What is Woodsway

Mrs. Townsend’s finishing school, Woodsway, represents the commodification of art. Midway through the novel, Mrs. Townsend offers to enroll Agnès, tuition-free, at Woodsway. She argues that the education at Woodsway will allow Agnès to succeed in high society. At Woodsway, Agnès feels lonely and bored. Instead of encouraging Agnès’ individual artistic impulses, Mrs. Townsend forces her to think of her next book in limited, commercial terms. In this way, Woodsway acts as a representation of the way in which art falls prey to commodification, selfishness, and greed.