The Turn of the Screw

A detailed Summary of The Turn of the Screw


The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James, is a popular work of literature that has been the topic of much controversy among literary critics. Some of the passages found in this novella can be interpreted to have different meanings. One critic, Wayne Booth, identifies two types of readers: the "straight reader" and the "ironic reader." The "straight reader" accepts everything the governess writes to be true, whereas, the "ironic reader" questions the accountability of the governess. These are two passages that I chose to discuss using both the "straight reader" and "ironic reader" interpretations.

The first passage I chose to discuss is the second one. In this passage, we see the first appearance of Miss Jessel at the lake. At this point in the story, she has


Of what first happened when I was left alone I had no subsequent memory. I only knew that at the end of, I suppose, a quarter of an hour, an odorous dampness and roughness, chilling and piercing my trouble, had made me understand that I must have thrown myself, on my face, to the ground and given way to a wilderness of grief. I must have lain there long and cried and wailed, for when I raised my head the day was almost done. (100)

The "straight reader" says that the governess sees both Flora and Miss Jessel, but no one else can see Miss Jessel. The governess throws herself to the ground because no one sees it, and Flora is upset and wants to be taken away from her by Mrs. Grose. The "ironic reader" might say that the governess is hallucinating, which is why no one

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Approximate Word count = 520
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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