I firmly believe that "The Turn of the Screw" is an extremely challenging book to peruse. The conclusion of this literary work has left a plethora of questions lingering in my mind. For instance, the fundamental query of whether the ghosts truly existed or were merely figments of the governess's overactive imagination remains unresolved. This ambiguity has left me in a state of complete confusion. The author's masterful use of language and narrative techniques only serves to heighten the mystery and complexity of the story. As I delved deeper into the text, I found myself constantly second-guessing my own interpretations and struggling to make sense of the events that unfolded. The ending, in particular, was so open-ended that it invited multiple readings and interpretations, each one potentially valid. Overall, "The Turn of the Screw" is a thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating work that demands a great deal of effort from the reader.
Community Reviews
This is a captivating story about a young governess who serves as the narrator. She has been appointed at Bly manor to take care of two children, Miles and Flora. She describes them as 'angelic' and 'perfect', almost to the point of idealism.
After spending a few days on the job, she begins to see dead people around the house. However, as readers, we can't be certain if the ghosts truly exist because the kids deny seeing anything of the sort. I really liked how this aspect explored the unreliability of sight. It is more of a psychological horror that depends on the reader's perception of what they believe.
Henry James' writing style was a bit challenging to get into and at times felt confusing. But once I became invested in the story, I truly enjoyed it. His use of language and the way he built up the atmosphere added to the overall spookiness and intrigue of the tale. It made me question my own beliefs and perceptions, which is what makes a great horror story.
“The Beast in the Jungle” is a profound and intricate book. However, due to James's unique style, the narrative form of the era in which it was written, and its resemblance to a novel, it demands careful attention and patience from the reader. One tip, in my opinion, is to seek out a good translation. As in other works by Henry James, such as “The Turn of the Screw,” there are numerous subliminal psychological nuances, ambiguities, and secrets of the characters that are not immediately disclosed to us, the readers. Instead, they linger throughout the story, inviting us to participate and interpret their revelations. Some of these may not be uncovered until the very end, leaving us wondering what truly happened.
The plot centers around the relationship between two friends, a man and a woman. They met and conversed for an extended period during a social event, each carrying different memories and feelings from that day. Years later, they encounter each other again by chance. Surprised by this encounter, they begin to develop a deep friendship. This serves as the backdrop for James to explore how relationships can help us understand ourselves, what we hide, what we feel, and what we reveal to others and to life. It shows how certain aspects of ourselves, concealed beneath the masks we don in social interactions, are only visible to those who truly love us.
How often do we live with our gaze fixed on our own navel, failing to notice the person in front of us who has something to tell us? The symbology of this plot follows a path that suggests that all of this can lead to the extreme of one's own death in life – that of losing our existence not by accident but by ceasing to strive and act. By remaining stagnant and failing to recognize the possibilities that are often presented before us. “Our fate is never thwarted, and the day she told him that his was sealed, he saw him only to stupidly ignore the salvation he offered.” And finally, not allowing ourselves to feel, reflect, and be who we truly are. “What ended up happening is that he started to wear a mask painted with the social smile, whose cracks emanated a look of an expression that had nothing to do with his features.”
**“The Liar”**
The story of “The Liar” begins interestingly, but unfortunately, as it progresses, it becomes overly slow, lacking in movement and even in the profound insights that are so characteristic of other works by Henry James. The central theme of the narrative is “the lie.” The story is about an artist who paints portraits. He is invited to paint a picture of an old man at his home, where he meets an old love who is now married to the master's son. Her husband is an attractive and friendly person but an extremely compulsive liar. The girl is aware of how much her husband lies, yet she loves him above all else. The artist becomes lost in life and desires to understand all of this, both sentimentally and rationally, as he realizes that he still loves her.
James poses interesting questions at the beginning of the narrative about how we admire people, as seen in this dialogue: “Do you think I appreciate people to the extent that they are false?” “I think we all do it until we find out,” Lyon said. Even more intriguing is the judgment of a possible positivity of “the lie”: “He is a Platonic liar,” Lyon said to himself. “He does not lie in order to gain anything or to injure anyone. It is only a question of art for the sake of art. A clear inner vision of what should be, of what it should be, and work in good cause only in the substitution of tonality. It puts color where it should be. Isn't that what I do in my profession?”
In the course of the story, Lyon changes his opinion as he contemplates the lie. If at first he even discovers a certain kind of poetics, he comes to understand that not always does the justification of enhancing a narrative truly mean reinventing it. Then he realizes that the act of lying can reach the sickening extremes of a complete fantasy, which even includes violence and an innocent accusation for a crime he has never committed. All of this is due to the simple maintenance of a false character within himself, who, from so much lying, believes that the truth is his own lie. And the other, an accomplice who witnesses the lies of her companion, justifies her complicity not because of penance but, believe it or not, for love.
**“The Turn of the Screw”**
“The Turn of the Screw” is an incredible narrative that makes every chapter tremble with anticipation and fills us with more doubts than answers. It is a book that offers more suggestions than affirmations, allowing the reader to have their own reflections, criticisms, and conclusions. The chapters are short, and the narration is filled with ambiguous dialogues that go beyond verbal language. They also exist in descriptions of the emotions, features, and expressions of the characters, which sometimes explain more than their speech. A scream, a cry, an escape, a hysterical laugh – all are elements of language that Henry James uses in an exceptional way.
The ambiguity is so prevalent in this script that we start to question what and who is truly real or not. The suggestions also extend to the age and sexual gender of the characters. There is still a subliminal questioning: a relationship between morality, sex, perversion, anger, hatred, chastity, and religiosity. Some dialogues are entirely suggestive in this regard, and it is as if the author actually positions the reader as an agent of the novel. Henry James does this in an absurdly creative and engaging manner. In some excerpts, for example, it is common to read dialogues like “you already know”; or “do you really already know everything?” or “are you sure about this?”
It is fascinating to see how these questions receive different responses not only from readers but also from cinematic adaptations, such as “The Innocents,” which has a script signed by none other than Truman Capote and where there is an interesting Freudian conjecture in its interpretations. “The Others” with Nicole Kidman is another great and terrifying film based on this book. This is a wonderful example of how literature opens up the relationships between fictional characters, the author, and the reader, bringing ambiguity to the experience of reading, imagination, and reality. And also a doubt: woww maybe I saw something in that hallway. Is it the result of my imagination or some kind of ghost? : )
If you happened to enjoy reading that rather convoluted sentence, then perhaps you will find some enjoyment in this book. But if not, then don't even bother.
I am not one to shy away from reading different types of writing. I consider myself fairly open-minded in this regard. However, seriously, 'The Turn of the Screw' was horrendously hard to follow. The sentences were extremely long, and there were constant exclamations like 'I speak of him of course', which left the reader completely in the dark as to whom the characters were speaking.
I approached this novel with the anticipation of a thrilling ghost story. However, I ended up leaving it with just a feeling of confusion.
I think this book is more valuable as a study in language and writing than as an engaging story. It offers an interesting look at the author's style and use of language, but as a narrative, it falls short in terms of clarity and coherence.
This story is truly captivating. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The atmosphere is so eerie and mysterious that it makes your hair stand on end at certain points. The Pupil: 3 stars
While not as intense as The Turn of the Screw, this story still has its charm. It has an interesting plot and well-developed characters. The Third Person: 2 stars
This one is a bit of a let-down compared to the others. The story is not as engaging and the ending feels a bit rushed. Admittedly, though, I appreciated the fact that at one point or another in each of these stories, my hair stood on end. It shows the author's ability to create a sense of unease and tension. I also love the Gothic Revival cover on this book which I picked up at a second-hand bookshop in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The cover adds to the overall atmosphere of the book and makes it even more appealing.
The first element to clear up is the date of publication. Henry James could not have written this strongly anti-gay novella in 1898 without being influenced by the events of the time. Oscar Wilde's trial and imprisonment for homosexuality had a profound impact on society, and James was surely aware of the paranoia and fear that surrounded the issue.
The novella can be interpreted in many ways, but one of the most interesting is to view it as a study of the governess's psychological state. She is a young, inexperienced woman who is thrust into a strange and isolated environment. Her strict and authoritarian approach to child-rearing may be a result of her own insecurities and fears. The ghosts she claims to see may be a projection of her own repressed desires and emotions.
Another important aspect of the story is the relationship between the children and the ghosts. The novella insinuates that the children had an intimate relationship with Quint and Miss Jessel, but it is never clear whether this was sexual or simply a form of emotional dependence. The children's trauma and uprooting may have made them vulnerable to the influence of these ghosts, and the governess's attempts to protect them may have only made things worse.
In conclusion, The Turn of the Screw is a masterful work of literature that continues to fascinate and challenge readers today. Its complex characters, ambiguous plot, and psychological depth make it a classic of the horror genre and a profound exploration of the human psyche.