The short fiction of Henry James is known for its thoughtful characterization and complexity, and he consistently explored three primary themes throughout his literary career: misunderstood writers and artists, ghosts and other supernatural beings, and vulnerable adolescents and children whose development is threatened through misfortune or political unrest. “The Real Thing” shows an artist negotiating his limited power in late 19th-century England’s system of social classes and directing his creative process into an ethical understanding of the relationship between representation and reality. Key moments in the story, such as when Miss Churm arrives at the studio and first meets the Monarchs, hint at James’s interest in the moral implications of aesthetic decisions, a question that is decidedly modern. In the story, James explores the themes of Social Hierarchy in Late 19th-Century England, Perception and Authenticity in Artistry, and Aesthetics Versus Ethics.

Scholars recognize James as one who bridged Victorian literature and Modernism. “The Real Thing,” with its exploration of an artist’s identity, is an example of James’s ability to express shifting views on art and culture. He highlights traditional tropes and themes with shades of

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