Basil Ransom is a fictional character created by the American author Henry James. He appears in the novella titled "The Bostonians," published in 1886. Ransom is depicted as a Southern lawyer who becomes embroiled in the feminist movement of the time, representing the conflicting values of traditional masculinity and emerging progressive ideas. In the story, Ransom is attracted to Verena Tarrant, a young woman who is a passionate advocate for women's rights. His character serves as a lens through which the tensions between different social ideologies are explored, highlighting the complexities of gender roles in late 19th-century America.