Ambiguity In The Turn Of The Screw
The Turn Of The Screw
Henry James’ novella the turn of the screw contains many themes and ideas that where highly relevant to the original 1890’s Victorian audience. The culture and values of society have changed so greatly that over time, modern readers have adapted to a different style of writing. However, the themes of corruption of the innocent and forbidden subjects and the overall ambiguity of the book allow the turn of the screw to continue to entertain modern readers. the turn of the screw is a 1897 gothic novella that entails a young governess caring for two young children, Miles and Flora, after the death of their father. The governess is hired by the children’s uncle and told he is not to be disturbed by her. She is then sent off to their remote country estate, Bly, to begin her work. A series of strange events occur, including the expulsion of Miles from his boarding school, and the Governess starts to become suspicious of the children.
Ambiguity is used throughout the novella by James to entrap the reader’s interest. Ambiguity is present throughout many of the major aspects of the book, which allows James to conspicuously convey subjects that where rarely spoken about in the Victorian era, such as sex and corruption. The use of …show more content…
The governess shows no fear of the ghosts physically hurting the children, merely that the figures of Jessel and Quint will corrupt their innocence. To the governess, the idea of the innocent children being corrupted by these figures is much more terrifying then the ghosts physically harming or killing the children or herself. The corruption itself is ambiguous as the type of corruption is never clarified. However, it can be drawn to a conclusion that it means ‘the exposure to the knowledge of sex’4 the ambiguity then continues as James makes no real evidence that the children have been corrupted by Jessel and Quint’s behaviour in the past or
Henry James’ novella the turn of the screw contains many themes and ideas that where highly relevant to the original 1890’s Victorian audience. The culture and values of society have changed so greatly that over time, modern readers have adapted to a different style of writing. However, the themes of corruption of the innocent and forbidden subjects and the overall ambiguity of the book allow the turn of the screw to continue to entertain modern readers. the turn of the screw is a 1897 gothic novella that entails a young governess caring for two young children, Miles and Flora, after the death of their father. The governess is hired by the children’s uncle and told he is not to be disturbed by her. She is then sent off to their remote country estate, Bly, to begin her work. A series of strange events occur, including the expulsion of Miles from his boarding school, and the Governess starts to become suspicious of the children.
Ambiguity is used throughout the novella by James to entrap the reader’s interest. Ambiguity is present throughout many of the major aspects of the book, which allows James to conspicuously convey subjects that where rarely spoken about in the Victorian era, such as sex and corruption. The use of …show more content…
The governess shows no fear of the ghosts physically hurting the children, merely that the figures of Jessel and Quint will corrupt their innocence. To the governess, the idea of the innocent children being corrupted by these figures is much more terrifying then the ghosts physically harming or killing the children or herself. The corruption itself is ambiguous as the type of corruption is never clarified. However, it can be drawn to a conclusion that it means ‘the exposure to the knowledge of sex’4 the ambiguity then continues as James makes no real evidence that the children have been corrupted by Jessel and Quint’s behaviour in the past or