The Bostonians was first published by Henry James as a serial in a magazine and it was not until 1886 that it was turned into a book. This novel tells a complex story of the relationships and ideals between the men and women of the era in which the story takes place. The book itself contains many underlying themes which are emphasized by the personalities and nature of the characters; and the events surrounding the historical context of this novel, that is, the events of the Civil War and its influence. The use of personification to reflect the complexity of the situation evokes emotions that speak to the larger issues presented by history, the idea of ​​gender, region and national memory. The story initially deals with the interactions of three characters: Basil Ransom, Olive Chancellor. and Verena Tarrant. The character of Basil Ransom, a Mississippian who fought in the Civil War on the side of the Confederates, is presented to us as a stubborn, determined man, full of honor and tough in his own masculinity and as someone who is aware of the the world and the society in which he lives but which he does not fully accept. Olive Chancellor, (Basil Ransom's cousin), a Bostonian, is on the other hand a woman with a hard heart, bitter and quite opposed to traditional notions of woman and man. She believes that the days of traditional female and male nature are over and that women are as equal as men in the changing future of society; she fights against the brutal nature of men with her robust character in the story. The historical context of the story is the Civil War and its influence on the society of the time. Basil, who lost everything during the war, must look for a new job and does not agree with R....'s new ideals. middle of paper ......e of this section. The Memorial Hall is Verena's meeting with Basil away from Olive and in secret with her and thus shows a slight trend of Verena's feelings towards Basil. The fact that their meeting takes place in a memorial hall for a war that Basil was actually part of, but the memorial is not for the camp he is in almost shows a test on Verena's part of the Basil's ability to see beyond his own head. times to the world's biggest problems, such as the changes it must go through. The emotions Basil evokes from Memorial Hall are a way of reminding us of his human nature and the capacity that human nature gives us to understand others. Although the story ends with the belief that Verena might cry again in the future of her relationship with Basil, it shows that every situation in life is a war and one must always fight to the end, no matter how much. whatever the outcome..