Date of Award

5-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

English

Committee Member

Dr. Dominic Mastroianni, Committee Chair

Committee Member

Dr. Susanna Ashton

Committee Member

Dr. Jonathan Beecher Field

Abstract

This paper addresses the role that Henry James’ Washington Square plays in creating spaces of power through the medium of gazing. The first section of this paper examines the male-centric arguments of the book, namely that of the social and economic spheres, and how the two main male characters inhabit and manipulate these areas. The majority of this paper is concerned with the play of the female gaze and how certain female characters in the novel, specifically Catherine, are able to train their own gazes and then come, in turn, to manipulate the gazes of the men who seek to abuse them. This paper is a study of powerplays and offers a unique role to Catherine by allowing her own power and autonomy.

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