James Social Class

In this nineteenth century ghostly narrative, James transforms the classic ghost story into a much more relatable entity. Rather than solely incorporating shrills, shrieks and scares of a normal ghost story. He tacks on the additional layer of text regarding social class by providing the reader with a window into the highly structured class conflict within the nineteenth century. More clearly, James outlines the adverse effects of one’s attempt to alter their social position. Throughout the novel, he attempts to show how certain individuals can be vulnerable to heightened stress levels when attempting to merge their social identity by breaking the social class barrier and increase status. For some, these heightened stress levels can be difficult …show more content…
The story does not really give much detail about the wealthy bachelor other than the few small personal details regarding the death of his parents and brother, as well as his persistence to stay as far away as possible with the upbringing of his niece and nephew. Once the governess arrives at the estate, the wealthy bachelor is removed from the story all together not making another appearance. Most would overlook this minute character while reading as he seems quite insignificant, however, this insignificance, in fact, is perhaps once of James’s most apparent references to class in the work. By imputing this “higher-class” figure into the story and quickly removing him, James makes a bold, and perhaps ignorant statement about the upper class as a whole. More specifically, the rich bachelor represents the upper classes’ perceived inability, or lack of desire to treat and raise children properly. In removing himself from the upbringing of the children, the wealthy man essentially makes the statement that child caring is meant for lower class society and that the higher class need not be bothered with such a frivolous affair. Thus, in his eyes, the newly appointed governess must be of lower status than himself as no individual of equal status would seek out the …show more content…
The awe-struck woman describes her new place of employment as having “a greatness that made it as different affair from my own scant home, and there immediately appeared at the door, with a little girl in her hand, a civil person who dropped me as decent a curtsey as if I had been the mistress or a distinguished visitor” (29). It is at this point that the governess realizes the uniqueness of her new position. Unlike her old life, the new situation she finds herself in one that demands respect and power. The governess, however, is more than happy to take on the role as she ceases the opportunity to break her own social boundaries and attain a higher class than she had ever dreamed of. Granted, her initial motivations for accepting the position mostly regarded her attractiveness towards her employer. “saw him all in a glow of high fashion, of good looks, of expensive habits, of charming with women.” (26) As well as the enormity of his estate, she soon develops her own ambitions to immerse herself in a higher society and prove her worth to him. It is these ambitions themselves, however, which ultimately lead to her mental