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A Book Review of “Miss Jessel”
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A Book Review of “Miss Jessel”
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This is a charming story about children and governesses. The children are told about Maria, a new governess. The talented young actors make the story a delight. They play the parts of the children with aplomb. I especially loved the portrayal of the children’s reactions to the new governess.
The Mother calms Maria’s nerves by singing My Favorite Things
It’s no secret that Maria loves children, and she’s a natural at working with children. This quality makes Maria a plot necessity. She transforms the atmosphere in the home after the captain leaves. She makes playclothes out of old curtains, teaches children to sing, and gets them to have fun.
When the children are late for dinner, they make up a story about going berry picking. When Maria finds out, she joins in with them and sings “My Favorite Things.” The children become very sad without Maria, and the Mother tries to console them by singing “My Favorite Things.” Maria, meanwhile, is asked why she didn’t say good-bye, and the Mother replies that she is only staying until they make arrangements for another governess.
The Mother sends Maria on her way
When Maria von Trapp was young, she longed to be a nun. But the strict discipline of the convent was not for her. She was sent from the convent to care for seven children in a family headed by widowed naval captain Georg von Trapp. But after her stint as governess, she decides she doesn’t want to be a nun anymore, and instead tries to bring joy and music to her new home by teaching the children to sing.
As the children grow up, Maria finds a way to give them a more joyous and rewarding life. Meanwhile, the Captain becomes closer to the children and realizes how much they appreciate the freedoms that Maria has given them. But when German invades Austria in 1938, he begins to worry about his children’s freedom.
The children are told about their new governess
The children are told about the governess who will be caring for them. Miles is horrified when the room goes dark, and the governess says that the candle has gone out. Miles claims that he blew out the candle. He is very afraid of Miss Jessel and is tempted to commit suicide.
Miles wants to run away, but the children do not want to go with him. When they are asked to go to the uncle’s house, Miles rejects the idea and insists on going to the governess’s house. The governess starts questioning him, but he does not reveal his name. Miles is upset and tells the governess that he wants to go back to school.
The children are told about their new governesess. One of the governessess’s first duties is to read to the children. She will be able to give them an example of how to behave. The governess will also be able to give them advice on how to behave in the classroom.