Blog #2 - Jenny Wu

In Chapter 5, we witness Jean Muir’s triumphal moment when she succeeds in making Gerald Coventry fall in love with her at the evening tableaux. This event is the climatic illustration of the kind of spell Jean Muir had heretofore established on every other member of the household - the “it” alluded to in the chapter title. Jean Muir’s accomplishment in coming to play the governess has been to capture the attention of every person in the house and create a manipulated, carefully controlled dynamic or relationship with him or her where Jean Muir is the irresistible, insurmountable puppeteer.

Towards the whole house, Jean Muir poses and visibly engages in activities that seem faultless and point to only a wholesome, benevolent character. Her appearance is always picturesque; she never clashes with her backdrops. Towards the men, she is always feminine and appealing, but she is never straightforward. She makes herself an unattainable commodity, but is always at the forefront and center of the house. Even when she finally grasps Gerald’s heart, she does so through a dramatic enactment. Gerald is overcome in a flashy, theatrical scene, loses his self-control through a narrative and costumes.

  Through capturing everyone’s attention and controlling their emotional regard towards her, Jean Muir gains a power. While all are convinced of her character and busy themselves with their struggles, Jean Muir can continue her manipulations with even greater ease. Clearly, she plans to use the male members of the household to aid her in her schemes. What can women glean from male attention? Money, freedoms, social status, or material goods.