I asked this question earlier in the GR. That thread is linked below. I'm curious to know what others think about James, now that we've heard from him again.

After reading the letter James writes to Catherine informing her that his engagement to Isabella is off, I am still a little bewildered with him. He contradicts himself a couple of times in his letter; perhaps this is due to him being still "raw" from his break-up with Isabella?

(All quotations from James' letter in chapter 25.)

"I hope [you] will acquit your brother of everything but the folly of too easily thinking his affection returned. Thank God! I am undeceived in time!"

"Poor Thorpe is in town: I dread the sight of him; his honest heart would feel so much. I have written to him and my father."

James claims to be undeceived about Isabella. Why, then, is he not undeceived about her brother? Shouldn't he have considered the parallels between John-the-rattle, and Isabella-the-coquette?

"Let me soon hear from you, dear Catherine; you are my only friend; your love I do build upon."

This seems out of character with the relationship that existed between James and Catherine prior to James' involvement with Isabella. Additionally, I'm disappointed that James doesn't apologize for the way he tried to encourage Catherine (in Bath) to do something which she believed to be wrong. (Give up her engagement to walk with Miss Tilney in order to go to Blaize Castle with James, Isabella and John Thorpe.)

"I can never expect to know such another woman!"

Hmmmm...."such another woman!"? That doesn't sound like a man who is truly undeceived about a woman! ;o)