Lavinia Penniman

E287684

Lavinia Penniman is a meddlesome, romantic-minded aunt in Henry James’s novel "Washington Square," whose interference significantly shapes the story’s central relationships.

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All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Lavinia Penniman canonical 7

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf aunt
fictional character
literary character
supporting character
appearsIn Washington Square
appearsInGenre realist novel
auntOf Catherine Sloper
authorialAttitude treated with irony by Henry James
characterTrait imaginative
indiscreet
manipulative
meddlesome
romantic-minded
sentimental
talkative
confidanteOf Catherine Sloper
Morris Townsend
createdBy Henry James
encouragesRomanceBetween Catherine Sloper
encouragesRomanceWith Morris Townsend
familyName Penniman
firstAppearance novel Washington Square
gender female
givenName Lavinia
influences Catherine Sloper
languageOfWork English
literaryMovement Realism
surface form: American realism
literaryWorkPublicationYear 1880
maritalStatus widowed
medium novel
motivatedBy desire for romance and excitement
wish to live vicariously through Catherine
narrativeFunction comic relief
ironic contrast to Dr. Sloper’s rationality
nationality American
occupation widow
opposes Dr. Austin Sloper
relationshipToTheme contrasts with themes of prudence and realism
embodies theme of romantic illusion
relative Catherine Sloper
Dr. Austin Sloper
residence New York City
roleInPlot catalyst for the courtship between Catherine Sloper and Morris Townsend
source of conflict between Catherine Sloper and Dr. Austin Sloper
settingOfAppearances Washington Square
surface form: Washington Square, Manhattan
sisterInLawOf Dr. Austin Sloper
timePeriod 19th century

Referenced by (7)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Washington Square mainCharacter Lavinia Penniman
The Heiress character Lavinia Penniman
Catherine Sloper hasAunt Lavinia Penniman
Catherine Sloper is the daughter of Dr. Austin Sloper aunt Lavinia Penniman
subject surface form: Catherine Sloper
Dr. Austin Sloper sibling Lavinia Penniman
Dr. Austin Sloper hasSister Lavinia Penniman
Dr. Austin Sloper hasRelative Lavinia Penniman