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The Turn Of The Screw

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Authors all over the world share the common talent of creating an image through the use of words. This power over the audience is fundamental and is clearly viewed through the comparison of both The Turn of the Screw, written by Henry James, as well as the Accursed Inhabitants of the House of Bly, written by Joyce Carol Oates. Each novel is written by a different author who chose to share a similar plot with the clear distinction of altering the point of view of the characters. Both The Turn of the Screw as well as the Accursed Inhabitants of the House of Bly share the similar theme of unwavering love that seems to borderline obsession. Through the altered point of view, each character is presented in a manner that creates thought-provoking …show more content…

From the very beginning of each novel the excessive love for the children of Bly is made evident. Describing the children as celestial, perfect human beings is a constant theme discussed. This admiration for the children leads to the one similarity between the characters, the love found for the children. In The Turn of the Screw the new governess immediately describes Flora, the youngest child, as “the most beautiful child I had ever seen, and I afterwards wondered that my employer had not told me more of her”. (James 13) Being separated only by a couple years of age seemed to not prevent the governess from becoming an overly protective motherly figure to both the children. Throughout this story the description of the children created an image of innocence and perfection that seemed to be unwavering, no matter what the children did to prove otherwise. Looking past this ‘naughty’ behavior further exemplifies the almost hypnotic power that the children had over the new governess. The first interaction between the governess and Miles could only be described with one word, amazement. This image is described by the governess as she claimed “What I then and there took him to my heart for was something divine that I have never found to the same degree in any child—his indescribable little air of knowing nothing in the world but love”. (James 23) In the eyes of the new governess, the protection of Miles and Flora became the most important part of her life. Making sure that the children lived a happy life, far away from the danger of the past governess, created a constant paranoia throughout the novel. Love is a powerful motivator that led to the constant worrying of both governess’. This seemed to connect the lives of both the old governess as well as the new. Although the apparent hatred for each other is seen, the love for the children remained intact. Having both their own distinct

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