Washington Square is a novel by Henry James, published in 1880. It is a classic example of Henry James’s realistic style, which focuses on the psychological and moral aspects of his characters.
- **Plot**: The novel tells the story of Catherine Sloper, a plain and obedient young woman who falls in love with Morris Townsend, a handsome but penniless man who courts her for her inheritance [1]. Her father, Dr. Austin Sloper, a wealthy and respected physician, opposes their marriage and threatens to disinherit Catherine if she marries Morris [1]. Catherine defies her father and remains faithful to Morris, even when he abandons her after learning that she will not receive her father's fortune. Years later, Morris returns and tries to win Catherine back, but she rejects him and decides to live as an independent woman [1].
- **Background:** The novel is set in New York City in the 1840s, a time when the city was undergoing rapid social and economic changes due to immigration, industrialization, urbanization, and expansion. Washington Square was a newly established neighborhood near Greenwich Village that attracted wealthy families who wanted to live in modern houses away from the crowded downtown area. The novel reflects some of the tensions and conflicts between the old and new values, the rich and poor classes, the native-born and immigrant populations, and the traditional and progressive views of the 19th century American society [1].
- **Characters**: The main characters of the novel are:
- **Catherine Sloper**: The protagonist of the novel. She is a plain-looking, modest, and obedient daughter of Dr. Sloper. She falls in love with Morris Townsend and remains loyal to him despite her father's opposition. She eventually realizes Morris's true motives and rejects him. She chooses to live as an unmarried woman with her own income [1].
- **Dr. Austin Sloper:** Catherine's father. He is a wealthy and respected physician who lives in Washington Square. He is cold, cynical, and domineering. He does not love or appreciate Catherine for who she is. He disapproves of Morris Townsend and tries to stop their marriage. He dies without reconciling with Catherine [1].
- **Morris Townsend**: Catherine's suitor. He is a handsome but penniless man who lives with his widowed sister and her five children. He courts Catherine for her inheritance. He abandons Catherine when he learns that she will not receive her father's fortune. He returns years later to renew his suit but is rejected by Catherine [1].
- **Aunt Lavinia Penniman**: Dr. Sloper's sister and Catherine's aunt. She is a widow who lives with them in Washington Square. She is romantic, foolish, and meddling. She supports Morris Townsend and encourages Catherine to elope with him. She also acts as a intermediary for them when they are separated [1].
- **Aunt Elizabeth Almond**: Dr. Sloper's other sister and Catherine's aunt. She is married to Jefferson Almond, a prosperous merchant. She is sensible, reasonable, and kind. She sees more potential in Catherine than her brother does. She tries to moderate the conflict between Dr. Sloper and Catherine [1].
- **Mrs. Montgomery**: Morris Townsend's sister. She is a widow with five children who is dependent on Morris for support. She is reluctant to give Dr. Sloper any information about Morris's character or intentions. She admits that Morris is selfish and irresponsible but asks Dr. Sloper not to ruin his chances with Catherine [1].
- **Adaptations**: The novel was adapted into a play called The Heiress, which premiered on Broadway in 1947 and won a Tony Award for Best Play. The play was later adapted into a film of the same name in 1949, starring Olivia de Havilland as Catherine and Montgomery Clift as Morris [1]. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Actress for de Havilland. The novel has also inspired other adaptations, such as the 1997 film Washington Square, starring Jennifer Jason Leigh as Catherine and Ben Chaplin as Morris, and the 2009 opera Washington Square by Thomas Pasatieri [1].
- **Criticism**: The novel received mixed reviews from critics and readers. James himself did not think highly of it and called it “poorish” and “an unhappy accident” [1]. He did not include it in his revised New York Edition of his works [1]. However, some critics praised the novel for its psychological realism, its subtle humor, its depiction of the father-daughter relationship, and its feminist message [1]. The novel has also attracted scholarly attention and analysis from various perspectives, such as psychoanalytic, feminist, postcolonial, and queer theory [1].
- **Significance:** The novel is one of the few works by Henry James that focuses on American characters in an American setting [1]. It is based on a true story told to James by his friend, British actress Fanny Kemble, about her brother’s courtship of a wealthy but dull girl [1]. The novel explores themes such as money, love, family, social class, and gender roles in the 19th century [1]. It also showcases James’s skill in creating complex and realistic characters, especially Catherine, who undergoes a transformation from a passive and naive girl to a strong and independent woman [1].