Class

Throughout the novel, class determines whose suffering is visible, whose behavior is interpreted as dangerous, and whose actions are absorbed as normal. The country house setting functions as a microcosm of Victorian society, in which rigid distinctions among upper class, servant class, and the ambiguous position of the governess structure every interaction.

Winifred’s role as governess is crucial to how class functions as a narrative. She occupies a liminal position. She is neither servant nor family, present in intimate domestic spaces while remaining socially unimportant. This ambiguity allows her to move freely through the house while escaping meaningful scrutiny. Her instability is evident to those who observe her closely, particularly the servants. However,their lack of authority prevents them from acting on what they see. By contrast, the upper class characters consistently overlook her visible behavior because her position renders her unimportant. Class blindness thus...