Bette Howlands Criticism of Henry Jamess Washington Square :: Henry James Washington Square

Bette Howlands Criticism of Henry mobs capital letter cheeringBette Howland, in her review of Henry mobs Washington Square, focuses on two different aspects of the toshs development. She begins by impressing on the reader how Henry James himself viewed his creation and then plunges into the history hobo the plot. In doing this, she describes how Henry James has used irony to make this story his own creation. Half way through the article she changes directions and shows how Washington Square is the forerunner of his other novels. She describes how they all have the same radical plot. fit in to Bette Howland, Henry James never cared for his novel Washington Square. He refers to it as A poorish thing and a tale purely American (1). In fact, when he compiled his stories in his New York Edition he omitted this story from its pages. He claimed that, Ive tried to read over Washington Square and I cant and I fear it must go (1). Ms. Howland claims that it is a fitting irony. You migh t verbalize that like Dr. Sloper in the novel, James disinherited his heroine, he cut her pop of his will (1).The author of the criticism then focuses on how Henry James received the anecdote that he would transform into his novel. Henry James twists the basic story into his own work by way of irony. Dr. Sloper is at the focus of Jamess irony. While Dr. Sloper criticizes Catherine as a simpleton who is ugly and overdressed (3) he states, I expect nothing . . . so that if she gives me a surprise, it will be all clear gain. If she doesnt, it will be no loss (3). This is juiceless because he himself played a part in her creation. Bette Howland states that while Washington Square may lack the supersubtle nuances of Henry James future novels, it offers his irony at its most efficient. The novel is a system of ironies a closed system. . . James is always doing two things at once. Except for Catherine, the characters are always describing themselves and to each one other . . . and eve rything they say cuts both ways (5).Bette Howland also examines the similarities present in the midst of Washington Square and The Portrait of a Lady, The Wings of the Dove, and The Golden Bowl. In the four novels, Henry James uses his favorite configuration of a triangle.