Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw is seemingly a classic ghost story; innocent children, a haunted mansion, and a governess tormented by evil spirits. With a psychoanalytic perspective, this novel narrates a case of a mentally ill abuser and her victims. The governess is trying to suppress her sexual desires because she is a parson’s child and she is mentally unstable. Her strenuous attempt to suppress her desires escalates after a brief encounter with her employer that leaves her lust unquenched. The governess begins to abuse the children sexually when she feels that she can no longer hold back her sexual desires. The guilty and mentally unstable governess uses self defence mechanisms and experiences hallucinations so that she may assume the false role of a guardian as opposed to the reality of her being a threat to the children.
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The governess’ advances are more subtle with Flora. She appears to be insisting that Flora sleeps in her bedroom, even though Flora has her own room (Otten, “Therapy for the Governess”). The governess states, “I should have her...at night, her small white bed being already arranged, to that end, in my room.” (James 12). The governess takes most opportunities to come in physical contact with the children, “catching my pupil in my arms, covered her with kisses” (James 18). The sexual undertones are more apparent between Miles and the governess. Miles is approaching puberty but “his caregiver never ceases to touch him” (Otten, “Therapy for the Governess”). At one point in time the governess, with a moan of joy, enfolded and drew Miles close to her breast where she could feel in the sudden fever of his little body the tremendous pulse of his little heart (James 140). The most disturbing interaction between Miles and the governess occurs in the middle of the night when she enters his
The governess’ advances are more subtle with Flora. She appears to be insisting that Flora sleeps in her bedroom, even though Flora has her own room (Otten, “Therapy for the Governess”). The governess states, “I should have her...at night, her small white bed being already arranged, to that end, in my room.” (James 12). The governess takes most opportunities to come in physical contact with the children, “catching my pupil in my arms, covered her with kisses” (James 18). The sexual undertones are more apparent between Miles and the governess. Miles is approaching puberty but “his caregiver never ceases to touch him” (Otten, “Therapy for the Governess”). At one point in time the governess, with a moan of joy, enfolded and drew Miles close to her breast where she could feel in the sudden fever of his little body the tremendous pulse of his little heart (James 140). The most disturbing interaction between Miles and the governess occurs in the middle of the night when she enters his