A Review: Washington Square

So many books throughout history are timeless in their pertinence to life and people throughout time. Washington Square by Henry James fits that build perfectly. While written in 1880, James’s work is surprisingly relevant today. The book explores the life of Catherine Sloper, a young woman whose life changes drastically when she falls in love with a young man, Morris Townsend. Catherine is, in the eyes of her father and others, typically ugly, unintelligent, impudent, and a failure in most aspects of her existence. But to Morris, as well as to the reader, it is clear that Catherine is beautiful, beloved, thoughtful, and perceptive. It would seem that Catherine has finally found happiness in her love for Morris. But, upon telling her father, Doctor Sloper, of her infatuation, Catherine is horrified to find that out her father despises him passionately. Catherine is forced to make a decision between pleasing her father, whom she admires despite his outright hatred for her, and pleasing herself, the one person that she has never been able or willing to satisfy. Is Catherine blinded so deeply by her admiration for Doctor Sloper that she is willing to lose the love or her life, or is she so blinded by her love for Morris that she is unable to see the person he truly is? Even by the end of the book, this question is more subjective than it might seem.

James brings to life the issues of love, deception, choice, consequence, and illusion in this story that seems neither like a social commentary nor like a moralistic proposition at first glance. But deeply rooted in this powerfully heartbreaking tale are the aforementioned themes that are everlasting and well-implemented in a cogent, unforgettable manner. James is an expert at hiding the deeper meaning behind the story while still drawing the reader in. Using free indirect discourse throughout the novel, the reader enters the mind of each character in a way that is both subtle and definite.

The real magic of Washington Square is in how it highlights the ways in which decisions affect our destinies and lifetimes forever. It is eternally a classic, as it captures the essence of the basic human emotions: love, regret, and devotion. But above all, what really cements this novel in the minds of readers forever is the captivating story, crafted by its author, Henry James.

Washington Square is a classic told through the words of a writer who is able to discuss language, storytelling, and existential meaning adeptly. One of the best books ever written in my opinion, this novel transcends time to bring to life the lessons that are eternally applicable in a story as romantically beautiful as it is truthfully realistic.