What Maisie Knew

Maisie is the protagonist of What Maisie Knew. The daughter of Ida and Beale Farange and, later, the stepdaughter of Sir Claude and Mrs. Beale, Maisie is a quiet and sensitive yet precocious… read analysis of Maisie Farange

Sir Claude is Maisie’s stepfather, Ida Farange’s second husband, and Mrs. Beale’s lover. A wealthy aristocrat—his title suggests that he has a knighthood—Sir Claude is a perfectly mannered English gentleman who always… read analysis of Sir Claude

Mrs. Wix is Maisie’s governess. Ida hires Mrs. Wix, an elderly woman from a relatively low-class background, after Miss Overmore deserts her household for Beale’s. Mrs. Wix is in many ways Miss Overmore’s… read analysis of Mrs. Wix

Miss Overmore, later known as Mrs. Beale, is Maisie’s first governess who soon becomes Beale’s second wife. Ida initially hires Miss Overmore, a beautiful and educated young woman from a large, poor family… read analysis of Miss Overmore/Mrs. Beale

Beale Farange is Maisie’s father, Ida’s ex-husband, Mrs. Beale’s husband, and the Countess’s lover. A handsome, bearded man known for his charming personality, Beale is a socialite without significant means of… read analysis of Beale Farange

Susan Ash is Beale and Mrs. Beale’s maid and, for a time, Maisie’s primary caretaker, once Mrs. Beale becomes the lady of the house rather than a governess. Sir Claude brings Susan with… read analysis of Susan Ash

The Countess, a fabulously wealthy American woman, is Beale’s lover. Despite her riches, the Countess isn’t physically attractive, her noble title is questionable, as she is from a country without an aristocracy. The Countess… read analysis of The Countess