Governess

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…

Henry James’s “The Turn of the Screw” features a callous master, an eager governess, mischievous children, a deceptive housekeeper, and two apparitions. In this book, an uncle who has no desire to care for his niece and nephew, hires a governess who sees the former valet and her predecessor who are both dead. Various critics argue different theories regarding the apparitions. It has been said that the governess is suffering from a psychological instability and that is what is causing her to…

In the 19th century literature, the governess was mostly silenced, being a simple female character. On the contrary, in Neo-victorian literature, she was given voice and was no longer only a character in the background. Having a poor social condition, the governesses in the Victorian age were known to have been exemplary women: modest, diligent, with good reputation. In the house where they worked, they would have a place somewhere between a member of the family and a servant.…

When assuming that the Governess is in fact sane and the ghosts are real, it can be argued that, in The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James, the Governess is a traditional gothic novel heroine. She is portrayed as an ambitious, strong-willed, innocent and intelligent young woman who, similar to any heroine, is placed in a helpless situation in which she has to protect the children from supernatural forces. Similarly, it can be argued that Catherine Morland, the main protagonist in Jane Austen’s…

The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James, is ghost story that focuses on a young governess that encounters a pair of ghosts. She becomes convinced that the ghosts are somehow corrupting the two children she is charged with caring for. The new governess is enamored with the two children, and when she first meets them, she comes to the conclusion that they are perfect children (and can do no wrong). Her changing emotional states cause her to later suspect that the children are not necessarily perfect…

affects the governess by lowering her credibility among others and by playing tricks with her mind. Miss Jessel’s effects on the governess emphasize how insanity can result from mere figments of the imagination. The insanity of the governess results largely from her vivid visions of Miss Jessel’s ghost which significantly lower the credibility of the governess from the eyes of Mrs. Grose and Flora. In chapter fifteen, after searching for most of the day, Mrs. Grose and the governess…

The Turn of the Screw Do you believe in ghosts? In the Turn of the Screw, the governess sees two ghosts of former Bly employees. The ghosts, Peter Quint and Miss. Jessel, are evil spirits and have come back to communicate with the children, Miles and Flora. The governess sees the ghosts and feels like she must protect the children from them. One night, she hears a noise outside her bedroom door and goes to check on it. “The apparition had reached the landing halfway up and was therefore on the…

told in the perspective of a governess, who takes up a job out in Bly where she is to care for and educate two upper class children, Flora and Miles. The Governess’ encounters with apparitions slowly fuel up her need to take control, fully confident that she will be able to protect the children and handle the situation herself. As the Governess rises in power, her pridefulness also starts to build up. Throughout the story, there are many instances where the Governess will try to take matters…

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…

sincere because the Governess is not sane, the Governess is the only one who sees the ghosts, and the Governess has a very obscure personality. The first reason why the ghosts in this story are not real is because the Governess is not sane. The Governess has many situations in which ghosts are in her existence. One example is when she was reading her book and felt the sudden urge to go downstairs, and the “ghost” of Peter Quint is standing by the window. Another example of the Governess’…