadence. But for Henry James affluence has
altogether a different sense. He tries to extract the best from
affluence.