illustrated portrait of main character Jean Muir sitting with one half of her face covered by a light mask

Behind a Mask; or, A Woman's Power

by Louisa May Alcott

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In Behind a Mask, Jean Muir stands as a captivating protagonist, far more than a mere schemer clawing her way to the top. With a mind as sharp as a razor, she possesses an uncanny ability to transform setbacks into opportunities. Her talents are nothing short of extraordinary. Jean astonishes with her theatrical prowess, as demonstrated in the closing scenes of the first chapter. After convincing others of her guise as an innocent nineteen-year-old, she retreats to her chamber, shedding her sweet facade and revealing a scornful countenance. "Come, the curtain is down," she proclaims, "so I may be myself for a few hours, if actresses ever are themselves."

Jean undergoes a breathtaking transformation, shedding her youthful disguise. She unbraids her "long abundant braids," wipes away "the pink" from her cheeks, removes "several pearly teeth," and steps out of her garments, revealing a "haggard, worn, and moody woman of thirty at least." In this intriguing creation, Jean defies the expectations of a sentimental, domestic Victorian woman. Her enigmatic past and the "newly healed wound" hint at deeper psychological scars. As she drifts to bed, worn and weary, the reader glimpses a soul tormented by mental anguish.

Jean's brilliance lies in her ability to enchant each individual member of her audience. She orchestrates her performance with precision, weaving songs, swoons, tears, silences, and ecstasies, enticing the best and worst from each Coventry and ensnaring them in her web. "The arrival of Miss Muir seemed to produce a change in everyone, though no one could have explained how or why." Among the enchanted is the bashful sixteen-year-old Bella, a "rosy little creature," who is captivated by the melodious voice of the tutor. Bella’s mother, Mrs. Coventry, frail and irritable, succumbs to the new governess's modest yet domestic charm.

Bella’s cousin, Lucia Beaufort, a woman of meticulous ranking and status, struggles against Jean’s artistry, harboring hostility. She is unsettled by Jean’s influence over Gerald, the man she loves and heir to the family wealth. Lucia, a foil to Jean, lacks brilliance or accomplishment, driven by jealousy and inertia. When she finds a letter where Jean writes, "Bah! how I hate sentiment," she cannot fathom how any woman could utter such words.

Edward, the youthful twenty-one-year-old son, is the first to fall under Jean's spell. "Poor little woman! She has had a hard life." Recognizing his aversion to "silly coquettes," Jean blends sisterly warmth with dignified restraint. In one memorable scene, she impresses Edward by taming his wary horse simply through indifference. Jean inspires Edward to pursue his ambitions in government service, igniting his love for her. In a fit of passion, he confronts his brother Gerald, driven by jealousy, later confessing, "She would make a man of me. She puts strength and courage into me as no one else can."

Gerald, indolent and aloof, presents a greater challenge. He sees through Jean's fainting charade upon her arrival. Yet, she employs the same tactics that worked on the horse, winning him over with disregard and invigorating him with her disdain for his laziness. Ultimately, he succumbs to "the indescribable spell of womanhood," as she casts him in the tantalizing role of her lover during an evening of amateur theatricals. Having skillfully manipulated Bella and Mrs. Coventry, and stirred Edward's passion and Gerald's romantic side, Jean sets her sights on the family’s patriarch.

Sir John Coventry, a robust, handsome gentleman of fifty-five, dwells in solitary grandeur on his estate. Initially dismissive of Jean as a "mere" governess, he is charmed when her alleged noble background is revealed. Jean flatters him with "a charming air...

(This entire section contains 801 words.)

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of maidenly timidity and artlessness." His innate decency, however, slows her progress. His reticence and the looming threat of exposure unveil Jean's vulnerability. "Has all my skill deserted me when I need it most?" Yet, her steely nerves win out. Jean finds a way to "make him understand, yet not overstep the bounds of maidenly honesty."

Jean's deception of Sir John strips away some of the ambiguities surrounding her character, highlighting the impact of her performance. In the face of his offer, her true self experiences "a touch of genuine remorse." Despite her unscrupulous tactics, Jean harbors a genuine sense of justice. It surfaces in her interactions with family members shattered by her deceit. To the egalitarian Edward and Bella, Jean expresses "grateful warmth," promising to repay their kindness. "To you I will acknowledge that I am not worthy to be this good man's wife, and to you I will solemnly promise to devote my life to his happiness." She rebukes the snobbish Gerald and Lucia, leaving them to their own devices. Jean's aim is not to plunder or disgrace the family, but to challenge their false pretenses and demonstrate the contributions of an intelligent, free-spirited woman.

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