What Maisie Knew by Henry James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In the round about way of Henry James, we see the development of a young woman who is not yet woman. She is still a girl at the end of the story yet she comes to a maturity in which the repetition of adult sexuality (through the figure of a family) interrupts her stability. In the end, Maisie comes to transcend her situation by defining it properly. She chooses the way out correctly.
The ending hits a note of subliminality as she never explains what she knows, she just comes to recognize and break the pattern.
This is a simple story, direct and yet circumlocutious. Part of the directness in the journey comes from having to go through the pattern of circumlocution. To a degree, James demonstrates his mastery by having his characters speak barely enough, and yet not enough at all. His dialogue is as plain as a movie script; designed to move the plot forward and show no more.
I didn’t like Henry James for a long time, but I suppose this story is about right for him. Well done.
