Character in Henry Jamess Washington Square :: Henry James Washington Square

A Question of Character in atomic number 1 throngs Washington SquareAfter reading Henry jams Washington Square, I was left a bit curious as to why James had so many static characters in his novel. Character development is a major literary device in most works, but was most completely ignored in this obligate. I say almost because Catherines way seems to, even if just to the most subtle degree, drift towards an unphilanthropic attitude. Dr. Austin Sloper, his twain sisters and poor Morris Townsend remain rigidly in their roles from start to finish, even end-to-end the span of two decades.Fortunately, the most accomplished poet T. S. Eliot, defends James on barely this topic in his short essay, A Prediction. With character, in the sense in which the portrayal of character is usually expected in the English novel, Eliot writes, he had no concern (55). He went on to add character is only maven of the ways in which it is possible to grasp at reality (55). Eliot insists that had James been break-dance at developing characters, his writing would have suffered in other aspects (55).Fair enough, but then I was left with a capitulum from his prediction. What then is the driving point to Washington Square? Is it the plot perhaps, or the inter litigate of these concrete characters?Consider the complexity, or rather lack thereof, of the action and plot. The characters are introduced and Morris Townsend meets small Catherine. They court for a short while and Dr. Sloper investigates the young mans behaviors and concludes that he doesnt like him and forbids the marriage when the idea is presented to him. He and Catherine travel to atomic number 63 while Mr. Townsend visits with Lavinia, but upon Dr. Slopers return, leaves Catherine. Finally, some twenty years later, the doctor dies sledding none of his fortune to his daughter who is visited by Mr. Townsend one last epoch resulting in absolutely no consequence.If somebody told me that there was a book in which t wo hundred pages of plot was accurately and completely summarized in one short paragraph and character development was of no concern, I would have been most certain that what they actually had read was a screenplay for a porno. Plot was obviously not one of James major concerns with this novel, but to his credit, implements it better than Willa Cathers Death Comes for the Archbishop.Towards the end of his essay, Eliot hit upon the magic of Washington Square.