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Chapter 10
Themes
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
Ida continues to act erratically toward Maisie, distant and cold one day and intensely emotional the next. She tells Maisie that she has made out her will to Sir Claude, who will receive custody of Maisie. Sir Claude doesn’t deny this and good-humoredly assures Maisie he will live up to his responsibility while he avoids confronting Ida directly. Ida has occasional fits of rage toward Sir Claude, whom she accuses of taking Maisie from him, but she also accuses Maisie of betraying her for Sir Claude.
It’s likely that Ida’s behavior toward her daughter is partially motivated by guilt. Unable to show Maisie the attention and affection that a mother is supposed to, Ida convinces herself that it is Maisie who is pushing her away—and turning to Sir Claude instead. Ida’s granting of custody to Sir Claude is not only a way to paint herself as the victim and pity herself, but also a practical way to relieve herself of the responsibilities of parenting. She knows that, unlike her, Sir Claude is willing and able to take care of Maisie.
Themes
While Sir Claude is in Paris, Ida introduces Maisie to a short, fat, hairy man named Mr. Perriam. Later Maisie observes to Mrs. Wix that he reminds her of a Turk, but Mrs. Wix says he reminds her more of a Jew. Mrs. Wix explains that Mr. Perriam is a millionaire and a member of the fabulously wealthy new London elite, explaining his foreign appearance and lack of a mannered accent. Mr. Perriam’s visit scandalizes Mrs. Wix on Sir Claude’s behalf. Maisie begins to perceive the various members of both of her households as being on opposing sides, although she struggles to parse out what they are once she considers Beale and Mrs. Beale. Sir Claude begins to confide in Mrs. Wix more and more.
