Turn of the Screw - Essay Example

Turn of the Screw Set in the Victorian era, “Turn of the Screw” depicts the tumultuous experiences of a Governess charged with the responsibility of taking care of two children at her master’s house in Bly. Author Henry James uses an eclectic cast to examine critically the socially constructed concept of gender in the novel. Examined in this essay includes disparities in gender roles, generational differences in predisposing the female characters’ behaviors and attitudes, and social class differences pertaining to gender. In addition, explored in the essay is a critic of gender in relation to the theme of sexuality. Throughout the novel, disparities in gender roles emerge whereby the author depicts male characters as the superior sex compared to their female counterparts. Advancing this perception are traditions entrenched within the Victorian era, which influenced the author’s perception of gender. According to the author, females adulated the males regarding them as superior beings capable of making pivotal decisions despite females’ divergent perspectives. In addition, James’ description of females best exemplified real life Victorian women; however, his description of his male characters contrasted that of Victorian males. The Victorian zeitgeist regarded women as proper, docile beings preoccupied with safeguarding their reputations. For example, despite the Governess’ infatuation with her employer, she refrained from acting on her emotions, as she stood to soil her reputation. Conversely, the male characters in the novel were far from being chivalrous or moral men, as were Victorian men. The master of Bly did not concern himself with matters pertaining to the two children left under his charge whereby he opted to hire governesses to take care of the children, as he engaged in selfish pursuits. In addition, a conversation between Mrs. Grose and the Governess revealed that an employee named Quint was sexually promiscuous, a behavior shunned by Victorian males. Mrs. Grose does not demur, and shonly after goes on to clarify: "Quint was much too free." (James 38) The author best exemplified disparities in gender roles through the Governess’s treatment of the children. She expects Flora to be courteous, flawless and conscious about her behaviors. However, she is less critical of Miles’ behaviors bordering on the extent that she encourages him to be a little naughty (James 12- 15). In addition, Miles takes offence when the Governess presumes to compare him to his little sister. He remarked: "You really compare me to a baby girl?" (James 12) “Baby girl” denotes Miles’ conviction in his superiority to his sister based on age and gender differences. An analysis of the main female characters shows that there exist generational differences among the women, which were responsible for predisposing differences in their attitudes and behaviors. Mrs. Grose is the eldest female character belonging to an earlier generation, which denied women a chance at education. As a result, her only hope of earning a decent living was through manual labor such as serving as a housekeeper. Conversely, Miss Jessel and the Governess belonged to a different generation, which furnished women with a basic education increasing their employment prospects. However, there were still restrictions on the type of employment opportunities that were accessible to them. Young Flora belonged to the current generation with a more optimistic outlook on privileges accorded to women and their future employment prospects. The generational differences created limitations on opportunities accorded to the different female characters, which defined their social interactions. For example, despite Mrs. Grose’s advanced age, she addressed the Governess formally and in a respectful manner. Class differences also defined social interactions. Characters of higher social standing in the society demanded respect from those in lower classes. The Victorian era gravitated towards protocol, which demarcated boundaries in social relationships. Sex is a theme common throughout the novel, which further extrapolates gender differences. As Douglas narrates the Governess’s story, an audience member alludes to his inappropriate feelings towards the Governess (James 2). According to James, the Governess’ infatuation with her master’s good looks and bold demeanor swayed her decision to accept the position. It was common for people living in the Victorian era to view an individual’s physical appearance as a reflection of their personality. Quint was the first apparition the Governess encountered, which according to critics is a manifestation of her sexually repressed feelings towards her master. Throughout the novel, the Governess struggles with issues pertaining to sexuality. For example, the appearance of Miss Jessel’s ghost symbolized the impending danger or ruin awaiting the Governess if she chose to give in to her sexual fantasies and Flora with exposure to her sexuality. Society’s view on sexual promiscuity among females was harsh and unforgiving. Miss Jessel’s reputation was sketchy after she gave in to Quint’s advances. Her ruined reputation resulted from her engaging in sexual intimacy prior to marriage and with someone of lower social standing. Gender differences also defined sexuality in the novel whereby, the stigmatization of promiscuous male characters did not occur. For example, Mrs. Grose remarks that many women were and would continue to be infatuated with her master and further explains Quint’s promiscuous nature to the Governess. "Well, miss, youre not the first – and you wont be the last." (James 6-7) Quint escaped any form of reprehension for sexually molesting Miles affirming the fact that men had it easy with regard to the expression of their sexuality. In conclusion, issues pertaining to gender highlighted in “Turn of the Screw” resound within contemporary society. In spite of the rise of the Feminism movement, contemporary society is still predominantly male oriented. Limited opportunities are available to women in different areas such as education, employment and extent to which women can express their sexuality. Despite this, the contemporary woman is more daring, defying odds set by socially constructed discriminatory values and attitudes. For example, women complement their spouses income; therefore, also function as breadwinners for their families. The fast-paced culture, which results in revolutionary social change calls for merging of gender-specific roles. As a result, many continue to direct their efforts towards female empowerment, which in turn leads to gender equality. Work Cited James, Henry. The Turn of the Screw. Ed. Peter G. Beilder. Bedford Books, New York 1995. Print. Read More