In Henry James short story, “The Real Thing” the narration is through that of an unnamed main character, an artist. As such the entire story of “The Real Thing” is altered by the narrator’s perceptions. Every word, every moment is seen through his eyes and as such is shaded by his own interpretations of reality. In one scene the sentence starts with, “I perceived they,” this wording immediately informs the reader that the following information has no basis in fact but merely comes directly from the artist and his impression of the Monarchs. The entire story is a tale told through his perception of events and other characters. Everything is colored by the narrators own worldviews and opinions. James tries to add an air of reliability to our narrator by having his perceptions be detailed and often accurate to reality, however, this also leaves the reader with a feeling of presumption and arrogance about the artist. In one line the artist even touches upon this peculiarity, commenting, “It was odd how quickly I was sure of everything that concerned them” (10). This illogical sureness is strange, almost off-putting and yet his overwhelming confidence in his assumptions convinces the reader to believe his words even as he pulls them merely from the mannerisms and air of the Monarchs. Henry James style of narration of “The Real Things” leaves the reader wondering what presumptions were accurate and which were mere fancy.