No Happy Ending.

I read washington square by henry james, again. the first time i hated the book. it was dull and hard to get through even though it was short.

this time, i appreciated the ending a lot more. it's a sad, sad book only because it highlights how cruel people can be when they have power over someone. in this case, this woman loved once, and truly, despite her father's disapproval, and you feel pity.

love is just another form of power-struggle- subjection to pain and degradation that is somehow made right for a lucky few whose love is reciprocated wholly.

love is a biological weapon of destruction, equivalent to radiation, poison, and bombs. except it never kills, but maims, leaving you with an empty shell of who you used to be.

those are the morals of this story. either/or. i can't choose because they're both just such lovely prospects -_-