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The Turn of the Screw | Reading Pointers for Sharper Insight

Reading Pointers for Sharper Insight

  1. To better understand The Turn of the Screw, consider some of the following themes that the book examines:

    • the battle between good and evil

    • the corruption of innocence

    • the destructive nature of heroism

    • sexual fears and repression

    • insanity and the destructive power of the human mind

    • the unreliability of vision and perception

    • class structure and fear of the underclass

  2. It is important to consider the historical context of the time period in which the book was written. Henry James wrote The Turn of the Screw in 1897, during the last years of the Victorian period. Victorian-era morality and class structure play important roles in The Turn of the Screw. Here are some things to know:

    • The Victorian period in Britain lasted during the reign of Queen Victoria, from 1837 – 1901. Victoria’s influence was strong and extended beyond the British Empire to America.

    • The Victorian period was marked by extremely rigid codes of morality. Purity and restraint were emphasized, especially with regard to sexuality. It was deemed improper to speak of or even hint at matters of sexuality.

    • Victorian-era morality expected women to remain ideally pure and clean. The role of women was to raise children and to keep house. Women were rarely permitted to hold jobs, usually only as teachers or governesses.

    • The class system during this time in Britain was also very rigidly maintained. A system of social hierarchies was in place, with the aristocracy at the top and the poor at the bottom.

  3. The Turn of the Screw is considered a Gothic Romance and, at the same time, a possible satire of the Gothic Romance. The Gothic Romance was a popular literary genre in England from the late 18th century through the early 19th century. Henry James wrote The Turn of the Screw in 1897, during a revival of the genre. Look for the following characteristics of the Gothic Romance while reading The Turn of the Screw:

    • a mystery story incorporating elements of horror, ghosts, and the supernatural

    • a setting in a large, old mansion or castle

    • elements of both physical and psychological terror

    • a young, inexperienced woman as the heroine

    • a mysterious man who becomes her love interest

    • fake documentation, such as letters, diaries, and manuscripts written by the characters

  4. To better appreciate The Turn of the Screw, be aware that there has been a heated debate surrounding the novel since its publication. The subject of the controversy is the following: Is The Turn of the Screw a traditional Gothic Romance with a heroine fighting supernatural forces of evil, or is it a character study of an insane, repressed woman? It should be noted that Henry James himself never hinted that the story was anything more than a traditional ghost story. However, the interpretation of the story as a study in madness is quite intriguing and is argued by many critics and scholars. The reader should consider both theories while reading the story and come to his or her own conclusions. The glossary will help to illuminate both interpretations.

  5. Understand some of the symbols that occur in The Turn of the Screw:

    • Light is a symbol of both safety and danger. Candlelight represents safety, while twilight, or fading light, represents danger.

    • The ship lost at sea symbolizes Bly, with the children and the household as passengers and the governess as the one who navigates the ship.

    • The ghosts represent evil and/or evil thoughts.

  6. Recognize some of the motifs that appear in The Turn of the Screw:

    • seeing and vision

    • silence

    • confession

    • class and social status

    • demons and the devil

    • church and religion

    • battle language and battle terms

    • ambiguous language with double meanings