In the Cage

"In the Cage" by Henry James is a story set in the late 1800s that follows a young woman working as a telegraph operator, surrounded by the wealthy of London and their complex lives, while trapped by her social class. Beginning with her reflections on her routine at the telegraph office, the novel shows her daily life with coworkers and her longing for something more as she deals with upper-class customers. The story establishes a contrast between her feelings for her fiancé, Mr. Mudge, and her intense interest in Captain Everard, whose world seems so far apart from her own. The tension between what she wants and what is possible creates a path toward exploring who she is and what class means in her life.