Washington Square · Character

Lavinia Penniman

Catherine's widowed aunt, a romantic schemer who lives for intrigue and mistakes her own imagination for Providence.

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Penniman, Penniman, Aunt Penniman, Lavinia, Aunt Lavinia, dear Lavinia, the impulsive Lavinia

First appearance: II

As a supporting figure in Washington Square, Lavinia Penniman is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Catherine's aunt, a tall, thin, faded woman with a romantic and sentimental nature.

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Mrs. Penniman settled into her brother's house after a brief, flowery marriage and never left, appointing herself her niece's companion and confidante. She encourages Morris Townsend's suit with theatrical zeal, arranges secret meetings, and imagines herself the architect of a great romance, all while shrinking from Dr. Sloper's cold eye. Her meddling and self-dramatizing 'genius for consolation' repeatedly deepen Catherine's predicament.

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Character Web

7 connections

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Relationship types

Family
Psychological
Social

Character groups

Central Love Triangle & Family
Protagonist

+2 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because Dr. Sloper explicitly acknowledges that Catherine will not break u…

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Relationships

Catherine Sloper
family · ambivalent
Lavinia is Catherine's aunt and live-in companion, but she manipulates Catherine into… How this plays out →
Morris Townsend
psychological · positive
Dr. Austin Sloper
family · negative
Mrs. Almond
family · ambivalent
Arthur Townsend
social · positive
Marian Almond
family · positive
Morris Townsend
psychological · positive
Catherine Sloper
family · ambivalent
Lavinia is Catherine's aunt and live-in companion, but she manipulates Catherine into… How this plays out →
Dr. Austin Sloper
family · negative
Dr. Austin Sloper
family · negative
Catherine Sloper
family · ambivalent
Lavinia is Catherine's aunt and live-in companion, but she manipulates Catherine into… How this plays out →
Morris Townsend
psychological · positive

Catherine Sloper
Lavinia is Catherine's aunt and live-in companion, but she manipulates Catherine into pursuing Morris for her own romantic fantasies.
Morris Townsend
Lavinia is infatuated with Morris as a romantic figure and acts as his ally and go-between, enabling his courtship of Catherine.
Dr. Austin Sloper
Dr. Sloper is Lavinia's brother-in-law, and he treats her with contempt and condescension, blaming her for encouraging Catherine's romance.
Mrs. Almond
Lavinia and Mrs. Almond are sisters-in-law, with Mrs. Almond often serving as a voice of reason against Lavinia's romantic meddling.
Arthur Townsend
Arthur is a relative of Morris and a social acquaintance of Lavinia, who uses him as a source of information about Morris.
Marian Almond
Lavinia is Marian's aunt, and their interactions are limited to family occasions, with Lavinia often gossiping about romance.
Morris Townsend
Lavinia is infatuated with Morris as a romantic figure and acts as his ally and go-between, enabling his courtship of Catherine.
Catherine Sloper
Lavinia is Catherine's aunt and live-in companion, but she manipulates Catherine into pursuing Morris for her own romantic fantasies.
Dr. Austin Sloper
Dr. Sloper is Lavinia's brother-in-law, and he treats her with contempt and condescension, blaming her for encouraging Catherine's romance.
Dr. Austin Sloper
Dr. Sloper is Lavinia's brother-in-law, and he treats her with contempt and condescension, blaming her for encouraging Catherine's romance.
Catherine Sloper
Lavinia is Catherine's aunt and live-in companion, but she manipulates Catherine into pursuing Morris for her own romantic fantasies.
Morris Townsend
Lavinia is infatuated with Morris as a romantic figure and acts as his ally and go-between, enabling his courtship of Catherine.

Relationship notes

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In the story

Lavinia Penniman appears across 31 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

II
Catherine's aunt, a tall, thin, faded woman with a romantic and sentimental nature. She has taken charge of Catherine's education, though Dr. Sloper is unimpressed by her abilities.
III
Catherine's aunt, known for her strange manners and mourning attire; she is an object of admiration and fear among the Almond children.
Chapter IV
Mrs. Penniman is charmed by Morris Townsend, defends his refinement to Dr. Sloper, and is seen as likely to promote a romance.
Chapter V
Mrs. Penniman orchestrates the visit, encourages Morris's attention, and later reveals to Catherine that Morris is coming to court her.
Chapter VI
Mrs. Penniman encourages Catherine to see Morris alone, finding him 'imperious' and imagining him as the sort of husband she might have had.
VII
Arranges the dinner for Morris, encourages his courtship of Catherine, and tells him he says 'the right thing' when he dismisses Dr. Sloper's disapproval.
Chapter VIII
Mrs. Penniman has become secretive and defensive, acting as Morris's confidante and romanticizing the courtship, which annoys the Doctor.
Chapter IX
Silent during the carriage ride home; is lost in wonderment at Catherine's preference for a parlour interview over a sentimental tryst.
Chapter X
Mrs. Penniman is mentioned as having encouraged the romance, delighting in the drama and imagining herself as confidante and chorus.
XIII
Mentioned as having made a speech against Dr. Sloper's arbitrariness, but is ultimately afraid of him.
Chapter XV
Secretly meets Morris at an oyster saloon, relishes the romantic drama, and advises Catherine to act.
Chapter XVI
Arranges a secret meeting with Morris to discuss Catherine and Dr. Sloper's opposition; suggests a private marriage or elopement; reveals Dr. Sloper's suspicion about Morris's motives.
Chapter XVII
Secretly meets Morris Townsend and reports the encounter to Catherine; pressures Catherine to resist her father's authority; becomes defensive and accuses Catherine of being ungrateful and cold.
XVIII
Mrs. Penniman is mentioned briefly as Catherine judges her aunt's advice as aggressive and foolish, feeling old and grave in contrast.
Chapter XIX
Receives a stern warning from Dr. Sloper, retorts sharply, then comforts Catherine after her sleepless night, feeling the interdict on her communion with Morris is removed.
Chapter XX
Mrs. Penniman is mentioned as having recommended an immediate union regardless of consequences, which Catherine notes with a hint of shrewdness.
XXI
Arranges a secret meeting with Morris, advises patience after previously urging immediate marriage, and fears being turned out by her brother.
XXII
Displays elaborate reserve and significant silence, acting as though the household crisis is a dramatic performance.
XXIII
Supports Catherine's trip; enjoys her uncontested dominion in the empty house and hosts Morris frequently; dismisses Mrs. Almond's warnings.
XXIV
Acts as an intermediary for Morris's letters to Catherine; her packets are handed to Catherine by Dr. Sloper.
Chapter XXV
Shares details of Morris's visits and business news, but her contradictory advice frustrates Catherine.
Chapter XXVI
Mentioned as having given Catherine a message from Morris and as having commented on Catherine's appearance.
XXVII
Frightened by her brother's warnings, she writes to Morris Townsend; her romantic and maternal interest in Morris is highlighted.
XXVIII
Mrs. Penniman secretly meets Morris, offering sympathy and agreeing to help him break off the engagement. She is torn between her affection for Morris and her role as Catherine's protector, ultimately prioritizing Morris's future.
XXIX
Hesitates to help Morris break the engagement, feeling the weight of her responsibility.
Chapter XXX
Attempts to mediate and explain Morris's behavior, but is rebuffed by Catherine; she secretly wishes to correspond with Morris and embellishes the story of the breakup.
XXXI
Mrs. Penniman discusses Catherine's situation with Mrs. Almond and advises Catherine to tell her father that everything is going on.
XXXII
Grows younger in appearance and remains officious, but maintains a consistent silence about Morris Townsend for over seventeen years, which alarms Catherine.
Chapter XXXIII
Accompanies Dr. Sloper and Catherine to Europe, and is assiduous at Dr. Sloper's bedside during his final illness; she later urges Catherine to dispute the will.
Chapter XXXIV
Mrs. Penniman, feeling freer after her brother's death, eagerly shares her encounter with Morris Townsend with Catherine, showing a lingering romantic interest in the affair and a desire to rekindle contact.
XXXV
Mrs. Penniman acts as an intermediary, delivering Morris's message and arranging his visit, but is left staring after Morris's angry departure.

Chapter companion notes

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