Theatre, Theatricality and Metatheatre in 'Behind a Mask' (1866) by Louisa May Alcott

Seminar paper from the year 2017 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, University of Heidelberg (Neuphilologisches Institut), course: Proseminar, language: English, abstract: The novella 'Behind a Mask' was originally published under a pseudonym by the well-known 'Little Women' author Louisa May Alcott for its deviation from her better known work. Combining elements of a mystery, the Gothic novel and modern thrillers, Alcott created the story of the actress Jean Muir whose acting abilities alone are her key to social upward mobility. The elements of acting, staging and performing are immanent in the novella and aspects of masking, theatre and theatricality as well as metatheatrical instances are the driving force of the plot. This paper analyses these examples and comes to the conclusion that the deceiving actress is a role forced upon the ambitious female by Victorian society.