Washington Square Lesson Plan

What are Mrs. Penniman’s reasons for interfering in the courtship of Morris and Catherine?

Discussion can focus on Mrs. Penniman’s own past as the wife of a poor clergyman “of sickly constitution and a flowery style of eloquence.” Ask if Mrs. Penniman’s experience of living for 10 years in what was then the small town of Poughkeepsie could have made her eager to find some fulfillment in the drama of Catherine and Morris's courtship. Students can find examples of Mrs. Penniman’s penchant for romantic intrigue in the text, but they should also try to offer explanations for why she has this tendency, and why James created a character like Mrs. Penniman. Some questions to...