Compare And Contrast Between Washington Square And Shopgirl

In literature, both new and old, one of the most popular themes is love. Many novels, poems, and short stories explore this theme in every imaginable way. Henry James’s Washington Square and Steve Martin’s Shopgirl are worthy additions to this timeless tradition. The twist for these two novels is that both heroine’s, Catherine in Washington Square and Mirabelle in Shopgirl, fall for men that do not love them in return. At least the ladies’ love is not returned in the manner they expect. The novels were written more than a century apart. Thus the dialogue, settings, and characters are different, but the central theme of unrequited love is present in both novels. James’s heroine Catherine Sloper is an ordinary girl. In fact, James writes of

On page 230 of Washington Square Dr. Sloper asks, “Promise me not to marry Morris Townsend after I am gone.” Catherine has no intention of resuming her relationship with Morris, but she refuses to give in to her father’s request. Catherine says, “I very seldom think of Mr. Townsend.” Catherine winds up living out her days as a maiden in her father’s home. Shopgirl holds a very different, and much happier, ending for Mirabelle. Mirabelle runs into Jeremy, a bit character that appeared near the beginning of Shopgirl. When Mirabelle first encountered Jeremy, he was a bit of heel. He and Mirabelle had sex once, before she began her relationship with Ray. When Jeremy is introduced he is an unworthy, immature suitor. Upon his return to Mirabelle’s life he has become successful, and a bit more refined. On page 127 of Shopgirl, “At this point, Jeremy surpasses Mr. Ray Porter as a lover of Mirabelle, because as clumsy as he is, what he offers her is tender and true.” Jeremy is the man that will become the man of her dreams, and most importantly he loves Mirabelle in return. Thus, in these novels, as in life, peoples stories come to different endings. Catherine dies alone, never having found love. The one she thought was “the one” wasn’t. Instead of trying again, she lets the dream of love, and being loved, slip away. Catherine never arrives at a happily ever after ending. In contrast, Mirabelle finds love and happiness with the previously discarded Jeremy, and lives happily ever