The Governess In The Turn Of The Screw By Henry James

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Outside reading paper Our lives are constantly filled with decisions; whether it is decisions on college or the future in general. There is always a constant inner turmoil about what to believe or what to choose, which leads to a conflict. In the novel “The Turn of the Screw”, by Henry James, The Governess is torn between the belief of the corruption of the children she cares for, Miles and Flora, or if she is making it all up. In the novel James uses The Governess to explain the conflicts of the expectations of women in Victorian Era and the idea of her sanity. The Governess ultimately impacts the work as a whole by embodying James’ critiques on society’s reaction toward mental health, the role of women in society, and the uncomfortableness …show more content…
The Governess occupation is oppressive to women showing societies that women are only good at caring for children. By placing The Governess in an oppressive occupation shows how James’ intended to use her in the novel. By putting her in a position that is pinned against her. Furthermore, by putting The Governess as the inferior role in society James uses this to his advantage. By putting her in this position this shows that she has driven to want to prove her wrong doings and havoc causes by the ghost. Lastly, this oppressive role the governess is in is her way to connect of that position by proving herself. However, in the novel none of the supporting characters in the novel, such as Mrs. Gross and the children’s uncle, do not believe her or want to believe her or help in her situation. This plays to the stereotype of the frailty of women and own they constantly need to be cared for as though they are unstable and need to be treated as dainty flowers that constantly need protection. Furthermore, the lack of concern expressed by the supporting characters shoes that they do to believe the governess and are inherently labeling her as insane and playing into stereotypes. This disconcerts for The Governess shows how the Victorian Societies is set on the oppression of women. The oppression of women can also be seen today by the reinforced idea that women should not be treated the same as their male …show more content…
James uses those characters to critique the close-minded Victorian society. Throughout the novel the governess begins to have fantasies about the children’s uncle sweeping her off her feet. This is an example of how taboo the situation may have been in the Victorian Era, because by having romantic fantasizes it reflects society’s disapproval for having such fantasies. This is validated when The Governess condemned herself for her feelings, shows the taboo nature of sexual desires in Victorian Era. Furthermore, James uses the mystery of why Miles got expelled from school as an underlying metaphor for telling his classmates obscene things. By having the dynamic of a little boy being possess by a ghost shows the interest and fear of the supernatural. James also shows how society is uncomfortable by sex when the ghost corrupts the children. The idea of innocence being corrupted is a major motif in James’s novel and it is evident in The Governess and the children by having them act strongly then their normal self’s shows that the power of rebelling and giving into desires never tapped into before can have an effect on oneself. The importance of having innocence be corrupted the characters can grow and James shows the importance of the false rumors of sex and sexual desire will send one to
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