Cecilia Cuevas

September 6, 2012

English 368_01

Post #2

Deceiving Looks

At the beginning of her story Alcott introduces us to a Miss Jean Muir who is to become the governess of Bella Coventry.  The family remarks how young, beautiful and delicate she is and hides it under a dark cloak. 

The cloak becomes a mask for a mask.  In the case of Miss Jean we see her without her cloak which is one of her mask the image she presents, is the one that will catch the eye of those around her.  In the case of the men in this story they all fall under the spell of her beauty.  Her first look at Gerald tells us that there is a darker side to this woman.  Alcott allows her readers to see it by taking us to a scene where the clocked beauty is a witch in appearance.   Jean says “Come, the curtain is down, so I may be myself for a few hours, if actresses ever are themselves” (Alcott 11).  She transforms in an instant in front of our eyes.  Jean seems to talk to us directly and inviting us to be her audience and observe her malice.  This immediately should have been our “oh” moment where we see a twist in the plot. 

The look that Jean portrays infers that society in those times warmed up to a beautiful face faster than an ugly one.  She even explains how she has to wear this custom that society likes or otherwise be rejected.  The reason why society looked at beauty in such a way was that according to previous reading a woman was to be delicate, beautiful, submissive and house maid.  This look only gives power to the character Jean.  She uses it to its fullest capacity and creating this image within her arrival as mentioned earlier. 

How does this make her powerful?  She is able to use this identity to obtain what she wants.  Her ultimate goal is to have a title and wealth.  Her looks becomes her weapon or tool to obtain that goal.  One look and the Coventry men will fall to their knees to profess their undying love for her.  Though her looks were deceiving her employers her words reveal her true nature and coming event.  She tells Ned at some point “Think of me what you will, but beware of me in time, for against my will I may do you harm” (Alcott 45).  This was Edward’s chance to be unhurt but he made his own decision to not listen. 

Which mask will be the last one that will finally reveal Jean?