The Turn of the Screw

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

209

Title

The Turn of the Screw

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Henry James's psychological thriller follows a young governess at a remote estate who becomes convinced that two ghosts haunt the children in her care. Blurring the lines between reality and imagination, the narrative explores themes of innocence, corruption, and the terrifying ambiguity of perception, leaving readers to question the true nature of the supernatural intrusions.

Summary up to 500 words

Henry James's *The Turn of the Screw* presents a chilling tale of psychological ambiguity and supernatural dread, narrated by a friend of the protagonist, Douglas. The story begins with Douglas recounting a terrifying manuscript left to him by his deceased friend, Miss Jessel, the former governess at the isolated estate of Bly. Miss Jessel died under mysterious circumstances after falling in love with the estate's former employee, Peter Quint. Upon her death, she entrusted her manuscript to Douglas, who later reads it to a group of friends, including the narrator. The narrative then shifts to the perspective of the new governess, a young woman sent to care for the orphaned children, Miles and Flora. The housekeeper, Mrs. Grose, warns her of the estate's dark history, hinting at the lingering presence of Miss Jessel and Quint. As the governess settles in, she begins to experience terrifying visions of these two figures haunting the grounds and the children's rooms. She becomes increasingly obsessed with protecting the children, particularly Miles, whom she believes is under the corrupting influence of the ghosts. Her relationship with Miles deepens as she tries to shield him, yet she struggles with the possibility that her own mind is deceiving her. The tension escalates when the governess discovers that Miles has been lying about his past at school, suggesting he knows more than he admits. The climax occurs when the governess confronts Miles, only to find Peter Quint staring at them through the window. In a desperate attempt to save Miles from the malevolent influence of the ghosts, she decides to deceive him, telling him that Quint is not real. However, the psychological toll of the situation becomes unbearable. The story ends ambiguously, with the governess holding Miles as he dies, leaving the reader to wonder if the ghosts were real, if the governess was insane, or if the children were victims of a supernatural evil that consumed them all. The novel masterfully explores themes of innocence corrupted, the unreliability of perception, and the terrifying power of the past.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg209.epub

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Categories

• Psychology
• Classics
• Horror