The Literary Significance of “The Jolly Corner” in Henry James’s Oeuvre

Abstract

Henry James is one of the authors who made a significant contribution to the development of American Realism, which has not lost its importance in American literature since the 19th century, and is crucial even in the 20th century and serves as the foundation stone of Psychological Realism. “The Jolly Corner” was released in 1908 and the story tells the event of a man who sees the ghost of what he may have been. The short story is well-known for its psychological themes and complex narrative structure. “The Jolly Corner” contains aspects of psychological realism, with an emphasis on the representation of characters’ inner experiences and motivations. The following paper discusses how well Henry James goes into the subtleties of human psychology, portraying the protagonist’s inner thoughts and emotions with tremendous clarity and detail.