The Turn of the Screw is a novella (short novel) written by Henry
James. Originally published in 1898, it is ostensibly a ghost
story. Due to its ambiguous content, it became a favorite text of
academics who subscribe to New Criticism. The novella has had
differing interpretations, often mutually exclusive. Many critics
have tried to determine the exact nature of the evil hinted at by
the story. An unnamed narrator listens to a male friend reading a
manuscript written by a former governess whom the friend claims to
have known and who is now dead. The manuscript tells the story of
how the young governess is hired by a man who has become
responsible for his young nephew and niece after the death of their
parents. He lives mainly in London and is not interested in raising
the children himself. The boy, Miles, is attending a boarding
school, while his younger sister, Flora, is living at a country
estate in Essex. She is currently being cared for by the
housekeeper, Mrs. Grose. The governess's new employer, the uncle of
Miles and Flora, gives her full charge of the children and
explicitly states that she is not to bother him with communications
of any sort. The governess travels to her new employer's country
house and begins her duties. Miles soon returns from school for the
summer just after a letter arrives from the headmaster stating that
he has been expelled. Miles never speaks of the matter, and the
governess is hesitant to raise the issue. She fears that there is
some horrid secret behind the expulsion, but is too charmed by the
adorable young boy to want to press the issue. Soon thereafter, the
governess begins to see around the grounds of the estate the
figures of a man and woman whom she does not recognize. These
figures come and go at will without ever being seen or challenged
by other members of the household, and they seem to the governess
to be supernatural. She learns from Mrs. Grose that her
predecessor, Miss Jessel, and another employee, Peter Quint, had
had a sexual relationship with each other and had both died. Prior
to their deaths, they spent much of their time with Flora and
Miles, and this fact has grim significance for the governess when
she becomes convinced that the two children are secretly aware of
the presence of the ghosts. Later, Flora leaves the house while
Miles plays music for the governess. They notice Flora's absence
and go to look for her. The governess and Mrs. Grose find her in a
clearing in the wood, and the governess is convinced that she has
been talking to Miss Jessel. When she finally confronts Flora,
Flora denies seeing Miss Jessel, and demands never to see the
governess again. Mrs. Grose takes Flora away to her uncle, leaving
the governess with Miles. That night, they are finally talking of
Miles' expulsion when the ghost of Quint appears to the governess
at the window. The governess shields Miles, who attempts to see the
ghost. The governess tells him that he is no longer controlled by
the ghost, and then finds that Miles has died in her arms.
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