The Pupil by Henry James

Description

The Pupil by Henry James is a novella written in the late 19th century. The story follows the complex relationship between a young tutor named Pemberton and his pupil, Morgan Moreen, the son of a wealthy, appearance-obsessed family. Pemberton, who is in dire financial straits, accepts the tutoring position despite feeling anxious about the family’s superficiality and the challenges of their extravagant lifestyle. At the start of the novella, Pemberton meets Mrs. Moreen, who appears affable but evasive when discussing payment for his tutoring services. Pemberton is introduced to Morgan, who is intelligent but sickly, and their initial interactions reveal a blend of precociousness and understanding in the young boy. As Pemberton contemplates his responsibilities towards Morgan, he grapples with the Moreen family’s chaotic dynamics and his own precarious situation. The opening establishes an intricate dance of class, financial struggle, and the contrast between genuine affection and societal expectations, setting the stage for the deeper explorations of their relationships as the story unfolds. (This is an automatically generated summary.)