Washington Square is the story of Catherine Sloper, the plain, naïve daughter of a prominent New York doctor.  When the relentlessly charming Morris Townsend begins to court Catherine, Dr. Sloper sees only an opportunist after his daughter's inheritance.  Catherine's subsequent despair is redeemed only by an extremely hard-won self realization.  The account of her tragedy stands as a cogent masterpiece from James' early career.