Washington Square

A father tries to prevent a relationship between his innocent daughter and the man he thinks wants to wed her for her money in Henry James' 1880 book Washington Square.Catherine Sloper, an innocent and reserved person, lives with her dictatorial father, Dr. Austin Sloper, in 1840s New York City. Lavinia Penniman, Catherine's idealistic aunt, offers her comfort. Dr. Sloper learns that Arthur Townsend has moved in with his widowed sister after squandering his previous bequest. Townsend believes he'll wed Catherine nevertheless, and the two are preparing to run away together.While Aunt Penniman extends Townsend an invitation to stay at the Sloper house while they are away, Sloper sends his daughter to Europe for a year in the hopes that she will forget about Townsend. Sloper tries to persuade Catherine out of her engagement when they are in Switzerland, but she resists, shocking Sloper with her determination. Catherine is so heartbroken that she won't even consider another love possibility. She devotes the ensuing years to charitable work and taking care of her ailing father. Townsend and Catherine have one final encounter, which Aunt Penniman arranges. She rejects his attempts now that she is older and wiser and accepts her existence as a spinster.