Comparing The Governess In Henry James's The Turn Of The Screw

In his novella The Turn of the Screw Henry James portrays the governess as a protector of innocence of Miles and Flora. As the governess learns about Peter Quint and Miss Jessel and their relationship with the children. Her views towards them change from the idea that the ghosts are demanding to get at the children and that she can protect them to doubting that the children are already under the devil’s influence instigating them to become tarnished and thus need to be even more strongly watched and more quickly rescued. The bond of Quint and Jessel with the children has affected the children mentally as inferred by the governess. James also gathers that Quint was too open with Miles and let him do whatsoever he enjoyed. Mrs. Grose accounts …show more content…
Although she sees Quint and Jessel again by what she doubts and imagines’ about the children meeting with the ghosts. The governess no longer fears challenging the ghosts but instead fears she has lost the power to see them and the ghosts are meeting the children in her very presence. Thinking Flora has lied, the governess holds her in a way that causes flora some pain but becomes surprised on seeing that Flora does not cry out. When she questions Miles, she is aware of responding him only with an unclear repetitive frowning nod. She always overpowers her desire to ask about the ghosts but instead investigates the children about what they say and do. She senses that the ghosts are trying to take over the two children and she needs to stop them. As the governess tries to protect Miles. James talks about the struggle between Miles and the governess as he challenges her to send him back to school and validate why she is not doing so. Miles undoubtedly desires freedom from the governess’s scrutiny and control but we do not know exactly why he desires the freedom. Miles wishes to go back to school and says that he is tired of being around women and wants to be with “[his] own sort”(James 94) listening to which the governess laughs and replies Flora is his only sort. She carefully tries to talk to …show more content…
So, she is liable for the tragedy that takes place in the life of the children. She does not realize that as she tries to protect the children she pushes them more into the hands of the evil. With Mrs. Grose and Flora gone, the governess concentrates on her impending conflict with Miles. The governess prepares herself for a fight against nature which we will need only another turn of the screw of ordinary human virtue. Miles seem to admit his awareness of the ghost and also seems nervous or perhaps horrified to see Quint himself as he cries out, “Peter Quint, you Devil” (James 148). This shows that Miles was never comfortable with Quint being around him and cries out to the governess when he sees Quint outside the window. He eventually gets closer to the governess and realizes that Quint and Jessel are here to take them