What can Maisie know in literature and film? The role of knowledge in Henry James’s novel "What Maisie knew"

Abstract or Introduction

Henry James’s novel depicts the story of a six-year old child that is involved into the problem of complicated parental relationships. It deals with the theme of a "dysfunctional family" and the egoistical abuse and neglect of a child. Whereas these themes seem to be obvious and determining for the novel, there is one topic that solely appears on closer observation. This mentioned topic is concerned with knowledge and intelligence, especially with that of the novel’s protagonist Maisie.

Indeed, the novel’s title indirectly comprises the relevance of knowledge, alone because the reader wants to find out what Maisie knows. However, the topic seems to recede into the background. On closer inspection it becomes obvious that knowledge and gaining insight run like a thread through the entire novel.

This essay analyses the role of knowledge in Henry James’s novel "What Maisie knew" and Siegel’s and McGehee’s film of the same title. Furthermore, it tries to answer the question what role Maisie’s knowledge plays in novel and film. After defining the term "knowledge" this essay proceeds with applying the definitions to James’s heroine Maisie.

Furthermore, it analyses the different types of knowledge that play a role in James’s novel and the circumstances that have an impact on Maisie’s knowledge. Given the fact that Siegel’s and McGehee’s film represent an adaption of James’s novel, the importance of knowledge in the film will be analyzed in the essay’s final section as well. It concludes in saying that knowledge is important for the young heroine’s development and her way towards maturity. Whilst knowledge and Maisie’s insights have a great impact on the course of the novel, McGehee’s and Siegel’s film emphasizes the consequences of bad parenting.