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Chapter 1
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in What Maisie Knew, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Innocence and Corruption
Money and Society
Hypocrisy
Perspective and Understanding
Summary
Analysis
Maisie’s disorienting lifestyle makes her feel like each stay with each parent is eternal. As a means of self-defense, she pretends not to understand the social dynamics around her, but her parents eagerly embrace the idea that Maisie is stupid, telling themselves their immoral behavior is more acceptable if their daughter cannot comprehend it. In reality, however, Maisie is well aware of being trapped in the middle of their conflict and made to serve as a conduit for their insults and attacks.
Like many children, Maisie unconsciously adapts to her surroundings, adjusting her behavior to avoid provoking her unpredictable parents. Pretending not to understand is easier, and less painful, than the consequences of navigating the uncomfortable social world created by the divorce. The eagerness with which Maisie’s parents embrace the narrative of her stupidity shows that they are aware of how selfish their behavior is but will find any way they can to justify it.
Active
Themes
Maisie is unbothered by her parents’ opinion of her and finds more pleasure spending time with her beautiful, young new governess, Miss Overmore. Ida acknowledges that she once would have been threatened by Miss Overmore but is no longer worried about Beale’s infidelity. Miss Overmore is one of seven impoverished sisters, but she is perfectly mannered, a sharp contrast to the low-class Moddle. Miss Overmore is upset by the things Ida says to Maisie about Beale. One day she and Maisie meet Beale in the park, and he charms his daughter’s governess, but Miss Overmore asks Maisie to keep their meeting a secret from her mother.
Active
Themes
