Englisches Seminar Universität Hannover

HS:
Literature and Photography in the 19th Century America:

Spectacles of the Body

The Strange Steps of Obsession

The Ambiguity of the Governess in Henry James´

The Turn of the Screw

WS 2002/2003

von
Raoul Festante
 

Contents

1. Introduction Page. 2.

2. Limited perspectives Page 4

2.1 Subjectivity and the one-sided flow of information -
2.2 Ambiguous communication Page 5

3. The governess: a psychotic personality?

3.1 The question of the governess´ reliability
3.2 Sexual hysteria
3.3 Ghosts or hallucinations?

4. The role of class-consciousness Page 12

5. Conclusion Page 16

1.Introduction

The “Turn of the Screw” was originally published as a serialized novel in a magazine called Colliers Weekly. Henry James finished the work on the story in 1897 and published the text which consisted of twelve chapters plus a prologue between January and April of 1898. James agreement to publish his story in Colliers Weekly was connected to the precondition that he would publish it also as a book.

In 1908, James published his complete works under the title "The Turn of the Screw:  The New York Edition."

The Turn of the Screw was published at a time during which the interest in Psychical Research and supernatural phenomena was very predominant. The Society for Psychical Research had been founded in 1882 of which James´ brother and father where both members of. Thus, James was not only familiar with the cases of ghost apparitions but used these informations for his ghost stories among which The Turn of the Screw surely became the most important to date.

In the preface of his 1908 edition he stressed however the fact that Peter Quint and Miss Jessel were not ghosts in the traditional sense as the Society of Psychical Research where observing. He pointed out that

“(...) Peter Quint and Miss Jessel are not “ghosts” at all, as we know the ghost, but goblins, elves, imps, demons as loosely constructed as those of the old trials of witchcraft; if not, more pleasingly, fairies of the legendary order, wooing their victims forth to see them dance under the moon.” ¹ This and other passages in the preface of his New York edition from 1908 caused great controversy over the true meaning of The Turn of the Screw:

The question was and still is: Is The Turn of the Screw a ghost story in the typical sense? Or is it on the other hand, it the story of a young, psychologically deranged and sexually repressed woman who sees the ghosts because of her inner struggles? In my paper, I will examine some of the character traits of the main protagonist, the governess and attempt to shed some light on the conspicuous elements apparent in The Turn of The Screw.

2. Limited perspectives

2.1. Subjectivity and the one-sided flow of information

The Turn of The Screw is told from a strictly subjective perspective. Henry James´ work of cold artistic calculation starts with a prologue in which the reader is convinced of the innocence and good-naturedness of the young governess and her flawless character. It aims to provide the reader with trustworthy background information about the governess a nd all other characters in the story. This is done by the character of Douglass, a man who procured the original manuscript of the story and whom the other characters themselves note, must have been in love with the governess or at least have been in a closer relationship. Douglass is the only source of information for the little group of listeners as he is the only one familiar with the content of the story. The manuscript contains the notes and accounts of the governess who functions as the real storyteller. She is the only witness and source of information for Douglass.

This one-sided flow of information from the governess through the manuscript to Douglass is perhaps the most important foundation of later ambiguities in the story. First, he has to rely on the reports of the governess since she is the only available observer. He corresponds to the need of his listeners to present the story in a gruesome manner and combines his personal experiences and memories with the information of the manuscript. Douglass creates the image of a benevolent, inexperienced beautiful young woman and tries to convince the listeners by describing her as a charming, most agreeable person. But because of the emotional connection between Douglass and the governess one cannot absolutely be certain either about the innocence of the governess nor about any other “fact” presented in the story.

In utilizing a character like Douglass who lets one look through his looking glass, real facts become difficult to obtain. It is even questionable if the story as a whole is fictional or at least largely rearranged by Douglass in order to make it more appealing. He tries to portray the picture of the governess as one who was taken advantage by her employer and leaves no doubt to her credibility, which in turn aims to prepare the reader to accept all comments and explanations about the ghost appearances and all other presented facts without doubt. This image later is called into question when her behaviour towards the children and Mrs. Grose shows her unlovely, darker traits of character and reveals the sharp discrepancy between the two different images of the governess. The basic problem about the limited perspective and the lack of other contributing characters is that we are prone to accept everything first hand.

[...]

1 Peter G. Beidler quotes from Henry James in Ghosts, Demons and Henry James: The Turn of the Screw at the Turn of the Century (University of Missoury Press, Columbia, 1989) 228