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The Turn of the Screw: Henry James
Henry James was an American author born in New York in 1843. He later became a British citizen in 1915 and was awarded the Order of Merit in 1916. He was a prolific writer of novels, short stories, and literary criticism, and is regarded as one of the most significant figures in the development of modernist literature.
Henry James was in he was living in Rye when he wrote The Turn of the Screw in 1898, a small town in East Sussex, England. The late 19th century was a time of great social and cultural change in Europe and America, marked by the rise of the Industrial Revolution, the growth of cities, and the emergence of new artistic movements such as Symbolism and Decadence.
Symbolism: A late 19th-century movement in art and Literature that emerged in France and quickly spread throughout Europe. It was a reaction against the naturalism and realism that had dominated in the 19th century and emphasized the use of symbols and metaphors to represent inner experience and spiritual realities.
Symbolist writers and artists sought to evoke emotions and sensations through indirect, suggestive, and highly imaginative means, rather than through direct description or representation.
Decadence: a literary and artistic movement that emerged in Europe in the late 19th century, and was associated with a decline in social and moral values. Decadent artists and writers rejected the ideals of progress and social improvement that had characterized earlier movements, and instead embraced themes of hedonism, sensuality, and aestheticism.
Decadent works often explored taboo subjects such as sex, death, and the supernatural, and were characterized by ornate and highly stylized language and imagery. The Decadent movement was closely associated with Symbolism, and many of its writers and artists shared similar interests in the imagination, the unconscious, and the irrational.
James was heavily influenced by the works of other writers and thinkers. This included:
- French Symbolist poets such as Charles Baudelaire, Stéphane Mallarmé, and Arthur Rimbau
- British writers Robert Browning and Matthew Arnold
- American philosopher William James (who was also his brother)
The gothic tradition of English literature, particularly the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Wilkie Collins, also inspired James's writing of The Turn of the Screw.
The Turn of the Screw was one of James's later works and is widely considered to be one of his most important. The novella is known for its complex narrative structure, ambiguous themes, and psychological depth.
Fig. 1 - Henry James is considered a key transitional figure from Victorian Literature to Modernism.
The Turn of the Screw: summary
Overview: Turn of the Screw | |
| Author of The Turn of the Screw | Henry James |
| Genre | Gothic Novella |
| Literary Period | Decadence |
| First published | 1898 |
| Brief Summary of The Turn of the Screw |
|
| List of main characters | The Governess, Miles, Flora, Mrs Grose, Peter Quint, The Children's Uncle, Mrs Jessel |
| Themes | Madness, innocence, and the corrupting influence of evil. |
| Setting | A remote country estate in Essex, England, during the 1840s. |
| Analysis |
|
The novella begins on Christmas Eve when an unnamed narrator has gathered with her friends to celebrate. One of the friends, Douglas, has received a manuscript from his sister's late governess and decides to read it to his group of friends. This opening serves as a framing device to tell the ghost story, and this group of friends is never revisited again.
Framed narrative: A framed narrative (also known as a frame story or frame tale) is a literary technique in which a story is told within the context of another story. In a framed narrative, the outermost story (also known as the frame) usually serves as a wrapper for the inner story, providing a context or a reason for the inner story to be told. The outermost story may be used to introduce or comment on the inner story, or to provide a frame of reference for the events that occur within the inner story.
Framed narratives can add complexity and depth to a story.
The unnamed governess tells of how she was hired by a wealthy bachelor to take care of his orphaned niece, Flora, and nephew, Miles, at a remote country estate in Essex, England.
Soon after arriving at the estate, the governess begins to see ghostly apparitions of a man and a woman, whom she later learns were the previous governess, Miss Jessel, and her lover, Peter Quint. Despite being dead, these apparitions seem to have a strong influence on the children. The governess becomes convinced that they are trying to corrupt the children's souls.
The governess tries to protect the children from the ghosts and becomes increasingly obsessed with their well-being. She learns that Quint and Miss Jessel had an inappropriate relationship, and believes that they are trying to continue it through the children. The governess's belief that the children are being corrupted is further strengthened when she discovers that Miles has been expelled from school, though the reason is not clear.
As the story progresses, the governess becomes more and more unhinged, and her grip on reality becomes increasingly tenuous. She is convinced that the ghosts are real. However, the other characters in the story, including the housekeeper Mrs Grose, do not see the ghosts and think that the governess is imagining things.
The novella ends with Miles's death, who dies in the governess's arms after she confronts him about his behaviour. The cause of his death is unclear, but the governess suggests that he was frightened to death by Quint's ghost. The novella ends with the governess's own mental state in question, leaving the reader to wonder if she was truly seeing ghosts or if she was simply losing her mind.
The Turn of the Screw: book characters
| The Turn of the Screw characters | Role in the narrative |
| The Governess | The narrator and protagonist of the story. She is hired to be the governess of Miles and Flora and becomes increasingly obsessed with protecting them from what she believes are evil spirits haunting the estate. |
| Miles | The elder of the two children in the governess's care. He is expelled from school for reasons that are not clear, and the governess believes that he is being influenced by the ghost of Peter Quint. |
| Flora | The younger of the two children in the governess's care. She is initially well-behaved and affectionate but begins to act strangely after the governess sees the ghost of Miss Jessel. |
| Peter Quint | The ghost of the former valet and lover of Miss Jessel, who has a powerful influence over Miles. The governess sees his ghost on multiple occasions and becomes convinced that he is trying to take possession of Miles. |
| Miss Jessel | The ghost of the former governess, who had a romantic relationship with Peter Quint. Her ghost is seen by the governess and Flora, and the governess believes that she is trying to corrupt Flora. |
| Mrs Grose | The housekeeper at Bly and the only other adult on the estate. She is a sympathetic character who initially supports the governess's attempts to protect the children but later becomes sceptical of the governess's claims about the ghosts. |
The Turn of the Screw: meaning
The Turn of the Screw novella is notable for its ambiguous and open-ended narrative, with many interpretations of the story's events, meaning, and themes. It has been the subject of numerous adaptations and retellings, including stage plays, operas, films, and television series.
For example, Netflix's The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) is a modern adaptation of The Turn of the Screw, but also includes other elements from James's other works. The television show features an American au pair who arrives in England during the 1980s.
The title of the novella, The Turn of the Screw, is a reference to a phrase from an old British expression, 'a turn of the screw,' which means a small but significant increase in pressure or tension. This phrase is used to suggest that the events of the story are like a slow and steady increase in tension, building towards a dramatic conclusion.
The title also has a more literal meaning, referring to the image of a screw turning or twisting, which is a metaphor for the psychological pressure that the governess feels as she becomes more and more obsessed with the ghosts and the safety of the children.
Structure and form
The novella is a relatively short work, consisting of twelve chapters, and is written in the form of a frame narrative.
The story itself is divided into two parts, with each part consisting of six chapters.
- The first part introduces the governess and the children and establishes the eerie atmosphere of the estate.
- The second part focuses on the governess's growing fear and paranoia, as she becomes convinced that the children are in danger from the ghostly apparitions she sees and hears.
Throughout the novella, James uses a complex and often ambiguous narrative style to create suspense and tension. The governess is an unreliable narrator, as her perceptions of the events around her may be distorted by her own fears and desires. This ambiguity creates a sense of unease in the reader, as they are never quite sure what is real and what is imagined.
Unreliable narrator: An unreliable narrator is a narrator in a work of literature whose credibility is compromised or called into question by the reader.
An unreliable narrator can be a first-person narrator or a third-person narrator who is limited to the perspective of a particular character. They may intentionally or unintentionally distort or misrepresent events, perceptions, or facts, leading the reader to question the accuracy and truthfulness of their account.
In addition to the frame narrative and the use of unreliable narration, James also employs other formal techniques, such as foreshadowing, symbolism, and irony, to create a sense of depth and complexity in the story. The structure and form of The Turn of the Screw are thus integral to its enigmatic and haunting atmosphere.
The Gothic genre
One of the main effects of the Gothic genre on The Turn of the Screw is the creation of a sense of unease and uncertainty. The story is filled with eerie and mysterious events, and the ambiguity surrounding the nature of the ghosts and the fate of the children creates a sense of tension and fear in the reader.
The Gothic genre uses the following elements to create an atmosphere of horror and to play upon the reader's primal fears:
- Ghostly apparitions that appear and disappear
- The setting of the remote country estate that is isolated and cut off from the rest of the world
- Other unexplained supernatural elements that increase the sense of claustrophobia
The Gothic genre is characterized by its use of dark, mysterious, and supernatural elements, and it typically involves a sense of foreboding, fear, and the unknown.
Fig. 2 - The Turn of the Screw has also been adapted for the stage, which is another medium to effectively emphasise the haunting atmosphere of the novella.
The themes and quotes from The Turn of the Screw
The themes in The Turn of the Screw point to the ambiguity of the novella, and also the uncertainty of the events or whether the ghosts actually exist. These themes include:
| The Turn of the Screw themes | Explanation |
| The corruption of innocence | One of the central conflicts in the novella is the potential corruption of the two children under the care of the governess. The governess becomes increasingly paranoid and convinced that the children are in danger from the ghostly apparitions, and she takes extreme measures to protect them, including keeping them in constant proximity to her. This behaviour could be seen as a form of psychological abuse and suggests that the governess herself may be a corrupting influence. |
| Sexuality and repression | The novella has been interpreted as an exploration of repressed sexuality and the damaging effects of Victorian sexual mores. The relationship between the governess and her employer, who is never seen in the novella, is characterized by a sense of longing and forbidden desire. |
| The limits of reason | The novella explores the limits of reason and the capacity of the human mind to perceive and understand the world. The ambiguity of the narrative, the unreliability of the governess's perceptions, and the open-ended nature of the ending all suggest that there may be aspects of reality that are beyond human comprehension. |
| The role of the supernatural | The Turn of the Screw raises questions about the nature and role of the supernatural in the world. The ghostly apparitions in the novella are never fully explained, leaving open the possibility that they may be either real or imagined. |
| Class and power | The relationship between the governess and her charges is complicated by issues of class and power. The governess is a servant, and her position is subordinate to that of her employer and the children's uncle. The power dynamic between the governess and the children is also fraught, with the governess taking on the role of both caregiver and disciplinarian. |
| Sanity and madness | The novella explores the thin line between sanity and madness, as the governess's growing paranoia and obsession with the ghostly apparitions threaten to push her over the edge into madness. |
The nature of evil
The Turn of the Screw explores the concept of evil and its manifestations. The ghostly apparitions that the governess sees and hears are a source of terror.
I could only get on at all by taking "nature" into my confidence and my account, by treating my monstrous ordeal as a push in a direction unusual, of course, and unpleasant, but demanding, after all, for a fair front, only another turn of the screw of ordinary human virtue.
Spoken by the governess reflecting on the events that have transpired over the course of the story and her trying to make sense of them.
The phrase 'taking 'nature' into my confidence and my account' refers to the idea that the governess had to rely on her own instincts and perceptions to make sense of the ghostly apparitions she saw and the events that followed. She had to trust her own sense of what was right and wrong, and she had to take into account the fact that there was something unusual and potentially evil and dangerous happening.
The governess may see the events of the story as a kind of test or challenge that she had to face in order to grow and develop as a person. The experience was difficult and unpleasant, but it was also transformative, and it helped her to become a stronger and more virtuous person.
The phrase 'another turn of the screw of ordinary human virtue' refers to the idea that the governess's experience was not fundamentally different from the challenges that all people face in their daily lives. It was simply a more extreme version of the kind of difficulties and temptations that people encounter all the time.
Are these spirits truly malevolent, or if they are simply projections of the governess's own fears?
Perception and memory
Perception and memory are important themes in The Turn of the Screw because they are integral to the way the story is told and interpreted. The novella is told from the perspective of the governess, and her perceptions and memories are the only windows the reader has into the events of the story.
However, the reliability of her perceptions and memories is called into question, leading to ambiguity and uncertainty about the nature of the ghostly apparitions and the ultimate fate of the children.
No, no--there are depths, depths! The more I go over it, the more I see in it, and the more I see in it, the more I fear. I don't know what I don't see--what I don't fear!
The governess sees and hears the ghostly apparitions, but her descriptions of them are often vague and subjective. The reader is never quite sure whether the ghosts are real or imagined, and the governess's unreliability as a narrator makes it difficult to discern the truth.
The theme of memory is also important in The Turn of the Screw because the governess's memories of her past experiences colour her perceptions of the present.
The themes of perception and memory in The Turn of the Screw serve to complicate the narrative and challenge the reader's assumptions and interpretations. The novella explores how perceptions and memories can be influenced by our past experiences, and how these influences can shape our understanding of reality, and recollections of the past.
The Turn of the Screw - Key takeaways
- The Turn of the Screw is a Gothic horror novella.
- It was written by Henry James and published in 1898.
- It follows the story of a governess who cares for two children, Flora and Miles, who often speak with ghosts that haunt Bly.
- The gothic novella carries many gothic elements such as the supernatural and death.
- The themes of The Turn of the Screw include madness, innocence, and the corrupting influence of evil.
References
- Fig. 2 - The Turn of the Screw (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:191001Turn_of_the_Screw018.jpg) by Marty Melville (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Opera) is licensed by CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en)
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Frequently Asked Questions about The Turn of the Screw
What is The Turn of the Screw about?
The Turn of the Screw is a gothic novella by Henry James, published in 1898. The story is about a young governess who is hired to care for two children at a remote country estate. She soon begins to see ghostly apparitions, and she becomes convinced that the children are in danger from malevolent spirits. The novella explores themes of innocence, corruption, and the nature of reality.
Who wrote The Turn of the Screw?
The Turn of the Screw was written by Henry James, an American-British author who is considered one of the greatest writers of the 19th century. James was born in 1843 and lived until 1916. He wrote many novels and short stories, and his work is known for its psychological depth and its exploration of social and cultural themes.
How long is The Turn of the Screw?
The Turn of the Screw is a relatively short novella, with most editions running between 80 and 120 pages, depending on the printing and the formatting.
What is the meaning of The Turn of the Screw?
The meaning of The Turn of the Screw is the subject of much debate and interpretation, and it can be read in a variety of different ways. Some readers see the story as a psychological study of the governess, exploring her descent into madness and obsession.
Others see the story as a supernatural tale, in which the ghosts are real and the children are in real danger. Still, others see the story as an allegory for the corruption of innocence and the dangers of power and influence.
Why is it called The Turn of the Screw?
The title of the novella, The Turn of the Screw, is a reference to a phrase from an old British expression, 'a turn of the screw,' which means a small but significant increase in pressure or tension. The events of the story are like a slow and steady increase in tension, building towards a dramatic conclusion.
The title also has a more literal meaning, referring to the image of a screw turning or twisting, which is a metaphor for the psychological pressure that the governess feels as she becomes more and more obsessed with the ghosts and the safety of the children.
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