Theme Of Corruption In Henry James Turn Of The Screw

A Line of Corruption: Turn of the Screw 1898, England, a society of hardened social classes in which people were engrained into the class in which they were born. Henry James, a wealthy writer and philosopher moved to England from America…In his book Turn of the Screw, Henry James warns that an inattentive upper class is blinded by their own prejudice towards the lower class causes a chain of corruption. Quint is the person with the lowest status in the novel yet he succeeds in creating Jessel into a social outcast and causing much suffering. Jessel was a “lady,” while Quint was “dreadfully below,” in terms of class. Jessel did not realize Quint’s motive to use her as a puppet, consequently she “didn’t forbid him.” In Jessel’s mind, Quint …show more content…
Miles is the male of the household which makes him the dominant, capable figure of the household however the governess holds the most authoritative power. The governess has crude sexual thoughts which then transfer to innocent “little Miles.” The governess “admired [towers],” and “had fancies about them,” showing the sensual thoughts that Mile’s caretaker had. Not only does the governess idealize towers, she describes Quint as “erect.” The governess romanticizes Miles, calling him “incredibly beautiful.” Caretakers have influential roles and if they have sensual thoughts then it will translate to the children. When the governess talked to Miles she “dropped to [her] knees,” which was in a sense inviting carnal acts. Miles does not reject the governess’s advances because he is curious. Children have natural “curiosity of [their] youth, which shows why Miles doesn’t do anything about the governess. In addition the governess is manager of the household, and she can ben the obedient children to her will. The relationship between the governess and Miles was much too “free,” when it should have been hard and rigid. The loose relationship allowed for sexual freedom between the governess and Miles. The lack of a barrier between the two allows for a sensual act between Miles and the governess which is implied when Miles shouts in “jubilation.” The governess encourages the blooming …show more content…
The governess sees her as “dumb,” and a harmless woman and could never see her in any other light. However Grose is clever, she draws the governess with her expressive motions, she emphatically does things such as a “breathless affirmative groan,” which succeeds in attracting the attention of the Governess. Grose toys with the governess by confirming Quint with minimal data except for identifiers such as “handsome” and an “actor.” Grose longs to be either the sole caretaker or the main caretaker of the children, so she devises a plan to rid the household of the governess. Grose has no power in the household, she must yield to the orders of the governess. She has gotten rid of the past governess and she hopes to get exterminate the new governess. Through the use of contradicting statements Grose succeeds in instilling madness into the governess. Intrestingly, the governess never notices the statements that Grose makes are contradicting because she is blinded by her handicap of Grose being a sincere with a fair amount of “timidity.” Grose never sees the ghosts, in fact she questions the governess when she sees ghosts. Grose is confused on “where on [the] Earth,” that the governess happens to be seeing the ghosts. The action of confusion grows a seed of doubt in the governess’s mind, which Grose later contradicts by telling her that Miles is “with