out of character out of character Modernism, Vitalism, Psychic Life omri moses Stanford University Press Stanford, California Stanford University Press Stanford, California © 2014 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system without the prior written permission of Stanford University Press. Printed in the United States of America on acid-free, archival-quality paper Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Moses, Omri, author. Out of character : modernism, vitalism, psychic life / Omri Moses. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-0-8047-8914-1 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. American literature—20th century—History and criticism. 2. Characters and characteristics in literature. 3.Vitalism in literature. 4. James, Henry, 1843-1916—Characters. 5. Stein, Gertrude, 1874-1946—Characters. 6. Eliot, T. S. (Thomas Stearns), 1888-1965—Characters. 7. Modernism (Literature)—United States.I. Title. ps228.c47m67 2014 809'.927—dc23 2013038502 isbn 978-0-8047-9123-6 (electronic) Typeset by Bruce Lundquist in 10/15 Minion To Daniel, Edna, and Tally Moses, with love. contents Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1 1 Personhood beyond Personality 29 2 Novel Interests: Henry James 73 3 Lively Habits: Gertrude Stein 117 4 Intoning Voice: T. S. Eliot 153 Afterword: Vital Signs 199 Notes 215 Bibliography 261 Index 277 acknowledgments This book has gone through many phases, and with each phase the thinking be- hind it has undergone incremental shifts and reorganizations. In this sense, its character has evolved (like that of the fictive individuals chronicled within these pages). Each period of its composition has added something new and significant to the argument. Many of the subtler adjustments have taken place without my being in a position to understand how or why, except in retrospect (and then only partially). I do know this much: the book would not have been possible in conception or in completion without the help of many individuals and institu- tions. I cannot discharge these debts, but I am delighted to acknowledge them. First and foremost, I would like to thank Kaja Silverman and Charles Altieri. They have been a continual support to me, and the book has been enriched im- measurably by their way of thinking and by their flood of particular advice. Kaja has greeted our divergences as well as stretches of intellectual sympathy with the greatest generosity and interest, and she has also stepped in at times of difficulty to help this book along. Charlie has offered me precious feedback and counsel over the years. Timothy J. Clark made some compelling suggestions at crucial early moments in this book’s development. I also have to thank many of my early interlocutors and conversational partners: Paul Stasi, Daniel Grausam, Huey Copeland, Samuel Liebhaber, Jami Bartlett, Naomi Beckwith, and Charles Sumner. I spent a year at Cornell University as a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow. During that time, I had the privilege of circulating parts of the book to members of the faculty seminar in which I was participating. I received many encouragements from them. I have particularly to thank my host in the English department, Douglas Mao, as well as Leslie Adelson, Cymene Howe, and separately, Anne-Lise François. When I arrived at Concordia University, I began an enriching intellectual and emotional existence. Over the course of several years in Montreal, I have found myself in an engrossing dialogue with numerous colleagues and friends. In this category, I have to give special mention to Jonathan Sachs who read almost anything I threw his way and who has given me cartloads of practical advice. Likewise, Mary Esteve has read my work and supported me through good times