ABSTRACT
Much that we have seen of Strether's `reconstructive' process has been made possible by his two female interlocutors, Maria andMarie. A large proportion of the newly found confidence, the enlarged sense of himself comes from those voices that buoy him up and underline his personal importance in the unfolding and consequences of his embassy. First of all, the underlying diffidence of the man who has never made much of a mark in the world is turned to advantage. Confidence is built on the slightest observation. Maria, out of the whimsical circumstances of Waymarsh going shopping, assures Strether that Waymarsh is stupid compared to himself, and that his own failure in life is a form of distinction: `Thank goodness you're a failure ± it's why I so distinguish you! Anything else today is too hideous. Look about you ± look at the successes. Would you be one, on your honour?' (p. 84) This little scene imposes a revaluation which may have its ironic touch, but is perfectly consonant with James's growing disquiet about America and the nature of success in American life. But the man of failure is invested with a number of unspecified powers with respect to others: he is to save Chad and at a later point to save Marie.
