The Real Thing

Some critics of “The Real Thing” claim the artist is an unreliable narrator. Do you agree? Explore James’s use of first-person narration to argue for or against that claim.

Write an analysis of scenes in the story that thematically explore social hierarchy. Consider the narrator’s position as an artist in 19th-century England and explore the ways he straddles social classes.

In James’s time, photography was new and considered a lesser form of art. Use the story’s references to photography to show how James’s views on art and authenticity are expressed through the narrator’s voice.