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How could familial relationships and societal hypocrisy be unnecessary? James touches on subjects that we do not like to discuss these days. Any piece of literature that can open someone's eyes is necessary. I suggest you re-read the novel and try to understand it this time.
As a classic example of realism, Washington Square focuses on the thoughts and preoccupations of the upper middle class and wealthy. This is an interesting read if one appreciates the intricasy of the interactions between the characters. Also, realism avoids the extremes, so one cannot expect to find cataclysmic events in the plot. For more "interesting" plot, one would be better served reading naturalistic novels like Wright's "Black Boy" and Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath".
Henry James describes the unneccesary and the book was dull. I enjoyed the plot of te story.