The Governess In The Turn Of The Screw By Henry James

As philosopher Sissela Bok once said, "Liars share with those they deceive the desire not to be deceived." This insight on the nature of humans shows astounding similarities to how Abigail Williams acted throughout The Crucible. Written by Arthur Miller in 1953, Miller used his play to show similarities between the Salem Witch Trials and Joseph McCarthy's ideal of "McCarthyism", and prove that McCarthy was framing him. Miller wrote this as a play in order for the reader to develop a full understanding of his hidden message. Taking place in Salem, Massachusetts in the year of 1692, the Salem Witch Trials helped create parallels to what was occurring in 1953. In The Crucible, Abigail Williams is the most despicable character in the play because of the lies which led to the deaths of many townspeople.

2002 - Morally ambiguous characters -- characters whose behavior discourages readers from identifying them as purely evil or purely good -- are at the heart of many works of literature. Choose a novel or play in which a morally ambiguous character plays a pivotal role. Then write an essay in which you explain how the character can be viewed as morally ambiguous and why his or her moral ambiguity is significant to the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.

During the next weeks, Elizabeth was plagued by the memories of her aunt’s face as she spoke of the missing girls, and told her friends of her suspicions, and they told her that the cellar was supposedly haunted, and dared her to go down and talk to the ghost, or whatever was down there.

Through out the short novella, 'The Turn of the Screw,' by Henry James, the governess continually has encounters with apparitions that seem to only appear to her. As Miles' behavior in school worsens so that he is prevented from returning, and as Flora becomes ill with a fever, the governess blames these ghosts for corrupting the children, Miles and Flora, and labels them as evil and manipulative forces in their lives. But why is it that these ghosts only seem to appear to the governess even when the children are present at the time of the sightings by the governess? Evidence from the short story leads the reader to believe that the ghosts are not real but are merely the evidence of the fragmenting sanity of the governess.

In Arthur Miller's play The Crucible Abigail Williams, an unmarried orphan in the Massachusetts town of Salem, incessantly grows more jealous, her desire for vengeance only grows stronger, and her selfishness escalates. She repeatedly lies to save herself by denying her involvement in witchcraft. Abigail's Jealousy of Elizabeth Proctor intensifies in attempt to realize her desire for Elizabeth's husband John Proctor. In order to save herself she accuses the innocent, without any sense of ethical violation. Abigail proves to be a selfish antagonist in The Crucible that shows no sense of right and wrong.

I hope you are well despite the recent events that have disturbed our town. In the past, I understand that I may have hurt you. However, I write to you as a man who fears for the stability of his town, not as a former companion. I always take it upon myself to judge others, and now I judge myself as well. Since I believe in the need for honesty, I am prepared to go to court to expose us if I must. I simply hope that will not be necessary, and that you and I can come to a compromise. Think of how it felt when your heart broke, how easily that could happen, and how debilitating heartbreak can be. This town is as fragile as a heart, and it feels the strain of jealousy and mistrust. Like a heart, after just one break or crack, it takes time and care to make the town whole again. As loathe as I am to admit to my selfishness, I must disclose that I do not wish to tarnish my reputation. Abigail, it is absolutely imperative that you reveal your lies because, if you do not, countless innocents will die and mistrust will thrive.

One of the most critically discussed works in twentieth-century American literature, The Turn of the Screw has inspired a variety of critical interpretations since its publication in 1898. Until 1934, the book was considered a traditional ghost story. Edmund Wilson, however, soon challenged that view with his assertions that The Turn of the Screw is a psychological study of the unstable governess whose visions of ghosts are merely delusions. Wilson’s essay initiated a critical debate concerning the interpretation of the novel, which continues even today (Poupard 313). Speculation considering the truth of the events occurring in The Turn of the Screw depends greatly on the reader’s assessment of the reliability of the governess as a

8). This gratified looks that passed between them while they were alone encourages the reader to develop a sexual plot between the two. James takes this even further however. He writes, "One of these, for a moment, tempted me wit such singular intensity that, to withstand it, I must have gripped my little girl with a spasm that, wonderfully, she submitted to without a cry or sign of fright" (p. 41). Obviously, the governess has some sort of sexual feelings for the little girl. This is a product of her own failings to form a relationship with the man she dreams of. The ghost of Miss Jessel seems to be protecting the little girl though the tone of the book makes it appear the other way around. "The person was in black" as if she was "in mourning" at the time when she appeared (p. 31). The ghost could be in mourning because of the sexual desires the new governess has for the little girl and therefore is there to ward her off. This is also true for the other child in the house Miles.

On one night in particular, she decides that she has become together with the house. She starts to fall deeper and deeper into the haunted house and becomes dangerous. Mrs. Montague even referred to her as a creature when she climbed to the top of the stairway in the library. The morning after she made a scene in the library and had to be saved at the top of the staircase, she was embarrassed and felt humiliated. As time went by, she began to go insane. She was happy while she should have been scared and sad. Eleanor loved Hill House because it was the closest thing to a home she had. She believed she was targeted more by the ghosts than the other house guests because she thought the ghosts “only knew her name”, which wasn’t the case because the ghosts knew all of their

During this essay I will introduce the main points involved in answering the proposed question. I will explore the certain aspects of Abigail’s personality and how it is an important role in portraying her reasons for her actions. I will also analyse the ways in which Abigail’s personality changes through the progression of the play. I will sum up which points have a bigger effect on her intentions and motivations and the effect she has on the characters of the play. I will support my reasons with quotations to justify its relevance.

In writing short stories, novels, or plays, there are certain standards the writer comes to meet. He will choose a basic story element to go by; either man versus nature, man versus man, or man versus himself. Then, a setting that is appropriate to the writer is chosen, a place where the writer envisions the story happening. Inevitably the characters are introduced one by one, and the writer tries to convey their personality and instill a mental image for the reader. There have always been the heroes, the villains and the victims. Any story can revolve particularly around any of these, but often they all have roles that create equilibrium in the plot. However, in The Crucible, Arthur Miller did not need to create any such

In the governess's insane pseudo-reality and through her chilling behavior, she managed to bring downfall to Flora and Miles, the children of Bly. With compulsively obsessive actions, irrational assumptions, and demented hallucinations, the governess perceived ghosts bearing evil intentions were attempting to corrupt and destroy the children she had taken the role of care for. In reality, the governess herself brought tragedy to the children through her own selfishness and insanity.

“As Dead As It Gets” is a book that tells the story about Alexis, a teenager who has the ability to see ghosts through pictures. Lydia Small died violently, but before dying, she blamed Alexis for her death. Because of her violent death, Lydia is now a ghost who kills other girls and does not let Alexis live in peace. At first, Alexis didn’t know she could see ghosts, until Lydia started hunting her and yellow flowers started appearing after each of the girls’ deaths. Now, Alexis is trying to make Lydia disappear for good by finding her power source and destroying it, that is, before Lydia destroys Alexis. Jared loves Alexis, and will do anything to make her happy. With him at her side, Alexis no longer feels alone and unwanted.

Interpreting The Turn of the Screw by Henry James from a Marxist point of view brings about serious social class distinctions and consequences of violation within that code. Miles and the unnamed Governess’ relationship demonstrate the wrongdoing of social and legal norms. The Governess’ indeterminate social status leave her as a forbidden woman in Victorian society taking on the role of primary caretaker to children, while Miles embodies the character of the absent master to whom the Governess feels intimately attracted. Mile’s union with rebellious, symbol of threat, Peter Quint, ultimately possesses him and lead to the breakdown of the social hierarchy. The Governess and Mile’s connection display the

Since the children are so young they refuse to listen to the truth of what Margot says, and because of that she is hated. "No it’s not!" the children cried. "It’s like a fire," she said, "in the stove." "You’re lying, you don’t remember !" cried the children. But she remembered and stood quietly apart from all of them and watched the patterning windows.” This proves the stubbornness of the children because they refuse to acknowledge that even a little bit of what Margot is saying might be true. Because of this Margot is forced to keep her opinion to prove herself, but that only furthers the gap between her and the other children.