The tone of Washington Square is quite uniform, insofar as it begins with the same general tone that it maintains throughout the narrative. The third-person narrator speaks in a measured and observant tone, almost like someone watching a play unfold from a distance. They occasionally slip into a first-person perspective, too, when James wants to deliver a particularly pithy social critique. The initial chapters give readers a bird's-eye view of upper-crust New York society, introducing characters and their roles with an almost journalistic detachment.
As the relationship between Catherine and her father, Dr. Sloper, becomes the central focus, the narrative's tone shifts from mere observation to deeper emotional engagement. The narrator’s voice gradually takes on a tenderness when speaking of Catherine's innocence and vulnerability. It also then assumes a critical edge when addressing Dr. Sloper's stubbornness and judgments. The evolving dynamics between characters allow James’s reader to get a nuanced understanding of their complex and often mutually exclusive desires and needs. This bridges the gap between distant observation and empathetic engagement. This tonal shift, where the narrator's general attitude noticeably softens toward the protagonist, is considered a typical feature of a Henry James novel.
Throughout Washington Square, the tone also occasionally dips into irony, especially when addressing societal norms and expectations. These moments of irony and wit provide a contrast to the novel's overarching melancholy. They're part of the biting commentary on societal conventions that James was interested in critiquing in almost all his books. The narrator's witticisms about the pretensions of society, especially in the context of love and marriage, add a layer of sharpness to the otherwise somber narrative.
