Conflict Analysis in "The Turn of the Screw"
Uploaded by sls465 on Apr 18, 2007
Conflict Analysis in "The Turn of the Screw"
The Major conflict in “The Turn of the Screw” was between the governess and the two ghosts, Peter Quint and Miss Jessel. The governess felt that the two ghosts were trying to sexually corrupt the two children under her care. The two children, however, could not perceive the ghosts and are totally oblivious to their attempts at corruption. Peter Quint was the main demeaning force through out the novel. He, while he was alive, had affairs with the Former Governess, Miss Jessel, and supposedly sexually abused Miles one of the adopted children. The conflict between the ghosts and the governess goes through three stages. The first was at the beginning of the novel, when the governess first finds out about the ghosts and decides to protect the children. The second is when she recognizes that Quints’ ghost represents the headmaster’s jealousy of Miles and the last was when she decides to separate the children from the ghosts. This conflict has many parallels to today’s society, the sexual frustration and the corruption of youth can be represents society’s effect on youth.
In the beginning the governess tries to explain to flora that she is being watched. That someone is following her and trying to corrupt her. The thing is that Flora cannot see Miss Jessel because she is a ghost. The governess is sure that Flora has some sort of idea that she is being corrupted. Also, Miles was being corrupted by Peter Quint another, ghost, by sexually molesting him or giving him sexual knowledge. During this phase the governess gets sexually frustrated and tries to use Miles to get rid of her frustration. An example from the book is that, she gets a hint that her desire for the absent master will be focused on Miles, the “little gentleman”. They allude to the fact that she is sexually frustrated.
Another conflict within the novel The Turn Of The Screw is between the governess and the headmaster. Earlier in Miles life the headmaster had reprimanded him for committing a malicious act. The governess felt that this judgment was fabricated due to the head masters jealousy of Miles perfection. This creates distrust between the governess and the headmaster; also it binds the governess and children closer. The ghost Quint represents the headmasters desire to...