Study Guide

What Maisie Knew

by Henry James

What Maisie Knew Summary

Summary (Masterpieces of American Literature)




(The entire section is 411 words.)

What Maisie Knew Summary (Critical Survey of Literature for Students)




Some time after his marriage, Sir Claude calls and is received by the new Mrs. Beale Farange. Maisie is delighted by their apparent understanding and declares that she brought them together. Sir Claude wins Maisie’s love by being gentle with her and by declaring that he intends to make her his responsibility. In spite of the pain of leaving the new Mrs. Farange, the girl is pleased to go home with him. Ida’s love for her new husband, however, soon wanes, and she has several lovers. When she accuses Sir Claude of basely stealing Maisie’s affections and threatens to drive Mrs. Wix out of the house for supporting him, Maisie feels that she belongs nowhere. Mrs. Wix is determined to meet her responsibility for Maisie, and she desires to “save” Sir Claude from Mrs. Beale Farange, whom he frequently visits. Fearing for the loss of her livelihood, she wishes that Sir Claude would take a house for himself where she and Maisie will also live.

On one outing, Sir Claude takes Maisie to her father’s new house, which she is afraid to enter for fear of losing him if she remains there. Once in the house, however, she is again enthralled by Mrs. Farange’s beauty and is interested to learn that...

(The entire section is 1081 words.)