THE TURN OF THE SCREW

THEMES and MESSAGES

THEMES / HEROISM
Superiority of the governess can be seen in the story. She tries to govern the behaviour,thought of others.She keeps them under her tumb. This causes bad ending but it can be said that one of the guilty is uncle who burdens all responsibility to governess shoulder. Because of loving him,she does her best according to her to please him,which can be described as destructive heroism.

WOMANS PLACE

In this age,women are accepted as beautiful,naive people who dont have a brain to think about government issue. This is reflected in the story as an irony that while governess tries to govern children,because of not having such an ability,she becomes unsuccessful. Also in this age,woman should be either housewife,governess or prostitute like governess,who is a teacher and also a little prostitute who has to live her desire with herself but thinking a man.

RELATIONSHIPS
Both gay male and lesbian attractions are reflected in the novella. Also Henry Jamess preference about sex is reflectedLike Henrys being homosexual relationship between Quint and Miles is a homosexual one,too. Moreover lesbian relationship can be seen between governess and Flora. Another different relationship is between governess and Miles.She sees him as uncle and so she has some sexual desire to Miles.

SOCIAL CLASS

In this age there are some social classes. For example,Miss Jessel is thought in upper class thanks to her job,so her relationship with Quint doesnt accepted because of his low statue. Also while Quints name becomes notorious because of loving too many girls,uncle is accepted as an important person,although he loves many girls,too.This shows us that there is discrimination between social classes.

CORRUPTION OF INNOCENT

Governesss fear of the childrens corruption represents her protection of her own fears and desires regarding sex onto her charges in fact. Although corruptions meaning isnt said explicitly,it means exposuring to knowledge of sex for governess. And she tries to prevent them from this knowledge rather than ghosts,because according to her corruption of innocent is the worst thing.

CORRUPTION OF RELIGION
In Victorian age,because of reason,scientific searches, belief about religion declines day by day. Also Henry James is one of the men who is against to religion,so he reflects his thoughts to the story. For many times governess doesnt go church for some reasons,which shows us the religions situation.

TABOO

There are some secret subjects on which the story is based. We cant read some words such as penis, vagina in the story,but when we search,we can understand what refer to these words. For example,tower refers to penis and lake refers to vagina Henry James uses this theme in his novella to satire that age and in fact he reflects the persons nature and desires in his story to make people wake up and see bad consequents of not making people conscious of such important subjects.

SEXUAL DESIRE

This is forbidden subject,too.In that age,there shouldnt be any desire for a woman related to sex because woman has sexual intercourse only to have children. For example,although governess wants it,she is afraid of societys pressure and this leads to press her feeling. It can be understood from the situation that governess is jealous of Miss Jessels sexual infraction and she is apparently fascinated by it.

CONTRAST
Some extreme points can be seen in the novella. For example,while governess loves Miles, she doesnt do anything for his school. Although she tries to do good things which are accepted by the society,she doesnt go to the church. These shows us that both belonging and being strange ,in short some contrasts in the story.

GHOST

In Romantic age,ghost is used for enjoy the story,but in Victorian age,it becomes more realistic. Also ghost enables us to search about psychology in this novella,because ghosts that governess sees reflects her thoughts. Subjects that are mentioned by the governess shows us her conciousness but main point that should be indicated is her unconciousness because her real ideas are at this level. Thanks to dreams and wooden boat which are triggers reveal her thoughts,her selfish need,sexual desire.

MESSAGES

All ideas,thoughts related to our lifes should be discussed explicitly,because they are facts of us. Judging someone else is courts duty not ours. The more negative you look at the events,the more negative conclusion will be. Accepting societys rule without thinking will harm us directly,and then society and its future indirectly.