History Literature / WashingtonSquare

* OedipusComplex: Inverted--Morris actually can't stand Aunt Penniman, but she is both attracted to him and he reminds her of the son she wishes she'd had.

* OverprotectiveDad: Dr. Sloper's attitude towards Morris seems like this on the outside... but in reality, he is trying to protect his money, not his daughter.

* BreakTheCutie: A double-whammy for Catherine. The first one comes from her father during their stay in Europe; when she tells him she still plans to marry Morris, he gives a speech lathed with sarcasm, comparing her to a mindless animal whose "value is twice as great" after her experiences abroad, ending it with "We have fattened the sheep before he kills it!" Then [[spoiler: Morris--after finding out that Catherine will not be as rich as expected-- turns his inner JerkAss UpToEleven hoping it will turn her off him, and when that fails, he cruelly dumps her and runs off to California.]]

* OedipusComplex: Inverted--Morris actually can't stand Aunt Penniman, but she is both attracted to him and he reminds her of the son she wish she'd had.

* ShrinkingViolet: Catherine, to the point where every time she asserts herself seems like a MomentOfAwesome.

* TallDarkAndHandsome: [[JerkWithAHeartOfJerk Morris Townsend]] is played by the ''terribly handsome'' Montgomery Clift with all his dashing good-looks.

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[[caption-width-right:300: Charming, clever, cultured... what is he doing with her?]]

Creator/HenryJames's ''Washington Square'' tells the story of Catherine Sloper, a cripplingly shy woman who lives with her widowed father, Dr. Austin Sloper, and his flighty sister, Lavinia Penniman. Viewed by everyone as lacking personality, it's a big surprise when handsome,charming Morris Townsend takes an interest in her after meeting her at a party. Within weeks, they are saying they love each other and even consider getting engaged. Dr. Sloper thinks there is something not quite right about this match. After all, [[WhatDoesHeSeeInHer what kind of man would actually be attracted]] to such a ''dull'' girl?

Originally written in 1880, it was brought to the stage by Ruth and Augustus Goetz and retitled '' The Heiress'' in 1947. Two years later, it was made into a movie with the play's title starring Creator/OliviaDeHavilland, Creator/RalphRichardson, Creator/MiriamHopkins, and Creator/MontgomeryClift, and won de Havilland an Oscar. It was adapted to film again under the original title in 1997 starring Jennifer Jason Leigh. There was also a brief Broadway revival of the play in 1995 starring Creator/CherryJones (who won a Tony for the leading role), and another from 2012 to 2013 with Creator/JessicaChastain in the leading role.

!!''The Heiress'' uses most of the tropes above, in addition to:
* AdaptationalAttractiveness / HollywoodHomely: The supposedly plain Catherine is played by Creator/OliviaDeHavilland. [[Film/GoneWithTheWind Though it wasn't the first time she was cast as a supposedly plain woman.]]
** Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Olivia looked pretty mundane for a leading lady.
* CallingTheOldManOut: As part of her development into a more assertive person, Catherine calls her father to task for his awful treatment of her and then some, even calling him on his bluff to disown her.
* FalseReassurance: Catherine is happy when her father assures her that he will treat Morris with due respect. {{NOT}}
-->'''Dr. Sloper''': I shall be as fair and honest with him as he is with you.
-->'''Catherine''': Thank you, father, that is all we shall need.
* TheGhost: In a sense, Catherine's mother. Though she's already long-dead at the start of the film (making her a PosthumousCharacter) there is also a small framed photograph of her that many characters pick up and admire. The audience never gets to see it, leaving her physical appearance up to the imagination. The only thing we're told of her appearance is that, unlike Catherine, she was "fair".
* GrewASpine: This aspect of Catherine's development is emphasized even more than in the original story.
* LastRequest: While Catherine is sitting outside one day, Maria the maid rushes to her side, telling her that [[spoiler: her father]] is succumbing to his illness and his final wish is to see Catherine one more time. All she says is, "I'm sure he does. Too late, Maria."
* PragmaticAdaptation: Most of the changes in the story were carried over from the play, and were made arguably due to being more dramatically interesting:
** Due to [[ExecutiveMeddling studio mandated]] changes in Morris's character, [[spoiler: instead of what he does in the book, the night they are supposed to marry, he tells her he will come for her in a carriage. She eagerly waits all night for him, [[StoodUp but he never comes]]. Less openly malicious than what he does in the part, but arguably even more traumatizing for Catherine.]]
** The issue of the will which drove a lot of the plot is handled differently, too. [[spoiler: Dr. Sloper does not have it in his heart to change his will, and Catherine gets everything when he dies.]]
** Additionally, while in the book Catherine becomes detached from her father, in the movie it becomes a clear hatred, even [[spoiler: refusing to see him on his deathbed]]. Her disposition overall after her experience is colder than what was portrayed in the book, and ironically, more clever.
** The answer to Catherine and Morris's WillTheyOrWontThey is the same, but it is played differently: [[spoiler: When Morris comes to see her, she actually ''does'' act as if she wants to rekindle their romance. She tells him she wants to marry that night, and tells him to leave and get a carriage while she gets her things ready. Morris comes back with the carriage and knocks on Catherine's door... [[ATasteOfTheirOwnMedicine but no one ever answers.]]]]
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Dr. Sloper's BreakTheCutie tirade against Catherine is much more direct and dripping with sarcasm and contempt, telling her flat-out that she is plain, boring, and would only be valued by anyone for her money.
* RomanticRain: Catherine runs out into the rain as Morris is leaving and he rushes to meet her so they are both dripping wet when they kiss a few moments later.
* ATasteOfTheirOwnMedicine: The ending in which Catherine inflicts the same amount of cruelty upon Morris as he inflicted upon her.
* TimePassageBeard: Morris shows up with a moustache on his return from California.

Originally written in 1880, it was brought to the stage by Ruth and Augustus Goetz and retitled '' The Heiress'' in 1947. Two years later, it was made into a movie with the play's title starring Creator/OliviaDeHavilland, Creator/RalphRichardson, Creator/MiriamHopkins, and Creator/MontgomeryClift, and won de Havilland an Oscar. It was adapted to film again under the original title in 1997 starring Jennifer Jason Leigh. There was also a brief revival of the play on Broadway from 2012 to 2013 with Creator/JessicaChastain in the leading role.