Im depressed. Well, how could I not be? I just finished reading Washington Square. Im happy its over, but Im not happy I finished it. No, that doesnt make sense does it? Lets just say, I had a feeling how it was going to end up; I just hoped that I would be wrong.
Unfortunately the one time I didnt want to be right I was. Isnt that the way it always works? I guess so. Catherine, dear plain old, Catherine. Poor girl, father thinks shes plain, she thinks shes plain, her aunt thinks shes plain, even the man who she thinks loves her thinks shes plain. Although James erases this thought in the beginning of the book I still believe it, plain equals ugly. I feel so bad for her but I guess you had to have what happened to her happen, or else we wouldnt have such a depressing story.
I tell you though, Im glad my daddy isnt rich or I would swear off guys as well. I felt so horrible when I knew before her what Morris was like. Which brings me to Morris Townsend. Hes a rat, I smelt a rat from the beginning but I figured it was just because for me guys for the most part are always rats. But of course he was after her money, she was plain and her father was rich no her father wasnt rich. By god he was rich.
So Catherines got a big dowry, lots of money, but shes plain. Oh, well the money will compensate. This shows you the kind of man he is. Well at least it erases the theory that women are gold diggers.
James makes the reader dislike Catherines father. He makes him seem like an insensitive uncaring prick, but I really dont think he is. Yes I know parents are supposed to think that their child is the most beautiful thing in the world but hey, that theorys over rated. Its not that he didnt love his daughter; he just knew the truth. He was realistic about the entire idea of this strikingly handsome man falling head over heals in love with his daughter who isnt the greatest looking chick in the world.
Something doesnt quite fit. But its a known fact that children never believe what their parents say. Who trusts the person whos had more experience in life? Where would the sense be in that? Although he had a funny way of showing it, Catherines father truly cared for her. Well weve already established that shes not going to listen to his better judgment, but still, it didnt help that she had an aunt who believed in Cinderella and Prince Charming fairy tales. Her aunt is a quack.
James doesnt go so far as to say this much but thats what she is. She believes that everyone will find love. All shes trying to do is live vicariously through her niece. Her father says, All he wants is your money she says, no he wants your heart and all that other mushy stuff.
Her father really is a smart man. He knew from the start that his sister was going to cause this kind of trouble. He was right. Its hard enough that shes in love with a scumbag, but shes got one saying hes rotten and the other saying hes perfect.
Instead of ending up alone at the end she shouldve ended in an asylum. Hell, I know that would drive me crazy. Hmm lets see . . .whos got the problem.
Catherine maybe? Yes I think Ill go with Catherine. Catherine is torn between the cultural forces that would have her marry into elite society, when shes in love with someone she can never have-in this case a handsome young man who wants her only for her money. Of course she doesnt know this yet but she will. The poor girl.
Her father forbids her to marry Morris. Having a father disapprove of the man you love is a hard thing. Still loving the man your father disapproves of is even harder. Then later finding out that the man youd been fighting for wouldnt have done the same for you is devastating. Catherine knows shes right, that Morris loves her. She knows this all the way up until the point where she finds out he doesnt.
(Well, that would be logical wouldnt it?) But to solve the problem of being forbidden to marry, she merely stays unwed until her fathers death. When Morris shows up ten years later and then decides to try to wed her for her money, shes got a new problem. Shes realized who he really is. So she rejects him and condemns herself to live alone rather than compromise to the crooked social order of both men and women that has limited her whole life. Now its just a hunch, but I honestly think she dies a virgin and without knowing the feeling of being loved. Now can you see why this book is just depressing? Im so glad its over and Im so glad this reports over too.
So I dont have to talk about this depressing story any longer. I have a feeling her aunt wouldnt liked this story very much. I mean wheres the glass slipper?
