The protagonist of James's novel feels deeply that he is misrepresented somehow. Roderick's desire to express himself through art and the written word dominates his understanding of reality, because he feels a sacred obligation to be true to himself. But how can one be true to their self when the self is unexplored and difficult to understand? The answer is the relationships he forms with friends.
Christina is more like a symbol in this novel than a real character—not because she is one-dimensional as a person, but because both of her suitors are privately hoping she will help them illumine whatever perplexing part of their self still remains untapped. But, ironically, the relationship between Roderick and Rich is deeper and more legitimate than their attempts at intimacy with Christina. This could be evidence of latent, unexplored homosexuality, but also it could represent that the boys are not ready for romance—what they really need is friendships which they can learn from.
That is the sweet implication of the novel: Friends are learning about others, and that helps them learn about themselves. That beautiful mechanism is on full display throughout the novel, evolving throughout time as their friendships take them in different ways. Arguments are often staked on personality differences, which is a sign that although they benefit from multiple points of view, they are still mostly focused on learning their own independent identities. The characters are frustrated by these things, but the reader can appreciate the design of these relationships artistically.
