The Representation of the Role of Women in "The Turn of the Screw"

How the Novel is Symbolic for the Repression of Women during the Victorian Era

Hausarbeit (Hauptseminar) , 2018 , 18 Seiten , Note: 1,3

Didaktik für das Fach Englisch - Literatur, Werke

Few, if any historical time periods were characterized by such profound change, penetrating all areas of political, social, and cultural life, as was the Victorian Era in England and Great Britain. The British Empire with its colonies spanned the whole globe and new influences, needs, and inventions partly called for and partly brought about change in all shapes and forms.

One very important part of this overall change was the fight for women’s rights and the starting change of the traditional gender roles. Many people fought for women’s right to vote, more rights inside of a marriage, and much more, leading to the first wave of feminism. Of course, a topic of such social importance was not only discussed in political debates but permeated through many aspects of the life of the time, one of which being literature. Many authors reflected traditional gender roles in their works, by showing female characters behaving in new and uncommon ways or putting them in difficult situations.

This paper analyses the role of women during the Victorian Era as shown in Henry James' novel 'The Turn of the Screw'.

Inhalt

1. Introduction

2. The Victorian Era
2.1 A Short Outline
2.2 Focus on Women

3. The Narration-Style

4. T/7e Turn of the Screw: The Main Characters
4.1 The Governess Development Throughout the Novel
4.2 The Children Miles and Flora and the Governess' Relation to Them

5. The Mystery at Bly - The Apparitions and Their Meaning
5.1 Quints Apparition on the Tower
5.2 Quints Apparatlon Behind the Window Glass
5.3 Mrs. Jessel's Apparatlon at the Lake
5.4 Mrs. Jessel's Apparition In the Schoolroom
5.5 The Central Meaning of the Apparitions

6. The Aspect of Property In The Turn of the Screw

7. Conclusion

8. Works Cited

• Hochschule: Universität Paderborn
• Note: 1,3
• Autor: Alice Sturm (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2018
• Seiten: 18
• Katalognummer: V437626
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668777620
• ISBN (Buch): 9783668777637
• Sprache: Deutsch
• Schlagworte: Turn, Screw, Women, Victorian, era, Victorian Era