MovieChat Forums > Washington Square (1997) Discussion > Dr. Sloper Unreasonable and Mean

Dr. Sloper Unreasonable and Mean

posted 16 years ago by Devans00
8 replies | jump to latest

The thing that ultimately killed any chance of Catherine and Morris getting together was the year separation while Dr. Sloper dragged his daughter around Europe. How many unmarried relationships do you know of are new, hot and heavy then have such a long break?

I can understand Dr. Sloper's hesitancy at first, but Morris Townsend did 3 things that would quiet any doubts I had:

- He agreed to be separated from Catherine for 6 months to test the strength of the relationship.

- He got a job and was doing well. Becoming a partner in a short time

- He was honest that he liked Catherine but he wouldn't mind the money too

If Morris Townsend was truly only a gold digger, he'd have hit the bricks before doing any of these. It's not a crime to have money be one of the things you look for when searching for a spouse. I think Dr. Sloper made such a big fuss about it because he didn't want his daughter to grow up and leave him. Instead of just saying so, he hatefully sabotaged her relationship. The emotional abuse continued after his death.

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

[–] E_D_N 13 years ago

I agree and I believe it is the key. Control.

It is made clear several times in the movie that Dr. Sloper despises his daughter. "What a pity that your mother had to die so that you could inhabit space."

The truth is she robbed him of his happiness when his beloved wife died in labor. Much is made of Dr. Sloper's intellectual nature, but at heart, I think he was deeply affected by his wife's death and has been prejudiced and closed off emotionally to his imperfect daughter from the time of her birth.

While Morris has his flaws and was indeed mercenary, I believe the real villain his Austin.

It appears he genuinely cares for his daughter's future by weeding off the unsuitable Townsend. (Unsuitable, because he lacks a career.) In truth, it is a mask. He gets rid of him because Townsend is a threat to his hold over Katherine. He doesn't want her to be happy and will do anything to make that happen.

I call it parental cannibalism. When parents cannibalize their own progeny in a conscious or unconscious level. Not all parents have their children's best interests at heart.

[–] Devans00 13 years ago

E_D_N
I call it parental cannibalism. When parents cannibalize their own progeny in a conscious or unconscious level. Not all parents have their children's best interests at heart.

Hey! I resemble that remark. Sadly, this kind of parent - child relationship is so common, it has a label. Toxic Parent. This assumes that all the blame goes on the parent, not the child. I agree this is the case until the child is old enough to stand up for themself. May happen during teen years, twenties or never.

E_D_N
I agree and I believe it is the key. Control.

It is made clear several times in the movie that Dr. Sloper despises his daughter. "What a pity that your mother had to die so that you could inhabit space."

Yes, what a truly hateful thing to say. The kind of thing that would get Dr. Sloper a punch in the mouth if he said it about anyone other than his flesh and blood.

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

[–] juxtapose70 10 years ago

It is made clear several times in the movie that Dr. Sloper despises his daughter. "What a pity that your mother had to die so that you could inhabit space."

The truth is she robbed him of his happiness when his beloved wife died in labor. Much is made of Dr. Sloper's intellectual nature, but at heart, I think he was deeply affected by his wife's death and has been prejudiced and closed off emotionally to his imperfect daughter from the time of her birth.

While Morris has his flaws and was indeed mercenary, I believe the real villain his Austin.

It appears he genuinely cares for his daughter's future by weeding off the unsuitable Townsend. (Unsuitable, because he lacks a career.) In truth, it is a mask. He gets rid of him because Townsend is a threat to his hold over Katherine. He doesn't want her to be happy and will do anything to make that happen.

I call it parental cannibalism. When parents cannibalize their own progeny in a conscious or unconscious level. Not all parents have their children's best interests at heart.

Yep! And let's not forget that Morris Townsend was right on many accounts. He had looks and worldly adventures -which Catherine fell for at first sight. So what if he loved her for her gentleness AND money? Would she have loved him if he'd looked like John Ludlow? Apparently not. It was, indeed, a fair exchange. There's no doubt in my mind that he would have made a good husband to Catherine precisely because she was good for his ego which "required an audience that is quick to tire of him -not so, Catherine...". Aunt Elizabeth alluded to this very thing when she spoke to her brother, Dr. Sloper. In fact, Aunt Elizabeth was really the voice of reason in the story.

"I have nipples, Greg. Could you milk me?"

[–] denise1234 9 years ago

"So what if he loved her for her gentleness AND money?"

He didn't love her at all, else he would not have left her crying in the mud.

"There's no doubt in my mind that he would have made a good husband to Catherine precisely because she was good for his ego which "required an audience that is quick to tire of him -not so, Catherine...".

IMO, that was just a line he gave to the Father, to try to con-vince him.

"Much communication in a motion, without conversation or a notion"

[–] coleburg83 12 years ago

He himself was a gold digger who married her mother for money, although apparently he grew to love her. That's a huge part of all of it and his hypocrisy. Like say Thierry Roussel in the modern day. He was a fortune hunter who then recognized that his daughter was being targeted by one and refused to accept it.

-
You did just fine, Clarence. Now go git yo'self some hot cornbread!

[–] Devans00 12 years ago

coleburg83
He himself was a gold digger who married her mother for money, although apparently he grew to love her.. That's a huge part of all of it and his hypocrisy. Like say Thierry Roussel in the modern day. He was a fortune hunter who then recognized that his daughter was being targeted by one and refused to accept it.

Interesting take on things, coleburg83. I didn't pick up on that at all. I could tell the father was utterly devoted to the wife but I thought it was love and affection. Not because the wife could financially support whatever schemes the father could think up.

That would put a whole different spin on the story. The father was nasty to the boyfriend because he was protecting his daughter from a social climber. Not because he selfishly wanted a live-in companion so he didn't want his daughter grow up and leave through marriage.

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

[–] coleburg83 12 years ago

His initial interest in his wife was mercenary, she was rich and he was poor. But he grew to love her and was successful himself after the marriage when he had the means to succeed. Much as it appeared could happen with his daughter. But I believe we are supposed to know that he is well-aware of Townsend's motivations, because of his own past and he is trying to protect her for the most part. He does despise her though, little doubt of that.

-
You did just fine, Clarence. Now go git yo'self some hot cornbread!

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]