In Washington Square the overarching mood is introspective. It’s as if the book is “thinking” like a character—a character who knows they’re surrounded with simmering tensions. The novel is steeped in melancholy from its very beginning. This is largely centered around Catherine's ongoing search for love and acceptance from those around her. Her quiet, reflective nature fills the novel with a contemplative, even somber ambiance. It makes the reader feel thoughtful and unwilling to jump to conclusions, as Catherine is herself.
As the tale advances, particularly focusing on Catherine's evolving relationship with Morris and her father's staunch objections to it, the mood’s tension intensifies. Through the lens of the novel’s difficult and complicated relationships, the mood is uncomfortable and often strained. While Morris's affections for Catherine seemingly flourish, Dr. Sloper remains skeptical of his intentions. This skepticism manifests in a series of subtly charged exchanges between these men and other characters. These are full of veiled criticisms and concealed agendas, ratcheting up the reader’s sense of suspense and making them consistently uneasy.
The weight of societal norms and familial expectations bears heavily upon Catherine, and as the book progresses, she becomes more and more embroiled in emotional intensity. As she grapples with these external pressures, the reader feels a sense of mounting claustrophobia with her strict social environment. Her fluctuating relationship with Morris, set against the backdrop of her father's unwavering disapproval, is always in the background of everything else that’s going on.
In essence, the novel’s mood reflects Catherine's own emotional journey. Readers follow her narrative arc from an initial optimism to its unsatisfying and heartrending climax. By the novel’s conclusion, they feel both sorrow and respect for Catherine's resilience and for her response to her highly limited life.
