The Ambassadors Lesson Plan

In what ways is Strether different from Waymarsh? How do you think this will play out over the course of the novel?

The relationship between Strether and Waymarsh is pretty straightforward. Whereas Strether is rather naïve and does not seem to have a clear sense of what he intends to do overseas, Waymarsh is simultaneously experienced with and unmoved by Europe. As a "successful" man with a firm moral compass, Waymarsh seems in many respects better-suited for Mrs. Newsome's task than Strether. This raises questions about Strether's reliability that will continue to resurface throughout the novel, as students might guess.

What role does Maria play in getting Strether...