Behind the Mask

This was probably my second favorite book read, behind "Northanger Abbey".  I really like reading stories about deceit and manipulation, which is exactly what Jean does, and it makes the story even better that everyone else actually ends up better off then they were before, in the end.  I also enjoyed watching the power struggle between Jean and the rest of the family.  Jean always finds a way to put herself in the front with the rest of the family (who she is supposed to be waiting on) in the back tending to her needs.  This leads me to a major theme in this book, as well as in gothic literature of the southern belle heroine.  This heroine is very weak, often fainting.  She also needs a lot of time to primp and get ready (although in this book it's because she has to age down over a decade).  The heroine also begs, and receives the attention from not only the males in her life, but also the females.  This is seen in many gothic books.  The heroine will use fainting as a way to gain the advantage because everyone shifts their attention to her.  You can see this in the very beginning of the book.  Jean has first arrived and is standing in the doorway to the parlor.  There, the family has the power position, with them sitting down, interrogating her with questions.  After she faints, she is the one laying down with the family standing all at her side, attending to her every need.  This was a classic tactic used to gain attention, as well as get out of uncomfortable situations.  I liked "Behind the Mask" a lot because it was not a dark, creepy novel.  It was a lot more upbeat and warm then most of the other books that we read.