novella? The story is narrated by an unnamed Governess‚ who is sent to teach and care for two very polite children at their estate in Bly; the charismatic Miles and his charming younger sister Flora. Oddly‚ the uncle who hired the Governess is incredibly closed off from the children‚ and wants nothing to do with them‚ the Governess considers that it’s because he is busy but as the story progresses the Governess becomes uncertain of that theory. The Governess is only twenty and something of a romantic
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from the governess’ biased point of view. Her account of events is the only story the reader must analyze and believe. Mrs. Grose is the next most believable character. Her only shortcoming in that respect is her simple-minded innocence and her subjection to suggestion. One is forced to wonder if this character has any will or desire to think on her own‚ or if she was born‚ raised‚ and hired only to follow the instruction and logic of others. Mrs. Grose’s agreeable nature allows the governess a great
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the governess shows the use of Reaction Formation when she decides to take care of the children‚ simply to impress the uncle‚ despite knowing that they are evil and wicked. In the novella‚ the author says‚ “Have you written‚ miss? “Yes—I’ve written.” But I didn’t add—for the hour—that my letter‚ sealed and directed‚ was still in my pocket” (James 50-51). Despite writing the letter‚ pleading the uncle to come to Bly‚ the Governess never tells Mrs. Grose if she sent it or not. The governess kept the
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seen as having much worth. Their roles mainly consisted of a teacher‚ a governess‚ or a housewife. Women were often viewed as incapable of certain work‚ but the main character in this novel‚ the governess‚ proves that women can accomplish great things when she is caught in a situation where she must fight against supernatural forces. The concept of feminism is a central theme in the story and is displayed through the governess’ self-discovery that she does not need to depend on a man and has the ability
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what is meant by Peter Quint being “too free” with the children. Perhaps the biggest inference the reader must make is whether the governess is truthful and actually sees ghosts which may harm the children or whether‚ for whatever reason‚ she is not telling the truth. I believe that the ghosts are only a hallucination of the governess. I also think that the governess is suffering from a mental disorder‚ possibly paranoid schizophrenia. Hallucinations are common in paranoid schizophrenia‚ which
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question: are the ghosts the governess sees real ghosts‚ or are they simply a part of her wild imagination? There is evidence to go along either side‚ but it is apparent that most evidence leads to the fact that the governess is indeed insane. The governess should be considered insane because she herself hints at the possibility of her madness‚ and she is the only one that plainly admits to seeing the ghosts. There is evidence in the novel that perhaps the governess is simply seeing things as a
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Miles from school and refuses to specify why. The Governess has several guesses about what he might have done‚ but just says he might be “Corrupting” the others. This assumption is almost as uninformative as the original letter from the headmaster announcing the expulsion. The Governess fears children understand the nature of Quint and
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are sent to live with their uncle when their parents die. The Uncle in turn leaves the children in the care of the governess‚ who is also the narrator. The power plays come in three ways that are woven into the bigger picture. First‚ the Uncle is the ultimate power within the story. The governess meets him one time and is then and there smitten with him. He leaves the governess ‘in charge’ of the children while he is off doing whatever. He does not inquire about the well-being of the children
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this the product of haunting ghosts or an overprotective and insane governess? Over the course of the book there is a constant battle for power between the governess and the ghosts of Miss Jessel and Peter Quint‚ and this is what creates the suspiciousness and mischievousness of the children. The first sign of mischief by the children is seen towards the beginning of the story when Miles is expelled from school. The governess receives a letter from the headmaster saying he cannot return to school
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the story then serve as protection for the children she acts out upon. The new governess‚ whose name we are never told throughout the novel‚ is held in a strange position in society. As a governess‚ she was part of the middle class yet she was a source of temptation for the master while being held to the strictest of behavioral guidelines herself since she dealt with children. However‚ in this case‚ the governess has an obsession for the master of the house. The master was "a figure as had never
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