In Four Meetings, Henry James tells the story of a young man, John Marcher, who is haunted by a mysterious and powerful sense of expectation. He is convinced that something momentous is about to happen to him, but he is never able to identify what it is. He meets four women throughout his life, each of whom he believes may be the one to reveal the secret of his destiny. The first woman he meets is May Bartram, a beautiful and enigmatic woman who he believes may be the one to reveal his fate. He is drawn to her, but she is elusive and mysterious. The second woman he meets is Mrs. Berrington, a widow who is kind and sympathetic to him. He is comforted by her presence, but she is unable to provide him with the answers he seeks. The third woman he meets is Miss Aldclyffe, a wealthy and powerful woman who is determined to control his life. He is both attracted and repelled by her, but she is unable to provide him with the answers he seeks. The fourth woman he meets is Miss Vesey, a gentle and compassionate woman who is able to provide him with the answers he seeks. Through these four meetings, John Marcher is finally able to discover the secret of his destiny. He learns that the expectation he has been feeling is not a sign of something momentous about to happen, but rather a sign of his own mortality. He is able to accept his fate and move on with his life.
By Henry James · First published 1885 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Literary Fiction, Romance · 4 chapters