Synopsis:
Washington Square is a short novel written by Henry James, published in 1880 and set in the 1850s. The story is both tragic and comical to a certain extent. The heroine Catherine, the daughter of an intelligent doctor, falls in love with Morris Townsend who is charming but poor and deceptive in his nature. Her father Dr. Sloper strongly opposed their relationship because he shrewdly sensed that Townsend only pursues Catherine for her money, that he is “mercenary”. The heroine is in deep conflict, having to choose between her father and her newly meet lover. According to the ominous third person narrative, Catherine is overly obedient, docile, veracious and unclever in her father’s point of view, which makes her rebellion “quiet” but meaningful, struggling to maintain her role as a good daughter. As the plot precedes, Catherine defended her standing but Morris jilted her after her father’s incessant disapproval and threat to disinherit Catherine. Cather and Morris break up. Decades past, when they meet again, Catherine becomes clear-minded about their relationship and refused Morris’ proposal of acquainting with each other again. Catherine’s aunt Lavinia plays of major role in the form and break of the relationship. Lavinia’s meddlesomeness is one of the most comical elements of this novel.
Analysis of the novel:
Analysis of relationships
The father-daughter relationship of Catherine and Dr. Austin has its plurality. Because of the character of Catherine’s mother, who was clever and bright, Austin prospected Catherine to be at least as bright and as special. However, due to the nurture of Mrs. Penniman or the nature of Catherine, Catherine seems rather dull and unintelligent for her father. As a result, Dr. Sloper dislikes her as a person. Catherine herself realized that after their trip to Europe. She is clear that her father doesn’t like her because of her personality and it caused her great agony. He was harsh to her, wishing Catherine to grow up to be someone else. At the end when Morris left her, Dr. Sloper sarcastically remarked, “You mean you don’t care? You are rather cruel, after encouraging him and playing with him for so long!” It is unlikely a normal loving father would say so to a daughter after she was tricked by another man.
"I have told you what I think. If you see him, you will be an ungrateful, cruel child; you will have given your old father the greatest pain of his life." This was more than the poor girl could bear; her tears overflowed.
Catherine’s relationship with Morris is tragic. She thought he loves her. Most comically, the narrator (James) points out that Morris is conscious about the fact that he only wants to marry her for her money and that she is rather dull and stupid. The relationship is not spontaneous but prompted by Mrs. Penniman’s imagination and meddlesomeness. This consciousness of the readers, knowing that Morris deliberately fools Catherine, Dr. Sloper is right, and Mrs. Penniman only cares about her imagination (a desire for romantic drama), renders the novel extremely melodramatic.
The role of Lavinia Penniman
Aunt Lavinia is important for the transition and development of the plot. She is the one who urged Catherine to notice Morris Townsend, and the one who suggests that tactics for the couple to take to convince her brother. However, she acts as a comical role and is inconsiderate and stupid. In the last chapter, it is clear that the mindset of Catherine has changed; she has grown mature psychologically. However, Lavinia is still the old Lavinia who is eager for melodrama and excitement of theatricality in life.
"Yes—why indeed?" sighed Mrs. Penniman. And then, as if from a sense of the inadequacy of this explanation, "But you will not despair—you will come back?"
Catherine Sloper
-Inward conflict: to be a good daughter or to marry Morris Townsend
-Development of her character: love for Morris --- fights for her marriage --- abandoned my Morris --- refuse to marry --- determined about the nature of her father and Morris;
-Consciousness of characters: at the end, she was crystal clear about her situation. She had a quiet life but also tragic, with limited love from parents and the deceptive Morris Townsend. It is possible that James feels sorry for her.
-From her own point of view the great facts of her career were that Morris Townsend had trifled with her affection, and that her father had broken its spring. Nothing could ever alter these facts; they were always there, like her name, her age, her plain face. Nothing could ever undo the wrong or cure the painthat Morris had inflicted on her, and nothing could ever make her feel towards her father as she felt in her younger years.
Good and Evil in Washington Square
In melodrama, good and evil is usually clear and in contrast. However, from my point of view, James complexes the boundary to a certain extent. Although Morris Townsend is detested and Dr. Sloper is harsh, James seemingly challenged the attributions of the tragedy. Who should be blamed in the story? Arguing from a contemporary view, it is hard to say Morris Townsend should be solely blames. It is true that he is morally irresponsible and wrong, but Catherine (her innocence), Dr. Sloper (his harshness), and aunt Lavinia (her stupidity) all play into the result of the break. For historical reasons, the unequal dynamic of their relationship might not be accepted in the 1880s, but maybe right now, they could be together even if Morris is monetarily disadvantaged. As long as they are happy, maybe it is acceptable that she supports him. Is Catherine the absolute good? It is doubtful because she is quiet, traditionally, and filial, which doesn’t necessarily carry moral connotations. James might be criticizing her simplicity that contributes to the tragedy. But, according to Catherine’s own reflection of her relationship with Morris and her father, after Morris left her, she has developed a lucid understanding of the nature of her relations; she knows she’s deeply hurt by these two men, and it is clear for her the true nature of Morris that her father was right. James, all in all, created a morally corrupted character, Morris Townsend with his hypocrisy.
Washington Square as a Melodrama
The short novel is quite melodramatic because of story settings, construction of characters, themes, theatricality, and intensification of conflicts through dialogues.
According to Brook’s article, Henry James uses theatric setting to tell the story. At the scene that Austin and Catherine talked at the Alps in Europe, James strategically set the conversation at an environment that matches Catherine’s emotion and mindset. Her father questioned her if she has given up. Her answer is unsatisfactory for Dr. Sloper. Instead of a common hotel room or museum, James deliberately chooses the Alps, which is dramatic and visual for readers.
Henry James is descriptive about the settings of events. For example, in the last chapter, the weather is hotter than balmy. Things are dramatic and lightly exaggerated, which resembles a drama in the theatre.
They followed this devious way, and finally lost the path; the valley proved very wild and rough, and their walk became rather a scramble.
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