The Turn of the Screw Informative Summary

Overview:

The story begins with a group of friends gathered around a fire, where Douglas, a man with a haunting experience, promises to share a chilling tale. He reveals that the story, written by a woman who died twenty years ago, details her time as a governess at Bly, a remote country estate in Essex.

The governess, a young, naive woman, is hired to care for the two orphaned children, Miles and Flora, who are under the guardianship of their uncle. The uncle, a handsome and charming bachelor, has had a difficult time managing the children, and he insists on complete independence for the governess. The governess soon finds herself haunted by the ghosts of a former governess, Miss Jessel, and the uncle’s former valet, Peter Quint. The governess becomes increasingly convinced that the children are also being haunted, but they deny seeing anything. As the governess’s fears escalate, she becomes determined to protect the children from the encroaching evil, even at the cost of her own sanity.

Key Findings:

• The governess’s sanity is questioned throughout the story, leaving the reader to wonder if the ghosts are real or figments of her imagination.
• The children, Miles and Flora, act strangely, exhibiting a precocious understanding of the supernatural and an unusual closeness to the ghosts.
• The governess becomes obsessed with protecting the children, ultimately losing her grip on reality.
• The story raises questions about the nature of evil, the power of suggestion, and the fragility of human perception.

Learning:

• The power of suggestion: The governess’s fears and suspicions are heightened by her own anxieties and her isolation at Bly. The story demonstrates how suggestion can play a powerful role in shaping our perception of reality.
  • Detail: The governess’s initial encounter with Quint on the tower is presented as a fleeting glimpse, yet her anxieties lead her to interpret the encounter as a sinister omen.
• The fragility of perception: The story explores the unreliability of human perception, particularly when confronted with the unknown. The governess’s interpretations of events are constantly shifting, leading her to misinterpret innocent actions as evidence of the ghosts’ influence.
  • Detail: The governess’s interpretations of Flora’s behaviour, such as her apparent interest in the fern, are later revealed to be influenced by her anxieties, and not necessarily indicative of any supernatural interaction.
• The nature of innocence: The story challenges our understanding of childhood innocence. Miles and Flora are portrayed as having a hidden awareness of the supernatural, which is both terrifying and intriguing.
  • Detail: Miles’s knowledge of Quint and his dismissal from school, along with his casual acceptance of the ghosts’ presence, suggests a sinister connection between the children and the supernatural.

Historical Context:

• The Turn of the Screw was written in 1898, at a time when Victorian society was preoccupied with the supernatural and the occult.
• The story reflects the anxieties of the Victorian era, particularly the fears surrounding loss, innocence, and the unknown.

Facts:

• The governess is a young, inexperienced woman from a rural setting.
  • This is emphasized in the text as she is a ‘fluttered, anxious girl out of a Hampshire vicarage’ who has only previously worked as a governess.
• The story takes place at Bly, a remote country estate in Essex.
  • This is stated in the text during the description of the uncle’s properties.
• The governess’s employer is a wealthy bachelor who is described as handsome and charming.
  • He is also described as being ‘fearfully extravagant’ and ‘off-hand and gay and kind.’
• The governess is hired to care for two orphaned children, Miles and Flora.
  • This is revealed in the text during the first description of the governess’s role.
• The children’s parents died in India.
  • This is presented as a tragic event that has left the children orphaned.
• The uncle is the children’s guardian.
  • He is entrusted with their care and wellbeing.
• The uncle has previously employed a governess who died under mysterious circumstances.
  • The details of her death are withheld, adding to the mystery of the story.
• The uncle’s former valet, Peter Quint, also died under mysterious circumstances.
  • The governess learns that Quint is dead, but the details of his death are unclear and shrouded in secrecy.
• The governess is haunted by the ghosts of Miss Jessel and Peter Quint.
  • This is the central conflict of the story.
• The governess becomes increasingly convinced that the children are also haunted.
  • Her suspicions grow over time, fuelled by her observations of their behaviour and the strange events she experiences.
• The children deny seeing anything, but their behaviour suggests they are aware of the ghosts.
  • Their denial, coupled with their unusual behaviour, adds to the ambiguity and suspense of the story.
• The governess’s sanity is questioned throughout the story.
  • Her increasingly desperate attempts to protect the children, coupled with her vivid descriptions of the ghosts, lead the reader to question her mental state.
• The governess’s primary concern is the wellbeing of the children.
  • She is fiercely protective of them and determined to shield them from harm.
• The story ends with the governess’s belief that she has saved Miles, but his death suggests she may have been delusional.
  • This ambiguous ending leaves the reader to question the nature of the story and the governess’s perception of reality.
• The story’s final scene takes place in the schoolroom, where the governess believes she has confronted Quint and saved Miles.
  • The schoolroom is a significant setting in the story, representing the governess’s sphere of authority and the site of her encounters with the ghosts.

Statistics:

• The governess is 20 years old when she accepts the position at Bly.
  • This is mentioned in the text when describing the governess’s initial engagement.
• The uncle is ten years older than the governess.
  • This is explicitly stated in the text.
• The uncle is described as having a big house in London that is filled with the spoils of travel and the trophies of the chase.
  • This offers a glimpse into the uncle’s wealth and lifestyle.
• The governess is offered a salary that is significantly higher than her previous experience.
  • This is emphasized in the text as a motivating factor in her decision to accept the position.
• The children are described as “very heavily on his hands”.
  • This refers to the uncle’s struggles with managing them.
• The governess spends several months at Bly, from June until late November.
  • The passage of time is evident in the changing seasons and the development of the governess’s obsession.
• The governess is haunted by the ghosts for a period of several months.
  • This reinforces the duration of her ordeal and the impact it has on her mental state.
• The governess drives over to meet Miles, a journey that takes twenty minutes.
  • This provides a spatial reference to the distance between Bly and the village.
• The uncle is described as being “off to India” for work.
  • This suggests his absence and reliance on the governess to care for the children.
• The governess walks three miles during one of her excursions.
  • This reinforces her anxieties and restlessness.
• Miles is described as being “scarce ten years old”.
  • This highlights his youth and innocence.
• The governess is told that Quint died on the road from the village, a journey that is described as taking twenty minutes.
  • This information highlights the proximity of the village and the location of Quint’s death.
• The governess and Mrs. Grose have a conversation that lasts two hours.
  • This provides an indication of the intensity of their communication and the depth of their shared anxieties.
• The governess experiences a total of eleven encounters with Quint.
  • This emphasizes the frequency of her encounters and the relentless nature of her ordeal.
• The governess has a conversation with Miles in the schoolroom that lasts two hours.
  • This highlights the importance of this final confrontation and the intensity of their interaction.

Terms:

• Governess: A female teacher employed to educate children in a private home.
  • The governess is the protagonist of the story, and her role is central to the unfolding events.
• Valet: A male servant responsible for a man’s clothing, personal care, and luggage.
  • Peter Quint is the uncle’s valet and the male ghost haunting the governess.
• Apparition: A ghost or supernatural figure that appears to a living person.
  • The governess’s encounters with Miss Jessel and Peter Quint are presented as apparitions.
• Preternatural: Beyond what is natural; supernatural.
  • The children’s behaviour and abilities are described as preternatural, suggesting a connection to the supernatural.
• Expiatory: Atoning for sin or wrongdoing.
  • The governess’s willingness to accept the burden of the ghosts’ presence is presented as a form of expiation.
• Incantation: A series of words or phrases chanted or uttered, especially as a magic spell or charm.
  • The governess’s descriptions of the ghosts’ presence evoke a sense of incantation.
• Machicolation: An opening in a battlement or wall, from which stones or boiling liquids could be thrown down on attackers.
  • The presence of machicolations at Bly is mentioned in the text and contributes to the Gothic atmosphere.
• Reprobation: Strong condemnation.
  • The governess faces reprobation from Flora, who judges her harshly for her supposed cruelty.
• Delusion: A false belief or opinion, especially one held with conviction despite evidence to the contrary.
  • The reader is left to question whether the governess’s fears and suspicions are delusions or based in reality.
• Supernatural: Beyond the natural or physical world; mysterious and inexplicable.
  • The story revolves around the supernatural, exploring the boundaries between reality and fantasy.

Examples:

• The governess’s first encounter with Quint: The governess’s initial encounter with Quint on the tower is brief and ambiguous, yet it sets the tone for the story and her growing anxieties.
• The governess’s encounter with Miss Jessel at the lake: The governess’s encounter with Miss Jessel at the lake is one of the most significant events in the story, marking the point at which her fears become unbearable.
• Miles’s dismissal from school: The reason for Miles’s dismissal from school is never explicitly revealed, but the governess’s suspicions suggest a connection to his interaction with the ghosts.
• The governess’s decision to write to the uncle: The governess’s decision to write to the uncle marks a turning point in the story, as she seeks to escape the confines of Bly and expose the truth.
• Flora’s illness: Flora’s illness is attributed to the influence of Bly and the ghosts’ presence.
• The governess’s encounter with Miss Jessel in the schoolroom: The governess’s encounter with Miss Jessel in the schoolroom is a vivid example of how her fears have become all-consuming.
• Miles’s confession: Miles’s confession to the governess is both a moment of vulnerability and a confirmation of her suspicions.
• The governess’s final encounter with Quint: The governess’s final encounter with Quint in the schoolroom is a climactic moment that culminates in Miles’s death.
• The children’s denial of seeing the ghosts: The children’s persistent denial of seeing the ghosts adds to the ambiguity of the story and makes it difficult for the governess to convince others of the truth.
• The governess’s internal struggle with her sanity: The governess’s internal struggle with her sanity is evident throughout the story, as she grapples with her fears and tries to maintain her composure.

Conclusion:

The Turn of the Screw is a haunting tale that explores the fragility of innocence, the power of suggestion, and the unreliability of human perception. The governess’s obsession with protecting the children from the ghosts of Miss Jessel and Peter Quint leads her down a path of paranoia and ultimately, to a tragic confrontation with the supernatural. The story leaves the reader with lingering questions about the nature of reality, the truth of the ghosts, and the governess’s sanity. The ambiguous ending forces the reader to confront their own fears and biases, leaving them with a chilling sense of the unknown.

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