The battle between the humble governess and the evil Quint in The Turn of The Screw rages on. The author of the ambiguous novella, Henry James, includes few vague details while writing his book. While reading his book, it is important to make predictions about what is happening. Throughout the book, the governess tries to protect the two innocent children from the ghost of Peter Quint. A group could argue all day about what happened in this book. Different characters play the different roles of good and evil. From examining the actions of Peter Quint, the governess, and Mrs. Grose, and Miss Jessel, it is clear that the governess and Mrs. Grose are on the good side and Peter Quint and Miss Jessel are on the evil side. The ghost of Peter Quint
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The governess said that being around Peter Quint “[Is] like fighting with a demon for a human soul” (James 143). One could say that Peter Quint and the governess are fighting over Miles’s soul. Considering that what the governess said is a comparison, it is probably not true. The governess puts herself in an awkward position between Miss Jessel, Mrs. Grose, Miles, and Flora. The governess thinks that Flora sees Miss Jessel and isn’t telling her about it. Mrs. Grose doesn’t question the governess about her seeing Miss Jessel, but she probably thinks that the governess is overreacting a bit. Miles won’t tell the governess about what happened at school. He wants to show that he can be bad, while the governess says she will do anything for him (James …show more content…
The governess protects Flora from Miss Jessel. Except for what she looks like and that she was the governess’s predecessor, Henry James doesn’t give much information on Miss Jessel. She wears black and has pale skin. In the end of the book, Miles mysteriously dies. There is never a reason revealed for Miles’s death, but there are many ways he could have died. He could have been scared to death by the governess. He could have been smothered to death by the governess when she was trying to protect him. Peter Quint could have left Miles’s soul and released his repressed emotions. Overall, the good-minded characters in this book are Mrs. Grose and the governess, because they just want to help and protect the children. The evil-minded characters in this book are Peter Quint and Miss Jessel, because Quint haunts Miles, and Miss Jessel disturbs Flora and the governess. Who ultimately wins the battle of good and evil depends on the cause of Miles’s death. Henry James made especially the ending of this novel ambiguous, not giving a reason to Miles’s death, except for the fact that “His little heart, dispossessed, had stopped” (James 149). So it remains unclear who ultimately won the battle because the cause of Miles’s death is never
The governess said that being around Peter Quint “[Is] like fighting with a demon for a human soul” (James 143). One could say that Peter Quint and the governess are fighting over Miles’s soul. Considering that what the governess said is a comparison, it is probably not true. The governess puts herself in an awkward position between Miss Jessel, Mrs. Grose, Miles, and Flora. The governess thinks that Flora sees Miss Jessel and isn’t telling her about it. Mrs. Grose doesn’t question the governess about her seeing Miss Jessel, but she probably thinks that the governess is overreacting a bit. Miles won’t tell the governess about what happened at school. He wants to show that he can be bad, while the governess says she will do anything for him (James …show more content…
The governess protects Flora from Miss Jessel. Except for what she looks like and that she was the governess’s predecessor, Henry James doesn’t give much information on Miss Jessel. She wears black and has pale skin. In the end of the book, Miles mysteriously dies. There is never a reason revealed for Miles’s death, but there are many ways he could have died. He could have been scared to death by the governess. He could have been smothered to death by the governess when she was trying to protect him. Peter Quint could have left Miles’s soul and released his repressed emotions. Overall, the good-minded characters in this book are Mrs. Grose and the governess, because they just want to help and protect the children. The evil-minded characters in this book are Peter Quint and Miss Jessel, because Quint haunts Miles, and Miss Jessel disturbs Flora and the governess. Who ultimately wins the battle of good and evil depends on the cause of Miles’s death. Henry James made especially the ending of this novel ambiguous, not giving a reason to Miles’s death, except for the fact that “His little heart, dispossessed, had stopped” (James 149). So it remains unclear who ultimately won the battle because the cause of Miles’s death is never