The Governess's Desire in Henry James's The Turn of the Screw

The governess was stuck between two different social classes. However, that was not the only area where she was stuck. She was frustrated and searching for her sexual identity. The only other main female roles in the story did not give the governess much to aspire to. Miss Jessel was allegedly a whore, and Mrs. Grose was old, married, and probably had not had sexual relations in awhile. Miss Jessel did what the governess could not, express her sexuality. Whether it was with Peter Quint or the children, she took charge in getting her sexual needs met. The governess does not have this temperament, so instead of focusing on finding her own sexual identity, she focuses on Miles's and Flora's.

Readers might wonder with whom she was in love. Then the Master told the Governess about the previous governess and her death (James 296). The readers probably want to know the reason of the previous governess' death. When the Master talked about the duties of the Governess, he required her not to contact him in any way (James 297). We do not know why he made that requirement. As the story continues, the readers have many more unsolved questions such as why Miles was dismissed from school, why the Governess could describe Peter Quint exactly though she never meet him, and why the Governess thought that ghosts wanted to catch the two children. Ned Lukacher thinks that "[the way James] has said something also becomes a way of not having said something else" (132). For instance, James revealed some hints regarding the reason Miles was dismissed. We know that "[Miles]'s an injury to the others" (304) and Mrs. Grose thought Miles was "no boy for [her]" (305). However, these hints do not help the readers to completely understand why Miles was sent away from his school. Instead, more questions are posed, such as how such a ten-year-old boy could injure other students and why Mrs. Grose thought about Miles that way. The readers can not easily find the specific and reasonable answers in the story, so they have to guess the answers based on their own

The second visitation of the ghost of Peter Quint also occurs while the governess is by herself. As the governess, the children, and Mrs. Grouse are preparing for church, the governess goes back into the house to retrieve gloves she sees a visage of the same man she saw at the tower. When Mrs. Grose sees her face she immediately asks what is wrong. The governess goes on to describe the man that she has seen in an odd mixture of attraction and revulsion. This adds question to the reader on the subject of the validity of the testimony of the visitations

In Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw the governess believes that the ghosts of Peter Quint and Miss Jessel, the past governess, haunt Flora and Miles. The governess believes that they contribute to the poor behavior of Miles and Flora. The ghosts appear to be real to her when in all reality she is only imaging them. Whenever she sees Miss Jessel or Peter Quint, Miles, Flora, and Miss Grose do not seem to see them. The governess may be seen as a heroine in this story, but her insanity appears in many examples throughout The Turn of the Screw.

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

The governess has a deep obsession for the little boy Miles. He is charming, handsome, and so many other things she desires in a man and an obvious sexual tension is present between the two throughout the entire novel. The governess says, "…everything but a sort of passion of tenderness for him was swept away by his presence. What I then and there took him to my heart for was something divine

Throughout the Victorian Age, male dominance deprived women from freedom of choice. In Charlotte Brontë’s novel, Jane Eyre, Jane Eyre repeatedly struggles to become an independent young lady due to the troublesome men in the story. There are several male characters who control, humiliate, and abuse their power over Jane. The author manages to depict patriarchal dominance through the characterization of John Reed, Mr. Brocklehurst, and Mr. Rochester.

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.

Miles represents a socially and sexually corrupt figure by the ghost of Peter Quint who violated status on two occasions. His being “too free” with Miles leads to controversy as well as his love affair with the previous governess. The governess’s knowledge on the history behind Quint and Miles changes drastically as she learns more information to discover truth. Her rejection of the idea that Miles could be “bad” transforms into an obsession noting his every action in hopes to reveal that the children are being possessed by ghosts. Despite the connotation of Quint’s clash of class boundaries, the text also suggests the potential homosexual nature of his association with Miles. Therefore, the ghost of Quint stands for everything the Governess is afraid of, and his sense of menace dictates Miles living through his identity.

Every time the governess is conflicted, her mind turns and is unstable. Even before Miles arrives at Bly, the governess questions his demeanor and is paranoid about his reason for dismissal from school. She assumes that he has done something evil and "that he 's an injury to others." (page 10). Mrs. Grose tries to persuade her that he wouldn 't be that way. However, she is yet unsure of Miles ' character and further discusses him with Mrs. Grose. The governess is still concerned about Miles ' wrongful ways, but when questioned if she 's afraid of him, she "gave way for the time to the apprehension of ridicule." (page 12). It is her paranoia that opens the door for negative thoughts and images to enter her mind.

Brocklehurst’s visit to Gateshead Hall. This is just after Jane has discovered that she is being sent away to Lowood. She confronts her aunt in a fiery argument, unleashing the feelings of rage that emerges from her assertive personality and powerful ego.

The governess’ knowledge of Quint and Miss Jessel’s affair, despite their social class, gives the governess the idea of her and her employer’s possible relationship. The difference in the governess’ and her employer’s social standings compared to that of Quint’s and Jessel’s are quite similar, with Quint being the valet at Bly and Miss Jessel being the previous governess. The governess is “drawn to her employer...who has a higher rank than she, [so] she makes much of the illicit affair between… Miss Jessel and Peter Quint, a man of much lower class” (“The Turn of the Screw” 252). Mrs. Grose describes Miss Jessel as simply a “lady” and that Quint is “dreadfully below” her (James 185). Wilson continues to tie Jessel and Quint’s relationship with

The Governess is somewhat shocked when she hears that “her” angelic Miles was bad in the past, according to Mrs. Grose. Mrs. Grose explains that in the past Miles was “bad” and had lied often to cover up his relationship with Peter Quint (192). When she first noticed that “Quint and the boy had been perpetually together” she went straight to Miss Jessel (193). However, instead of Miss Jessel being professional and putting a stop to their relationship she tells Mrs. Grose to “mind her business” (193). Mrs. Grose also mentioned earlier that "It was Quint's own fancy. To play with him, I mean—to spoil him." She paused a moment; then she added: Quint was much too free…too free with everyone!” which exemplifies Quint and Miles’ relationship but also suggests that something inappropriate must be occurring (182). These are some of the quotes that make it so difficult to understand their peculiar relationship. The reader is left wondering what exactly the relationship between Peter Quint and Miles was; and what would Miss Jessel’s reason be for being rude to Mrs. Grose for Miles. If Miles and Peter Quint were simply friends, then Miss Jessel should have had no reason to hide it from Mrs. Grose. The Governess responds with “You reminded him that Quint was only a base menial?” which is odd because instead of her being stunned that there is a chance that Miles might be involved with an older man, she cares more about their

The critics from psychanalytic perspective claim that the existence of ghosts is the governess’s hysterical delusion. The ghost is the projection of governess's own sexual hysteria, which resulted from the conflict between native romantic impulses and idealistic innocence required by Victorian society (Renner). The inexperienced governess encounters the "handsome," "bold," young gentleman with "charming ways with women" (James, 4) and she

Bronte takes the fire and transforms it to illustrate the image of sexuality and passion. By doing this, she also proposes the way in which internalized feelings of opposing ideas give into self-depleting energy through the loss of self-control. Here, Jane has the fear of becoming like Mrs. Reed. She comes to the realization that if this is not what she wants to be like, then she must keep her passions under control. Otherwise, she could become "black and blasted after the flames have died." This is presented to embody what Victorian society believed to be true and is a fine example of everything that it despises, which is namely the expression of passion. The fulfillment of self becomes the foundation of society's views, on which the fears of women and their passionate behaviors are laid.