The Mystery Behind the Mask

The genius of the story is chiefly in the conception of Miss

Bordereau herself, who is no wistful survivor of the past, but

a diabolical incarnation of it, greedy of its power to bargain

with the present, and wearing over her eyes, as celebrated in

Aspern’s verse, a green eyeshade like a gamble’s.

In Henry James’ novel, The Aspern Papers, out the three main characters there is a woman whose mind, body, and spirit is filled with a lifetime of isolation, confinement, control, and reclusiveness. Juliana Bordereau is the strongest character in James’ novel and throughout the entire novel has control over the rest of the characters with her diabolical and mysterious workings. Juliana is the backbone to the plot, and even though her actions and even her motives are underlining, her strong presence and domineering control are everlasting.

Juliana “lived obscurely in Venice…on very small means, unvisited, unapproachable, in a sequestered and dilapidated old palace” (1) where she was isolated from the world and holds unattainable in her prison-like home the desire of many greedy and money-hungry men: Jeffrey Aspern’s letters that had never before been exposed to the outsid

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Juliana takes pride in her power over Miss Tina because it reinforces her ability to take control over Aspern’s papers and also allows her to keep her appearance of a cold and shrewd old woman who still has the capability to control things despite her tremendously old age. Even though Juliana was deceased, the mystery behind her was still kept unknown. Her possession over the narrator is prevalent throughout the entire novel. Juliana strived to control everything in her life, and by wearing the mask she was able to reveal to people only what she wanted to; she purposely wanted her life to remain a mystery unless she herself was to expose her innermost secrets and her prized possession of the Aspern papers. The strong character of Juliana combined with her mysterious motives and secret lifestyle is the backbone to Henry James’ novel The Aspern Papers. The narrator feels no sorrow for corrupting the lives of the two women. It can be predicted that he will never obtain the papers, as the narrator will never be able to enter the “impenetrable regions” (9) of Juliana’s mind and her unconscious life with Aspern. He has no sympathy or regret for the trauma he caused, his only regret is that he never achieved in retaining the papers. “Juliana stood there in her night-dress, by the doorway of her room, watching me; her hands were raised, she had lifted the everlasting curtain that covered half her face, and for the first time, the last, the only time I beheld her extraordinary eyes…they made me horribly ashamed” (78). She lives a secluded life, no emotions, and nothing meaningful in her life except the constant struggle to secure the papers that are so greedily admired by others.

The constant struggle between the narrator and Juliana, as well as the overbearing control of Juliana over Miss Tina, are the key elements in the plot along with the prevalent themes of a quest, the past versus the present, and the evil which money can bring. She holds a certain control over the narrator that allows her to frighten him into thinking at times that she knows his true intent. Whether Miss Bordereau is viewed as evil or good, her presence, impact, and actions are fully felt throughout the book and always keep the reader wondering what exactly the mystery is behind the mask.

Juliana holds extreme power not only over the narrator but also over Miss Tina, her niece.

Approximate Word count = 1245
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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