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Chapter 5
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 senses that the relationship between Miss Overmore and Beale is more complicated just that of a governess and her employer. Miss Overmore worries about what Ida will do, and they discuss the possibility of sending Maisie to school. Miss Overmore angrily rejects Beale’s suggestion of another governess. Maisie, for her part, spends most of her time alone.
Maisie intuitively understands that Miss Overmore and Beale have a secret relationship that does not include her, but she cannot name it because she is unfamiliar with the concept of affairs. Miss Overmore is opposed to hiring another governess because it would make her position as Beale’s lover obvious, even though she is no longer fulfilling the duties of a governess because of their relationship.
Active
Themes
Maisie’s stay at Beale’s continues far past the normal amount of time, and she soon learns that her mother is traveling abroad. Even in her letters to Maisie, however, Ida continues to attack Beale. Beale and Miss Overmore resent Ida’s dereliction and insult her in front of Maisie, focusing on her travels with a younger “gentleman.” Miss Overmore explains to Maisie the impropriety of Ida’s relationship. Miss Overmore also stops Maisie from responding to Mrs. Wix’s letters and ridicules Maisie’s other governess, sending her a meanspirited letter than puts an end to their correspondence, but not to Maisie’s fond feelings for Mrs. Wix.
Active
Themes
