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Theme of Evil in The Turn of the Screw

The evil of Henry James' The Turn of the Screw is a pervasive force which envelops not only the children and the governess but the mind of the reader who surrenders to James' story. The ghosts of the past who take over the children seem to be just as possessed by this generational evil as the children or the governess. No one seems immune from the evil, although, of course, the possession of the children seems most horrifying because children are more innocent---or so we suppose---than adults. The notion of an adult---even an adult ghost---possessing a child through his or her controlling will is the height---or depth---of evil. What makes this notion especially horrifying in the story is that the evil ghosts have no hesitation about their wicked enterprise, and the children seem to be completely vulnerable to the evil takeover. Therefore, the possession seems inevitable---nobody can do anything to stop it. Of course, the fact that the governess may be involved herself adds to the horror. We do not know what is "real" in this story, but it is clear that evil is taking place, even if it is the result of imagination or hallucination. The fact that it may be imagined makes the horror and the evil no less powerful or destructive to those involved. The utterly irrational nature of the evil is what gives it the power to violate a heart---it bypasses the mind which cannot conceive of or fully accept such evil. In addition, the reader is struck by the fact that the governess, in trying to stop the evil, probably contributes to its success by refusing to confront it earlier, thereby giving it greater opportunity to grow deeper roots in the hearts of the children.

b. This theme of evil as manifested in children is expressed most subtly in the scene in which the governess and Miles discuss "the others" and the promise that Miles makes to tell the governess his secrets (95-103). Another scene illustrating this confluence of evil forces is foun...

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Theme of Evil in The Turn of the Screw. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 09:00, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1684700.html