Washington Square

From her father’s perspective, Catherine Sloper has two strikes against her. She is female, and her mother died shortly after giving birth to her. However, Catherine is healthy, obedient, affectionate, and truthful, at least in her youth. She grows up painfully shy, and she is often quiet, if not completely silent when she is uncomfortable. It takes the betrayal of her suitor and her father to find her voice.

Dr. Sloper tasks his sister, Mrs. Penniman, with making a “clever woman” of Catherine, though Dr. Sloper thinks Mrs. Penniman is a foolish romantic whom he never deemed to be clever. Unsurprisingly, Dr. Sloper eventually concludes that Mrs. Penniman failed in the task, and he repeatedly refers to his daughter as weak-minded. However, Catherine has greater depths of character and discernment than her father realizes. For instance, she is aware that Mrs. Penniman is not a model of intelligence or reasonableness, though she is respectful of her.

When Dr. Sloper indicates that the young men of New York prefer prettier and livelier women to Catherine, Catherine’s more discerning aunt, Mrs. Almond, defends her. She says the young men of the city must reach an age of greater discernment to recognize Catherine’s

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now