What Maisie Knew

1. Why do you think Henry James chose to title this novel What Maisie Knew ? Discuss the implications of this title. 2. Consider the structure of the novel. Critics have said that is has an almost theatrical structure; some have even compared it to a stately dance. Discuss how certain scenes and characters seem to counterbalance one another. 3.Examine the ways James tackles the issue of gender in this novel. Can you see any trends in the portrayal of the males characters' development versus the females development? In particular, discuss the characters of Mrs. Wix, Ida Farange, Beale Farange, Sir Claude, and the former Miss Overmore. 4. Although the novel is told primarily through Maisie s eyes, there are places in which James inserts his voice into the text. Find some of these examples and consider his reasons for doing so. 5. What role does morality play in the novel? What larger message does James seem to be trying to convey to his reader? 6. Practically nothing is kept from Maisie even the sexual perusings of her parents and their significant others. The novel is full of sexual references and symbols. Does all the mentioning of and alluding to sex cause it to be seen as a vice in this novel? Are there any examples of sex portrayed positively? 7.In Diane Johnson s introduction to the novel she discusses why James chose to have Maisie choose Mrs. Wix as the person with whom to live. Why do you think James chose to have the novel end this way? Does it make for a less happy ending? What might have been some of the other alternatives and their outcomes? 8. One would think you were about sixty . . . Sir Claude says to Maisie at the end of the novel. Although most critics agree that the book spans just a couple years, how has Maisie progressed toward adulthood? What does being an adult ultimately mean in this novel?