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Chapter 29
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 and Sir Claude sit down to eat in a café. He tells her about his journey to London and back and asks if she and Mrs. Wix enjoyed themselves in his absence. Maisie, however, observes that beneath Sir Claude’s calm exterior he is more nervous than she has ever seen him. She wonders why he is so afraid and realizes that Sir Claude must be afraid of himself. Maisie interrupts him and asks if they will have a meal with Mrs. Beale later, and he replies that Mrs. Beale must answer that question. Sir Claude asks Maisie what Mrs. Wix has said to her while he was away, not about his affair with Mrs. Beale, but about Maisie herself, and what it would mean for Maisie to keep living with him and Mrs. Beale. “Nothing,” Maisie replies.
Maisie’s emotional intelligence and familiarity with Sir Claude allow her to see that something is wrong. Maisie deduces that Mrs. Wix has been right all along: Sir Claude feels deeply conflicted about his relationships and his morals. He is afraid that when he is forced to make a decision, he will make the wrong one, choosing selfish pleasure over moral goodness. Sir Claude worries that Mrs. Wix is right: that an adulterer is not an appropriate parent for Maisie, and that if he cannot change—and abandon Mrs. Beale—he must let Maisie go.
Active
Themes
Sir Claude is incredulous and asks if Mrs. Wix really hasn’t tried to influence Maisie. Maisie tells Sir Claude that Mrs. Wix has changed her attitude toward Mrs. Beale as a result of the latter’s kindness toward her. Sir Claude continues ask about Mrs. Wix and Mrs. Beale’s interactions, but when Maisie responds awkwardly, he asks if she is uncomfortable with his questions. Maisie says that she thought he already knows the answers. Didn’t he come back for Mrs. Beale, she asks? He repeats that he came back to see Maisie. She is flattered and asks if he intends to take her away again. Sir Claude says that depends on Mrs. Beale, but Maisie confidently declares that Mrs. Beale won’t leave voluntarily, which Sir Claude concedes is true. He came back to ask Maisie a question, he explains.
Sir Claude awkwardly attempts to avoid the difficult question he is going to ask Maisie. Instead, he repeats the points of contention they are both already familiar with: the conflict between Mrs. Wix and Mrs. Beale and the question of Maisie’s upbringing and moral sense. Because Mrs. Beale won’t let go of Sir Claude, Sir Claude won’t abandon Maisie, Mrs. Wix won’t accept Mrs. Beale and Sir Claude as lovers, and Maisie won’t abandon Mrs. Wix, the four of them are at an impasse.
Active
Themes
Maisie says that she already knows what Sir Claude will ask her—whether she would be happy living with just Mrs. Beale and Mrs. Wix. Sir Claude laughs and tells her that wasn’t his question, but he is surprised to hear that Mrs. Wix would be willing to stay with Mrs. Beale and expresses pity for the governess. Mrs. Beale has convinced Mrs. Wix to accept her, Sir Claude explains, but Mrs. Beale cannot convince Mrs. Wix to accept her and Sir Claude. Sir Claude finally asks Maisie his question: would she be willing to part with Mrs. Wix? Sir Claude explains that he, Mrs. Beale, and Maisie would live together abroad. Maisie wonders where Mrs. Wix would go, and Sir Claude concedes that he doesn’t know. Maisie asks for time to think over the decision. Sir Claude agrees and suggests they go for a walk together.
Active
Themes
