Introduction
Traditionally human society is treated as a very controversial social organization and often it is criticized for its cruelty and indifference but still it is possible to find the room for humanistic ideals in the contemporary world as well as in the past. Unfortunately, in actuality it is not always possible to develop humanistic principles and ideals because of the norms and traditions existing in the society as well as because of circumstances in which people find themselves. In fact often people face the problem of choice between their personal interests, inclinations, desires and social norms and moral principles dominating in the society. This is why people often have to solve the dilemma what should they chose either their personal happiness or the obedience to the moral norms of their social surrounding.


On reading literary works, depicting such a dilemma the character may face readers often feel sympathy to them but what is probably more important their own acts are also motivated by sympathy, which may be personal, in relation to some people, social, in relation to social norms, etc. The story of Catherine Sloper, depicted by Henry James in “Washington Square” exactly corresponds to the dilemma of choice and the influence of sympathy on it, on the one hand, and a permanent feeling of pity and sympathy to the main character of the book, which has to make a very difficult choice, on the other hand.
The actuality of the problem of choice and the role of sympathy in its solution
Before discussing the problem of choice related directly to the dilemma Catherine Sloper faces in the book “Washington Square” by Henry James, it is necessary to say a few words explaining the importance of the problem and its solution and dwell upon the ways of solution of the problem.
First of all, it should be said that it is really a hard problem to solve because people often have to solve such problems. As a result, one may say that if people deal with such problems regularly than probably they have some basic knowledge about the ways of their solutions.
Unfortunately the reality is far from such viewpoint because the problem of choice remains unsolved until the present moment and in fact it is rather a problem of a personal choice and consequently the ways of its solutions should be rather individual.
Traditionally, on discussing the problem of choice, several recommendations are given. As rule it is recommended to decide what are the points, according to which the choice may be taken. Basically it is recommended to make morally acceptable choice but in the same time it is the question of moral acceptance that may be the subject of choice. Moreover, different societies suggest different moral values and often it is impossible to stick to a definite point. For instance, Oriental societies basically supports moral norms based on the priority of social group over individual interests, while Western societies are traditionally considered to be highly individualistic and individual interest are often put on the first place, naturally if they do not contradict to the moral norms accepted in the society.
However, it does not solve the problem of choice at full measure and often there is something else that makes people to decide what to choose. This ‘something’ is probably one of the cornerstones to the solution of the problem and it is sympathy since it is sympathy that along with all other conditions mentioned above plays an extremely important role in the choices made by people. This is why despite all moral principles and norms and the social preferences individual sympathy may eventually be a key component of a personal choice. In order to understand the reasonability of this statement it is necessary to analyze one of the best works written by Henry James “Washington Square”.
The role of sympathy in solution of the main character’s problem of choice in “Washington Square”
On realizing the importance of the problem of choice and the significance of sympathy in its solution, it is necessary to dwell upon the novel “Washington Square” and find out what the problem the main character, Catherine Sloper, faces and what choice she has to make.
First of all, it should be said that Catherine Sloper is a daughter of a quite successful and rich person and partially this is her problem or at least one of the causes of the problem of choice she would have to solve. Briefly speaking she, being a young woman, falls in love with Morris Townsend, who is not a bad person but he is quite an idle man. But his personal characteristics are not so important for the analysis made in terms of this paper. Anyway it should be pointed out that regardless his positive and negative characteristics Catherine still loves him and she is ready to marry him and this is exactly where the problem gets to begin. Her father, who has already achieved great social respect and who is quite a wealthy person, is a very suspicious man. He believes that Morrison Townsend is just a fortune hunter, who is not interested in his daughter but in her potential heritage. In such a way Catherine father does not take into consideration personal feelings of his daughter and her beloved. At this respect he is quite pragmatic person deprived of any romantic stereotypes. But Catherine is very different from her father she loves Morris and is ready to marry him.
Consequently she faces a dilemma whether to marry a person whom she loves or to obey to her father and forget her beloved and it is really a difficult choice to be made since she feels a very strong sympathy to Morris but in the same time she loves her father as well and she can hardly contradict him. As a result the problem may be solved only when the main character can decide what sympathy is stronger to her beloved, whose heart would be broken, at least Catherine thinks so, or to her aging father, who would be abandoned in fact if she marries Morris.
At this respect a few words should be said about the historical backgrounds and moral norms dominating in the American society of the 19th century when the events of the novel takes place that will obviously help to understand how difficult the choice of Catherine was and what a role sympathy played in it. In fact it was quite a conservative society where men played a dominating role why women had little opportunities to act independently and according to their own inclinations or wishes. In such circumstances Catherine was supposed to obey to her father’s will. In the same time it should be pointed out that the feminist movement has already started to develop that may be considered as an opportunity for Catherine to make an individual and independent choice but at this respect it is up to the author to decide what of the trends mentioned above wins.
Obviously Henry James is quite a conservative in the question of female emancipation since eventually Catherine obeys to her father and forgets about Morris Townsend until her father’s death and only after that they can rejoin.
On analyzing the reasons for such a choice made by Catherine, it is difficult to find what are the real motives of her choice since she refuses from the man whom she loves. At first glance, one may say that she simply does not really love him but in all probability the truth lies much deeper than such a superficial presupposition.
On making such a choice, several factors may be taken into consideration. One of them is the impact of moral norms dominating in the society, which could really be so influential that forced her to make such an uneasy choice since if she left her father and went with Morris, she would become a kind of social outcast and she would be scorned by the overwhelming majority of people surrounding her that would make her life with her beloved very difficult if not to say unbearable. So she could simply be afraid of such a fate and this is why she obeys to her father. On the other hand, another probably more significant reason should be taken into consideration in order to understand her choice. It is sympathy to her father.
Despite the current contradictions caused by her love to Morris Townsend, she is still a good daughter and she respects old traditions and moral norms of the society. In the same time she realizes that her father is getting old and if she left him he would remain alone and naturally it would be very difficult for him to cope with his loneness at the end of his life. Moreover, her egoistic choice in favor of Morris could simply kill her father. Naturally she realizes the possible consequences of her choice and probably she prefers to remain with her father for a while and she hopes to rejoin with Morris after her father’s death. By the way the fact that they eventually rejoin indicates that they really love one another.
The function of Catherine’s sympathy
Thus, one of the most important reasons of Catherine’s choice is her sympathy to her father but in actuality it is not easy to realize what was the function of this sympathy, i.e. whether it was just a sympathy of a loving daughter to her father, or was it caused by the fear before possible social rejection, or may be something else.
On analyzing the novel and the main character in particular, it is possible to say that it was rather a combination of several functions for which the author developed such sympathy. It is obvious that it is sympathy developed on the personal level since Catherine really loves her father and can hardly contradict his will, especially as he is getting older and older.
Furthermore, the Catherine’s sympathy also plays a social function because in such a way through the choice motivated by sympathy and made by Catherine in favor of her father is evidence of the victory of traditional moral values accepted in the American society of the 19th century. In other words, Catherine’s sympathy results in supporting traditional familial values and underlines the traditional hierarchy that existed in American families of that time. A kind of happy end, which is in suspense, is, in all probability, the author’s deliberate indication at the correctness of the choice made by Catherine. In such a way the author underlines that sustaining and development of traditional values, even caused by sympathy only, is morally good and socially acceptable.
Conclusion
Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is possible to conclude that Henry James has managed to create a really impressive character in his work “Washington Square”, which is very sympathetic and able to act according to basic moral and socially acceptable norms even despite the fact that Catherine sacrificed her personal happiness in fact. The choice of Catherine to stay her father and forget about Morris Townsend is difficult but, being caused by sympathy, is nonetheless correct, at least from the point of view of the author.
Obviously the sympathy is multifunctional and plays personal and social functions in the meantime. However, the author creates a bit idealized character but what is much more important is the problem he raises in his work and the ways of its solution he suggests.
On reading the novel, the most probably conclusion that would be made is the idea that in the situation when people have to make difficult choices they are moved basically by sympathy which is formed under the influence of different factors, such as moral norms, for instance, but eventually it neither moral nor social nor any other factors that play the key role in taking difficult decisions. The only thing that is really important in such situations is sympathy, which shapes individual’s character and behavior.

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