An interesting and slightly overlooked recurring motif in James’ What Maisie Knew are letters. Handwritten letters were one of the primary methods of communication prior to the technological age. In the novel, James incorporates letters as indicators which address one of the prominent themes: relationships. There are many types of relationships explored in the novel between every character. One of the most interesting manners in which relationship statuses are reflected between characters is through the exchange of letters.
As a recurring motif, letters appear sporadically in the novel as a means of communication between characters. Oftentimes the letters are obstructed, an early instance is seen in the first chapter, whilst Maisie is with her father. “Her first term was with her father, who spared her not only in letting her have the wild letters addressed to her by her mother: he confined himself to holding them up at her and shaking them, while he showed his teeth…chucked them, across the room, bang into the fire” (8). This instance reflects the relationship between Ida and Beale as well as the constant projection of anger onto Maisie. Note the association of both Beale and Ida as subtly animal-like, Beale’s animalistic baring of teeth associated with his demeanor, and Ida’s “wild” letters. This violent action sets the tone for Ida and Beale’s behavior as well as foreshadows their complete abandonment of Maisie in the end of the novel. The obstruction of the letters meant for Maisie by her father represents his own interception of Ida and Maisie’s communication and perhaps their potential relationship.
This interference of letters is common in James’ novel, especially when they’re meant for Maisie. This adds another layer of instability and chaos in Maisie’s life and relationships. This is often seen in the conflict between Mrs. Wix and Mrs. Beale, where Mrs. Beale constantly blocks Mrs. Wix’s “dolefully written” (32) letters to Maisie, “[The] charming woman held in her hand the last letter that Maisie was to receive from Mrs. Wix; it was fortified by a decree abolishing the preposterous tie” (33). Mrs. Beale’s actions are meant to sever the relationship between Maisie and Mrs. Wix because Mrs. Beale declared her an illiterate nobody. She doesn’t succeed in completely breaking up Mrs. Wix and Maisie, but it reflects Mrs. Beale’s character as someone who is possessive and prejudiced towards someone from a lower social class than her.
The relationship which most relies on written communication is the one between Mrs. Beale and Sir Claude. This is another function of letters, they allow for secret discrete communication between recipients. In chapter eight, Sir Claude and Mrs. Beale meet for the first time and it’s obvious that they like one another despite their recent marriages. Throughout the course of the novel, behind the scenes to Maisie’s narrative, the reader ascertains the affair which Mrs. Beale and Sir Claude are engaged in. Their secret exchange of letters confirms it. But this exchange is seldom mentioned until the moment when Sir Claude, Maisie, and Mrs. Wix are in France and Sir Claude receives a letter from Mrs. Beale which he shares with the others. “It’s a letter to Mrs. Beale from your father, making the rupture between them perfectly irrevocable. It puts an end for ever to their relations” (187-188). This letter which Sir Claude receives, is a letter within a letter, originally from Mr. Farange to Mrs. Beale containing private information on their relationship; then forwarded to Sir Claude. This letter within a letter is representative of all of the adult relationships which Maisie is exposed to in the novel. Each of them are characterized by deceit, secrecy and adultery all of which are represented in the physical form of handwritten letters.
