Posted by Cassia on July 17, 1997 at 17:42:05:
In reply to Re: While We're Hanging Out with Kind of Chickie...Washington Square posted by Luisa on July 17, 1997 at 10:14:52
]
] ] The thing I can't comprehend is that she loves him even though he doesn't value her at all! Even before Morris enters the scene he's carrying on about her never being able to attract a husband. He is not kind to her and shows her something to contempt. He doesn't relent because he must prove himself right in his "scientific" obsevations. He is a great brat of a bully to his daughter, and never once takes his daughter's feeling into consideration. Someone should definately remake this into a mini. although the Montgomery Clift/Olivia de Haviland version still has legs. It is great story but a longer version would allow everyone to see what a nasty man Dr. Sloper is. I loathe the man.
] everyone to see what a nasty man Dr. Sloper is. I loathe the man.
] I don`t particularly like the man either, even if he does amuse me; that´s why it`s such a great story. The relationship between father and daughter is fantastically set.
] I must confess there were times when I wanted to laugh my head off at his observations:-She´s going to stick, by Jove!-and the way he talks to Mrs Penniman who is truly irritating. I loathe her a whole lot more, as I loathe Morris.
] Sloper is soooo goddamn cynical and sarcastic and I can`t help but consider Catherine rather silly, I mean, I never for a second wanted her to marry Morris and her father has Morris all figured out from the beginning, even if he does misjudge his daughter and doesn`t deserve her affection in the end. Actually the book makes a point of telling us that Sloper deserves to be punished.
] I find Dr.Sloper too interesting a character to be loathed. I think his portrait is brilliant. A cynical, manipulative, arrogant, cold man who makes the book work. If it weren`t for him, the story would just be another row of clichés, even though I find Catherine too tragic and too obstinate to be a total cliché. Washington Square is a fab story.
] They are making a movie with Albert Finney, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Ben Chaplin. Must be great...
________
I think I wanted her to marry Morris, it is better to be valued for something than not to be valued at all. I read this for the first time soon after I read a bio of Disreali. Disreali married his wife for her money and never made any pretense about it. Yet, they had a good marriage and a real understanding of one another's characters. At the end of his life, he said he loved her best of all.
I'm not saying that Morris would necessarily behaved inthe same way but it is a possilbility. At the end of Wahington Square no one has any possiblities at all.
Cassia
Posting followups to old messages is disabled; instead go to the main index and post a new message which mentions this one.