When assuming that the Governess is in fact sane and the ghosts are real, it can be argued that, in The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James, the Governess is a traditional gothic novel heroine. She is portrayed as an ambitious, strong-willed, innocent and intelligent young woman who, similar to any heroine, is placed in a helpless situation in which she has to protect the children from supernatural forces. Similarly, it can be argued that Catherine Morland, the main protagonist in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, is also a typical gothic novel heroine. Although this presents similarities between the treatment of both the Governess and Catherine as heroines, such as in their desire to complete heroic acts and find love, several contrasts between
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However the irony again is that with her constant reading of gothic novels, Catharine truly believes herself to be a heroine. “But from fifteen to seventeen she was in training for a heroine; she read all such works as heroines must read to supply their memories with those quotations which are so serviceable and so soothing in the vicissitudes of their eventful lives” (Austen 17). Catherine believes she is the gothic heroine of her own novel and hence thinks she can take her cue on how to act from the heroines of her novels. However in doing so, Catherine encounters many problems, usually as a result of her being completely ignorant of the happenings in real life and blowing situations out of proportion. When Catharine first arrives at Northanger Abbey, she expects to find a gothic abbey much like she has read about, however her paradoxical behaviour shows her disappointed because she secretly expected her bedroom would look like the much gloomier rooms she is accustomed to in her gothic novels. “Her eye suddenly fell on a large high chest…This is strange indeed! I did not expect such a sight as this! - An immense heavy chest! - What can it hold? - Why should it be placed here?” (Austen 155). Catharine considers herself to be a heroine and hence builds myths out of her readings and creates in her mind fantasies. Once again, Austen’s treatment of the innocent heroine is ironic and almost humorous, contrasting sharply to that of
However the irony again is that with her constant reading of gothic novels, Catharine truly believes herself to be a heroine. “But from fifteen to seventeen she was in training for a heroine; she read all such works as heroines must read to supply their memories with those quotations which are so serviceable and so soothing in the vicissitudes of their eventful lives” (Austen 17). Catherine believes she is the gothic heroine of her own novel and hence thinks she can take her cue on how to act from the heroines of her novels. However in doing so, Catherine encounters many problems, usually as a result of her being completely ignorant of the happenings in real life and blowing situations out of proportion. When Catharine first arrives at Northanger Abbey, she expects to find a gothic abbey much like she has read about, however her paradoxical behaviour shows her disappointed because she secretly expected her bedroom would look like the much gloomier rooms she is accustomed to in her gothic novels. “Her eye suddenly fell on a large high chest…This is strange indeed! I did not expect such a sight as this! - An immense heavy chest! - What can it hold? - Why should it be placed here?” (Austen 155). Catharine considers herself to be a heroine and hence builds myths out of her readings and creates in her mind fantasies. Once again, Austen’s treatment of the innocent heroine is ironic and almost humorous, contrasting sharply to that of