The Turn of the Screw
A governess receives a job caring for two children in 1840’s London, thinking it’s a job too good to be true. But as she learns about what happened to the previous governess, she realizes she may have been right…
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is a classic example of the Gothic period of literature. I know this because I read it for a Gothic Lit class I took while getting my undergrad (that’s Doctor Obvious to you). Before even reading the novella, I had already read some Gothic works and knew what I was in for: flowery writing, dark imagery, and English accents for all the characters (these accents were in my head, of course). My professor gave us the premise of the story, and it sounded pretty familiar- but I hadn’t really known why initially. A governess is hired to watch after two kids on a large and creepy (but expensive) manor. If my love of scary movies and horror literature had taught me anything, it was that this scenario could only mean one thing: ghosts. As my professor went on to explain, James’ premise had been adapted in many different iterations, the most recent at that time being in the Nicole Kidman film The Others.
The story starts with a bunch of people getting together over the Christmas holiday with nothing to do. With this being the Gothic period, the group decides to tell ghost stories. One of the men has a helluva story that he decides to read to the group from a first hand account written by his sister, the governess of the story. She writes how she was hired by a gentleman to watch over his niece and nephew, whom he doesn’t really have any interest in raising. The governess arrives at Bly manor with full reigns when it comes to raising the children- but no idea of what she’s walking into. Upon arrival, she meets the housekeeper and the young girl she is to watch over, Flora. A few days later, Miles, the young boy she is to watch, arrives home from boarding school- with news of his expulsion from the school. Though the governess is alarmed at the state of things at the manor, she is hesitant to ask directly (having manors, of course)- not to mention the children literally seem like angels. While walking the grounds, she begins to notice a man and woman on the grounds who nobody else seems to see. After speaking to the housekeeper, she comes to learn that these are the former caretaker and previous governess of the manor- both of whom have recently died (BUM BUM BUM). As the governess spends more time with the kids, their peculiar attitudes makes her believe they are aware of the ghosts- and she might be the only thing keeping these children safe.
The biggest issue you will have to get over when it comes to this novella is going to be the flowery language. If you haven’t read Gothic literature before, it can be a little hard to get into. But if you push through, there is so much to enjoy from it. You are definitely in for a great story, including seeing some common Gothic archetypes- like the unreliable narrator. This was superbly done in the novella. Much of what occurs within the story seems extreme, and it makes you question- can I trust who is telling the story? Or is the story being skewed? Is the whole thing a lie? As you get to the end of the story, you aren’t exactly left with a clear answer. And like most good ghost stories, you are left haunted by the what you don’t know. This is what makes the novella so great- the shock and the uncertainty of what really happened.
What could have made the book better, in my opinion? As a very weak and shallow point- maybe just the flowery language. But that was the style of the time, so who am I to criticize that. (If I was around during that time, that shit probably would have gotten my bloomers moist as hell). What could also improve the story as a whole, would be to hear the story from a different perspective- another character’s point of view. Literature is full of examples where this occurs (I’m looking at you, Wide Sargasso Sea). To hear how everything unfolded from someone else could expand the story and provide more depth than we get in The Turn of the Screw. Still, it’s a great novella that contributed to many of the horror tropes we know of today.
Rating: I give the novella 7 out of 10 dead governesses. The language takes a little to get past, but the questionable narrator keeps you on the hook.
There are a couple easy suggestions right off the bat when it comes to movies (or shows) that might interest you if you enjoyed The Turn of the Screw. Obviously, as I had referred to above, The Others is loosely based off of the same premise. Netflix also recently released The Haunting of Bly Manor, a James’ novella. Both have their moments, but I am definitely more of a fan of Bly Manor. You can also check out M. Night. Shyamalan’s The Village. A lot of people hate on it, but it’s got one of his patented twists and the style is pretty similar to The Turn of the Screw in my opinion.
As far as books are concerned, Jane Eyre tells the story of a governess who goes through some crazy shit (she finds a lady secretly living in the attic of where she works!). And I can never suggest Jane Eyre without suggesting Wide Sargasso Sea- it’s literally the point of view of the woman living in the attic from Jane Eyre! That shit is wild! Though Wide Sargasso Sea is an easier read, I can’t recommend reading one without reading the other. It would be like watching Annabelle without watching The Conjuring- you just wouldn’t be able to appreciate all the connections.
What did you think of TotS? Do you even trust governesses? Let me know! And feel free to shoot me any of your suggestions in the comments.
Until next time…
-M