Turn of the Screw Child Care

Turn of the Screw / Child Care

A Turn to Screw the Young

An Argument for the Freudian Analysis of Innocence, Sexuality, and Abuse of Children in the Classic by Henry James

Henry James has been celebrated for his realism, and his writing can provide a unique glimpse into the nature of humans within our society. The world portrayed within James' work is removed from the harsh, garish world of the reader's life, yet the characters remain intact and complete within their own reality. This technique is part of what makes James' work so captivating and revealing. The social issues which are touched on throughout his body of work are as relevant today as they were in his time, for the created reality of his characters is timeless. The Turn of the Screw is considered to be one of Henry James' most celebrated stories, the supernatural atmosphere drawing readers in, and the social, psychological, and literary brilliance staying with them after the end of the story. The characters of James' Turn of the Screw -- the Governess, the narrator of the story; Flora and Miles, the orphaned children; Mrs. Grose, the housekeeper; Peter Quint, the dead former servant and companion; and Miss Jessel, the former governess who is also now dead -- are a cast of archetypal players that flesh out the complex allegory of social commentary. One of the issues that is blatant upon interpretation of this story is child abuse. James was more than a writer, he was also very active in the study of psychology, which gave further depth to the meaning of his literature. James was a contemporary of Freud and the Turn of the Screw was written at the birth of modern psychology, and it serves as a stern warning to society about the corruption of innocence, sexual repression and abuse, and the mental and emotional abuse of children.

One of the major themes of the Turn of the Screw is the corruption of innocence by evil. The children are seen as the primary "innocents" in this story that are corrupted by a number of outside "evils." The children may be seen as helpless youth that come under the influence of corrupted adult influences. These children have experienced terrible ordeals, with the death of their parents, and many of their associates. As each painful event occurs in their lives, the children become more exposed to pain and lose their innocence. The Governess, as narrator, believes that the ghosts of the former caretakers of the children are the sources of corruption, which may be a metaphor for the children having been abused by their former caretakers, and the lingering memories of that experience being the destruction of their innocence. The Governess, however, is actively abusing them by obsessing over the ghosts and tormenting the children because she suspects them of being under evil influence. It is also possible to interpret the Governess as being as innocent as the children, perhaps even more so. "The governess' youthfulness and inexperience are important to note, and the suggestion is that the age difference between her and Miles is no greater than that between her and Douglas." (Chase) the Governess may also be an innocent being, and perhaps the children are actually the source of corruption at work; after all, why have so many involved in their lives died? This may touch, intentionally or not on the part of James, on one aspect of child abuse which is so common: blaming children for having been abused.