Identity in "The House in Paris"

“She looked at people at once vaguely and boldly; for years she had

learnt from other eyes what hers did. This makes any lover or friend a

narcissus pool; you do not want anyone else once you have learnt what

you are; there is no more to learn” (Bowen 72).

After this passage Karen, Leopold’s mother looks into a mirror as she draws a self-portrait on a ship (Bowen 72-73). Elizabeth Bowen plays with the idea of self and of identity in The House in Paris. People explore themselves and each other in the novel and Bowen sets the scene through imagery and juxtaposition. She often plays with the illusion and mysticism of light, reflections, and colors.

In the novel, there is a focus on mirrors and objects that reflect. In the passage above, Bowen presents eyes as being a kind of mirror for Karen. She is playing with the “eyes are windows to the soul” metaphor. Though this develops the characterization of Karen and presents her as being a bit of a narcissist, the reader takes a moment to stop and reflect. Have we ever looked into someone else’s eyes to find our own soul? The idea of finding who you are through other people is a beautiful sentiment.

Bowen also plays with juxtaposition. The moment where Karen is walking with Aunt Violet in the garden stood out to me. Violet is nearing the end of her life while Karen is in her prime and full of youth. The two women walk with arms linked, as Violet tells Karen that she does not think that she has done enough in her life and comments on how Karen’s is far more interesting than her own was (83-84). The moment these two women share also plays with the concept of identity. What are we? What do we leave behind? Aunt Violet does not want her house to change. She wants things to go on as before (81-82). What do we leave behind in the world when we are gone? Are we just a reflection on the world, reminiscing what we once were?

Bowen calls the reader to stop and think about who they are. The characters in The House in Paris are exploring one of the most existential human perplexities: who am I? The search for the self is arguably the purpose of life and Elizabeth Bowen plays with the desire the reader has to answer that question.