resigned to be an old maid. She will never really trust any man again. She be self-reliant and self-sufficient. Everybody wants love and friendship, but these things are hard to find and hard to keep.

There have been two motion picture versions of Henry James's short novel. The first was titled "The Heiress" and starred Olivia de Havilland as Catherine Sloper. In that version she becomes a bitter, lonely old maid. The later version, titled "Washington Square," has a definite feminist spin. Catherine ends up single but extremely wealthy and enjoying a life of independence. She has learned that a woman doesn't need a man to have a satisfactory life. She enjoys greater than most women who still believe that marriage and motherhood are the only proper careers for a woman. Although Catherine is unable to have children, she is surrounded by little nieces and nephews who all love her. "The Heiress" was filmed appropriately in black and white, while "Washington Square," which is filled with happy music, was filmed, also appropriately, in beautiful color. Both film adaptations show that Catherine has become a stronger person as a result of her suffering.