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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
After the Bostonians, I had no interest in more Henry James. But I did like the movie of Washington Square, and wondered if the book might be one (sort of like Mansfield Park) where the characters kind of run away from the author, and the overall impact is not what the author intends. But no. This is just your regular James misogyny.
Washington Square is a touching story about how a woman whose purpose had once been to please her father, changed into a complete person, a stronger person who has found her sense of self.
Catherine was never accepted by her father since the death of his son from an illness and because of his wife's death over giving birth to Catherine. She is described as plain and shy, and is scared of her father.
What I love about the story is that it actually shows you the whole experience. She trusted and loved Morris, she loved her father very much and her greatest desire was to please him, and yet towards the end, she gains her own confidence. She defies him. She becomes a complete person, not subservient, but forming her own will and stubbornness she never had. The change in Catherine is amazing and it touches me deeply in many levels.
This transformation in her character becomes clear as the story progresses and this progress is what I believe makes this book truly unique and timeless. There is so much emotion in the characters, and there is growth in Catherine's character that watching her build her own self from the person she used to be makes it a stand out.
Catherine was never accepted by her father since the death of his son from an illness and because of his wife's death over giving birth to Catherine. She is described as plain and shy, and is scared of her father.
What I love about the story is that it actually shows you the whole experience. She trusted and loved Morris, she loved her father very much and her greatest desire was to please him, and yet towards the end, she gains her own confidence. She defies him. She becomes a complete person, not subservient, but forming her own will and stubbornness she never had. The change in Catherine is amazing and it touches me deeply in many levels.
This transformation in her character becomes clear as the story progresses and this progress is what I believe makes this book truly unique and timeless. There is so much emotion in the characters, and there is growth in Catherine's character that watching her build her own self from the person she used to be makes it a stand out.
We love a self respected and developed women of the 19th century, Catherine! Also I aspire to be as dramatic as Lavinia Penniman! The writing style in this book was insane! I absolutely loved it. I'm studying this novel this semester and I can't wait to analyse it bits by bits. This whole book is like a stage, with Henry James as director.
I'm a fan of the old movie The Heiress which is based on this book which is what prompted me to read it. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if I didn't have the actors performances in my mind. There are differences between the book and the movie, and personally I liked the movie choices better. But it was still a good read although I did find the writing a little dry.
Somewhat stilted novel of manners in New York in the 1800s. Really only four characters, none of them very appealing. I kept reading it because it was short and I was curious to see if anything would develop.
There are great gaps in my literary education, and Henry James' oeuvre is—are?—one of them.
I fell in love with this story watching the classic screen version with Olivia DeHavilland and Monty Clift. It stands alone as an outstanding piece of entertainment, but, like most films based on books, only begins to get at the emotional nuances of the original novella. (Or maybe it *is* a novel, but given how long everyone wrote back then, especially James, it feels like a novella.)
Even though it's set in an era when women of all socioeconomic strata had far fewer choices, it is time-agnostic on the perils of low self-worth. Materially, Catherine Sloper has everything and then some, but she's as imprisoned by self-doubt and self-loathing as any of her modern sisters who accept unquestioningly the messaging of the patriarchy. (So there.)
I fell in love with this story watching the classic screen version with Olivia DeHavilland and Monty Clift. It stands alone as an outstanding piece of entertainment, but, like most films based on books, only begins to get at the emotional nuances of the original novella. (Or maybe it *is* a novel, but given how long everyone wrote back then, especially James, it feels like a novella.)
Even though it's set in an era when women of all socioeconomic strata had far fewer choices, it is time-agnostic on the perils of low self-worth. Materially, Catherine Sloper has everything and then some, but she's as imprisoned by self-doubt and self-loathing as any of her modern sisters who accept unquestioningly the messaging of the patriarchy. (So there.)
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
LOVE a satisfying ending
LOVE seeing a bad bitch origin story
LOVE seeing a bad bitch origin story
I believe that one of James's best strengths is creating hate-able characters. Until 2/3 of the way through the book, none of the four main characters show any redeeming features. Both Dr. Sloper and Morris Townsend emotionally manipulate Catherine and Mrs. Penniman only wants their story to play out like a romance novel. The ease in which these three manipulate Catherine makes it very hard to have sympathy for her. However, the characters and the settings are painted in such detail that it is hard to turn away. I was expecting Catherine to end up marrying Morris and turning into even more of a shell then she already was. I was pleasantly surprised to see her stand up for herself to all three of them.