Turn of the screw

At the beginning of the novel, the author gives away the meaning of the title, “ If the child gives the effect another turn of the screw, what do you say to two children-?” when a screw is turned it tightens, and in the context of the novel the turning of the screw is a metaphor for the tightening of dramatic tension; the more turns the more tension created

At the beginning of the novel, the author gives away the meaning of the title, “ If the child gives the effect another turn of the screw, what do you say to two children-?” when a screw is turned it tightens, and in the context of the novel the turning of the screw is a metaphor for the tightening of dramatic tension; the more turns the more tension created

As I deeply enjoyed reading and analysing“The woman in black”, I personally concluded that “The turn of the screw” would also appeal to me , due to it’s similar themes. At a first glance the blurb was intriguing and as I read the book I became more and more enchanted. “The turn of the screw” surpassed my basic expectations of the book and I would definetly read it again.

Normally I enjoy the horror/supernatural genre of books and this book definitely had me hooked.

Henry James was a well-renowned American author, who had nine books published.15thApril 1843 to Mary Walsh and Henry James Sr. Walsh came from an affluent family who lived in New York city. Education was vital for the James’, consequently James Sr. was an intelligent lecturer. This deep care for education was passed through the generations and James Sr.’s father was a successful banker and investor.

The Governess is the protagonist of the novel. She is a 20 year old woman who’s job is to educate Flora and Miles. As a child the governess was mollycoddled and had little experience when it came to looking after herself, and as a result of this her new job was found to be extremely challenging for her as there was no one to help her. The governess demonstrates intelligence and shows a level of sensitivity throughout the novel.

 Mrs Grose is a servant and acts as the governesses companion. Although Mrs. Grose is illiterate she is very aware of how low her role is in comparison to the governess, and for that reason Mrs. Grose treats the Governess with significant respect. When the governess tells Mrs. Grose of her theories the governess frequently finishes Mrs. Grose’s sentences, which make it hard to decipher whether Mrs. Grose agrees as much as the governess thinks. Mrs. Grose is very protective of Flora and Miles and heavily defends them against the governess' accusations.

Miles is a 10 year old and is the older brother of Flora. Miles is likeable and charismatic. He never fights with his sister and is unusually well behaved for a child. Miles is expelled from his school for an unknown reason, Although he is a good child he sometimes gives hints that he can be bad. The governess believes that Miles may have secrets hidden under his “Perfect” exterior.

Flora is 8 years old and is the younger sister of Miles. Flora is beautiful and well mannered and is a pleasure to be around. The governess loves flora but she is disturbed by her just as much as she is disturbed by her brother Miles. To the governess, flora seems to be very distant and impersonal when it comes to their past, but from a strangers perspective, Flora is kind and forever smiling.

Peter Quint is a former valet at Bly. Red-haired, handsome, and exceedingly clever, Quint was “infamous” throughout the area of Bly due to his wayward behaviour. Quint’s death was an accident, as far as we know; “… by a fatal slip , in the dark and after leaving the public-house” The governess describes his ghost as an unnaturally white. She believes Quint’s ghost is haunting Bly with the sinister intention of corrupting Miles.

Miss Jessel is the predecessor  to the current governess. Her cause of death is unknown. Mrs. Grose describes her as beautiful yet “infamous”. Miss Jessel had an inappropriate relationship with Peter Quint and as he was below her class this was frowned upon. The governess describes Miss Jessel’s ghost as pale and miserable. The governess believes Miss Jessel’s ghost is haunting Bly with the intention of corrupting Flora.

The story starts with an unnamed narrator recalling a gathering where guest’s arelistening to one another’s ghost stories. A guest named Douglas tells a story which includes two children and his sister’s governess, with whom he was in love with.

A handsome bachelor convinces the governess to become a governess for his niece and nephew after the previous governess died. During the governess’ stay she sees a strange man in tower that she does not recognise; they share an intense glare and the man then disappears. The governess then discovers through Mrs. Grose that it was Peter Quint, a former valet who was disgraced for having an inappropriate relationship with the previous governess; miss jessel.For the next few nights the governess does not sleep well but suddenly one night she sees Miss Jessel at the foot of the bed and this scares the socks off the governess.

Both the children and Mrs. Grose deny seeing the ghosts but never the less, the governess is convinced that the children see the ghosts and are being quiet intentionally. This makes the reader question her sanity and mental wellbeing.The governess plans to leave and writes a letter to her employer to inform him of her departure but changes her mind in a strange turn of events.

 Miles and the governess talk after dinner. The governess asks if he took her letter that she wrote to her employer. He confesses, and the governess sees Quint outside. She watches Quint in horror, then points him out to Miles, who asks if it is Peter Quint that hes staring at  and he looks out the window in vain. He shout out to Peter Quint, then falls into the governess’s arms, dead.

The entire story takes place on the grounds of Bly, a country home in Essex, England.

The house is old and creepy, and from the very beginning gives the impression of being a haunted place. We go back and forth with the Governess in finding Bly both a comforting and disorienting space; the Governess feels more comfortable outside, where she actually gets to escape and have some alone time, but, as the story goes on, the whole estate feels more and more claustrophobic. The isolation of the characters contributes to the story's heightened sense of constant tension, since they have very little contact with the outside world, except for church on Sundays.

Personally I think that the climax of the story occurs at the end of the novel. The governess and Miles are talking after dinner and they begin to argue. The governess  then sees Quint at the window in which she originally saw him and alerts Miles.

The governess struggles to keep Miles's back to the window and demands to know if he took the letter. When he says he did, she demands to know what he did at school to get expelled, and he says that he "said things" to his friends which they passed on to their friends. The governess shrieks at Quint in the window, and tells Miles he's at the window. Miles asks, "It's he?" and when the governess demands to know which "he," Miles shouts "Peter Quint - you devil!," then yells "Where?" The governess tries to show Miles Quint in the window, then grasps the boy in her arms. After a few moments, she realizes his heart has stopped beating. The fact that Miles saw Quint  implies that the children were witnessing the spectres the entire time but were keeping it a secret, to possibly avoid getting in trouble, with either the spectres or the adults.

Personally I think that the climax of the story occurs at the end of the novel. The governess and Miles are talking after dinner and they begin to argue. The governess  then sees Quint at the window in which she originally saw him and alerts Miles.

The governess struggles to keep Miles's back to the window and demands to know if he took the letter. When he says he did, she demands to know what he did at school to get expelled, and he says that he "said things" to his friends which they passed on to their friends. The governess shrieks at Quint in the window, and tells Miles he's at the window. Miles asks, "It's he?" and when the governess demands to know which "he," Miles shouts "Peter Quint - you devil!," then yells "Where?" The governess tries to show Miles Quint in the window, then grasps the boy in her arms. After a few moments, she realizes his heart has stopped beating. The fact that Miles saw Quint  implies that the children were witnessing the spectres the entire time but were keeping it a secret, to possibly avoid getting in trouble, with either the spectres or the adults.