The Heiress
A 1947 play by Ruth and Augustus Goetz
Adapted from Henry James’ 1880 novel
Washington Square
Characters:
- Catherine Sloper- twenty-one year old daughter of the doctor during the main events of the novel
- Morris Townsend- suitor to Catherine
- Dr. Austin Sloper- a physician in New York City, father of Catherine
- Lavinia Penniman- widowed sister of Dr. Sloper and aunt who lives in the household
- Maria- the Sloper’s parlor maid
- Mrs. Montgomery- sister of Morris Townsend
- Marian Almond
- Elizabeth Almond- sister of Dr. Sloper, aunt of Catherine
- Arthur Townsend
Catherine Sloper is a plain girl. She lives with her wealthy, widowed father, Dr. Austin Sloper, who can barely conceal his disdain for his shy, awkward daughter. When a handsome suitor, Morris Townsend, comes calling, Catherine’s father refuses to believe he is anything other than a heartless fortune hunter and sets out to drive apart their romance.
Setting:
Washington Square, New York City, New York
(1880 picture)
1850
- Decade before the Civil War
- Two decades after the opening of the Erie Canal which connected the Hudson and the Great Lakes, causing NYC to become the most important center of commerce at the time
- During the reign of the corrupt political machine Tammany Hall (which actually built most of NYC)
WWC The Heiress 