The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

Henry James’ novella The Turn of the Screw is considered one of the most important works of gothic literature ever written. It is a chilling ghost story about a young governess whose life is turned upside down when she becomes responsible for two orphaned children. Through the story, James examines themes of innocence, guilt, the corruptive power of money, and the dangers of possessive love.

The story is narrated by an unnamed narrator and takes place in an old country house set in the British countryside. One morning, the narrator tells the story of a young woman who is hired as a governess for two orphaned children, Miles and Flora. She has been asked to take on the job by an employer who remains anonymous throughout and whom she never gets to meet.

Once she arrives at her destination, the governess finds that the children have been left in the care of Mrs. Grose, the housekeeper. Though Mrs. Grose is kind and accommodating, she keeps a few secrets from the governess. The governess soon discovers that the children’s late uncle, who is also the employer, was a troubled individual with questionable beliefs. His brother, also deceased, remains a mystery.

The governess quickly realizes that the children are being subtly influenced by the presence of two other entities. One is a mysterious man whom the governess believes looks like the late uncle, and the other is a woman whom the children affectionately refer to as “Miss Jessel.” The governess believes that these two figures are haunting the children and are trying to lead them astray. While Miles seems content to ignore the two ghosts, Flora appears to be more alert to their presence and wants to spend time with them.

The governess uses a variety of methods to try to protect the children, including employing religious imagery and scaring them with tales of a demonic figure. Meanwhile, she also begins to have intense feelings for Miles, a feeling that borders dangerously close to love. In her efforts to protect him, she employs psychological methods that can be seen as manipulative.

The climax of the novella occurs when Miles goes away to school and Flora runs away to join Miss Jessel. The governess gives chase, but upon finding them together, she collapses in shock and despair. When the governess regains consciousness, Mrs. Grose tells her that the children have died suddenly. Though the governess spends the remaining hours of the night shredding the children’s belongings, the reader is left with the impression that the governess is more shocked by the revelation that the children had been possessed than by their deaths.

The Turn of the Screw is a complex and powerful story that draws upon the gothic literary tradition. Its themes of innocence and guilt, possession, and morality reflect many of James’ other works and his interest in examining the human psyche. By intertwining his exploration of psychology with a horror story, James delivers a gripping story that has stood the test of time.