In and Out of Washington Square
Alexa Huang
EN135 New York City Literature
Professor Burke
Theme #1.1 In and Out of Washington Square
From P42 to P43, the novel depicts the first private conversation between Dr. Sloper and Morris. At Mrs. Almond’s house, Dr. Sloper first accuses Morris for not requesting his permission before start dating Catherine, then Dr. Sloper aggressively points out Morris’s unemployment and idle condition, while Morris purposefully misinterprets Dr. Sloper's words as an offer of employment. Soon, the subject of their conversation moves onto Morris and his real motive of pursuing Catherine. The conversation ends up being unpleasant; Dr. Sloper asserts that he will not accept Morris as a son-in-law, and Morris suggests that he will marry Catherin even without the Doctor’s consent.
This scene is both intriguing and important to the plot of the novel. Detailed descriptions of both their actions and their words indicate rise and falls of their positions and emotions. The confrontation of the two main characters offers the reader a chance to compare and contrast some of the crucial traits of Morris and Dr. Sloper. Dr. Sloper starts confidently with a tone of self-approbation, as apart of his distinct characteristics, but as the conversation goes on, especially when Morris becomes more confident, Dr. Sloper seems to lose his composure. Morris gradually gains control of the conversation and since irritates Dr. Sloper, which lays out Dr. Sloper’s prolonging dislike of Morris and suspicion about Morris’s true motive of pursuing of Catherine.
This scene commences Dr. Sloper and Morris’s prolonging conflict and highlights the symmetry in the two male characters that is the basis of one of the major dilemmas in the novel. Also, Dr. Sloper’s unapproved of Morris from this scene on hints the fate of Morris as an outsider throughout the whole story. Another critical scene happens in Chapter 26, when Morris Townsend and Catherine meet for the first time after she
EN135 New York City Literature
Professor Burke
Theme #1.1 In and Out of Washington Square
From P42 to P43, the novel depicts the first private conversation between Dr. Sloper and Morris. At Mrs. Almond’s house, Dr. Sloper first accuses Morris for not requesting his permission before start dating Catherine, then Dr. Sloper aggressively points out Morris’s unemployment and idle condition, while Morris purposefully misinterprets Dr. Sloper's words as an offer of employment. Soon, the subject of their conversation moves onto Morris and his real motive of pursuing Catherine. The conversation ends up being unpleasant; Dr. Sloper asserts that he will not accept Morris as a son-in-law, and Morris suggests that he will marry Catherin even without the Doctor’s consent.
This scene is both intriguing and important to the plot of the novel. Detailed descriptions of both their actions and their words indicate rise and falls of their positions and emotions. The confrontation of the two main characters offers the reader a chance to compare and contrast some of the crucial traits of Morris and Dr. Sloper. Dr. Sloper starts confidently with a tone of self-approbation, as apart of his distinct characteristics, but as the conversation goes on, especially when Morris becomes more confident, Dr. Sloper seems to lose his composure. Morris gradually gains control of the conversation and since irritates Dr. Sloper, which lays out Dr. Sloper’s prolonging dislike of Morris and suspicion about Morris’s true motive of pursuing of Catherine.
This scene commences Dr. Sloper and Morris’s prolonging conflict and highlights the symmetry in the two male characters that is the basis of one of the major dilemmas in the novel. Also, Dr. Sloper’s unapproved of Morris from this scene on hints the fate of Morris as an outsider throughout the whole story. Another critical scene happens in Chapter 26, when Morris Townsend and Catherine meet for the first time after she