Kayhani 1

Meredith Sheena Kayhani

Dr. Özge Özbek Akıman

AKE 290 Selected Texts IV

25th May 2023

Response Paper IV

The Significance of The Title of The Turn of The Screw

The Turn of The Screw is a horror fiction written by Henry James and published in

1898. The plot, narration and the characters have created an intrigue among the scholars as

well as the general public, one that follows thousands of analyses and debates on every aspect

of the novel. However, when it comes to the original novel, the relation between the story and

the title remains a highly debated topic.

The first appearance of the phrase “the turn of the screw” comes in the first chapter

when the story itself is discussed: “If the child gives the effect another turn of the screw, what

do you say to two children—?” (James). The topic is brought up when it is mentioned that the

existence of a child in a horror story adds more to the effect. Despite that, the phrase is almost

not used again throughout the novel. The definition behind the turn of the screw is associated

with its close relation to horror and uncanny; that is, every turn of a metaphoric screw adds to

the depth of horror.

Following the way the story unfolds is crucial in understanding the meaning behind

the turn of the screw. The story is narrated in a way that more is revealed to the reader, as

well as the narrator, as the chapters follow one another. In that sense one could come to the

conclusion that the screw symbolizes digging into the plot and unravelling what lies beneath

the surface; every time the screw turns, more is revealed to the readers and the narrator as
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well, who grinds her way into uncovering more and more from the children. On the topic of

the relation between the narrator – or the governor – and the children, the screw can also

symbolise the pressure that is put on the children to reveal what they know to the governor.

The children are pressured to the point of breaking on a proofless speculation, just as the

screw turns to break into any hard surface. This unravelling is not exclusive to the plot itself,

more from the character’s traits, thoughts, attitudes and background comes to the surface as

the chapters flow on.

By uncovering more from the characters and their background, the reader gains a

deeper insight into the story. The gained observation contributes to the formation of different

perspectives every time a new piece of information is uncovered. The story is narrated in a

way that what seems to be true at the beginning appears false and rather misleading. In

addition to that, basic contexts gain complexity to the point where the narrator obtains new

perspectives, not only to the plot but also the character’s behaviour and motives.

The image that the phrase creates is definitely a visualisation worth more

contemplation. The screw, as an object of penetration, is used to dig into hard surfaces;

something that may not be easily pierced otherwise. It also symbolizes the struggle and the

effort to penetrate something – the psychological idea behind the story per say. The shape of

the screw is a matter in itself; the screw is supposed to turn in order to penetrate, likewise the

story takes the reader round and round the complexity of the plot as well as the psychological

implication of the events. The story is not immediately or plainly introduced to the reader, it

appears to take the reader on a rollercoaster ride to uncover the plot, and by touching upon

the subjects rather than thoroughly exploiting them, it takes the reader into a spiral of

questions formed upon ambiguity.

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The Turn of The Screw belonging to the literary genre, brings the style of writing with

all its compartments into light. The definite article introducing the screw has its own

significance. This implies that there would be a single important turn that the title is referring

to and looking back into theories with which the turn has been endeavoured elaboration,

which turn is in fact quite significant for a title to be dedicated to is a question that indeed

requires deeper analysis.

“The turn of the screw” is a title that is quite artistically chosen and the wholly

numerous and various aforementioned theories contribute even more to the mystique and can

be seen as proof to the controversiality of the topic. Since the narration in The Turn of The

Screw leaves very much a great gap for further questioning and rumination upon the subject

itself, the understanding of it can substantially vary from one perspective to the other.

However, the provided insight may pose as alternate ways to look into the novel and its plot.
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Work Cited

James, Henry. The Turn of The Screw. Penguin publications, 1898.