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The Turn of the Screw: Summary and Study Guide

Henry James’s 1898 novella is one of literature's most famous ghost stories, known for its deep psychological complexity. It tells the story of a governess hired to care for two children at a remote estate, where she soon suspects supernatural forces are at play.

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Plot Overview: The Haunting of Bly

The story begins with a framing narrative where a man named Douglas reads a manuscript written by a former governess. The governess is hired by a wealthy, distant uncle to look after his niece, Flora, and nephew, Miles, at a country estate called Bly. While the children initially appear perfect and well-behaved, the governess soon begins seeing the figures of a man and a woman around the grounds. She learns from the housekeeper, Mrs. Grose, that these figures resemble Peter Quint and Miss Jessel—two former employees who died under mysterious circumstances.

The Corruption of Innocence

As the sightings become more frequent, the governess becomes convinced that the ghosts are not just haunting the house, but are actively trying to possess or corrupt Miles and Flora. She believes the children are secretly communicating with the spirits and hiding their dark intentions behind a mask of innocence. This leads to a series of psychological confrontations where the governess tries to 'save' the children, while the children maintain their ignorance of the ghosts, creating a tense atmosphere of suspicion.

The Climax and Ambiguity

The tension reaches its peak when the governess confronts Flora at a lake, leading to the girl's breakdown and removal from the house. Later, during a final dinner with Miles, the governess sees the ghost of Peter Quint again. In a desperate attempt to force Miles to confess, she shields him from the apparition. While Miles finally speaks Quint's name, the encounter ends in a tragedy that leaves the reader questioning if the ghosts were real or a product of the governess’s own deteriorating mental state.

Major Themes for Essay Writing

When analyzing this text, focus on the 'Unreliable Narrator.' Because the story is told entirely from the governess's perspective, we never truly know if the ghosts exist. This ambiguity is central to the novella's impact. Other key themes include the loss of childhood innocence, the strict social hierarchies of the Victorian era, and the destructive nature of obsession. Consider how James uses the isolated setting of Bly to mirror the governess's internal psychological isolation.

What is the main conflict in The Turn of the Screw?

The primary conflict is the governess's struggle to protect the children from what she perceives as the malevolent influence of ghosts, while simultaneously battling her own growing paranoia and social isolation.

Are the ghosts in the story real?

Henry James intentionally leaves this question unanswered. Some critics argue the ghosts are literal spirits, while others suggest they are hallucinations caused by the governess's repressed emotions and stress.

Why was Miles expelled from school?

The exact reason is never fully revealed. Miles only admits to 'saying things' to boys he liked, which adds to the book's theme of hidden secrets and the uncertainty surrounding the children's true nature.

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