The Penalty

Barbara Ferris moves through wealthy society with a succession of attachments that leave her uncertain about her own feelings. Her work as a sculptor gives that uncertainty another direction, setting artistic ambition alongside the demands of affection. Wilmot Allen has known her since childhood and follows her changing interests with hope, frustration and occasional cynicism. Their conversations and encounters establish a novel concerned with desire, responsibility and the difficulty of recognising lasting love.

Revenge and the lives of beggars extend the story's concerns beyond wealthy society. In a frank conversation, Harry West urges Barbara to recognise the harm that careless encouragement can cause. His advice brings her conflicting feelings into focus, as she struggles to understand the difference between attracting someone and caring for him. Readers interested in American fiction about art and courtship will find social scenes and emotional argument closely linked in Gouverneur Morris's novel.