32 pages • 1 hour read
The Beast in the Jungle
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
48
Novella • Fiction
England • 1900s
1903
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In "The Beast in the Jungle" by Henry James, John Marcher lives under the shadow of a prophesied catastrophic event he believes will define his life. Reconnecting with May Bartram, who knows his secret, they form a bond centered on waiting for this event. As years pass, May's illness and eventual death lead Marcher to realize that his life’s tragedy was his inability to embrace life and love, leaving him to mourn his lost potential.
Mysterious
Melancholic
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Unnerving
Reviews & Readership
5,197 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Henry James' The Beast in the Jungle has been praised for its profound psychological insights and masterful prose. Critics laud its exploration of regret and missed opportunities, though some find its pace slow and its themes overly introspective. Overall, it's a compelling study of human isolation and existential dread, offering rich material for reflective readers.
Who Should Read The Beast in the Jungle?
A reader who relishes psychological depth, introspective characters, and nuanced prose will enjoy Henry James’s The Beast in the Jungle. Comparable to the audience of James’s own The Turn of the Screw and Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence, fans of literary fiction exploring fate and existential themes will be particularly drawn to this novella.
5,197 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
May Bartram
May Bartram
A devoted friend who shares a deep, enigmatic bond with John Marcher, supporting his preoccupation with his supposed destiny. Living independently after inheriting her great-aunt’s estate, she remains a key figure in John's life.
48
Novella • Fiction
England • 1900s
1903
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.