In this video, I’ll summarize the plot of The Turn of the Screw in about four minutes and give you an analysis of the story. Okay, let’s get started with the introduction.
1. The Governess Arrives at Bly
A young, inexperienced governess is hired by a wealthy man to care for his orphaned niece and nephew, Flora and Miles, at his country estate, Bly. The children’s uncle, who lives in London, gives strict instructions that she must never contact him, no matter what happens. At first, Bly seems idyllic, and the children appear charming and well-behaved. However, the governess soon learns that Miles has been expelled from school for unknown reasons, though he refuses to discuss it.
2. The First Apparitions
As the governess settles into her role, she begins seeing strange figures around the estate. She first spots a mysterious man on a tower and later outside a window. Mrs. Grose, the housekeeper, identifies him as Peter Quint, a former valet who had died under suspicious circumstances. Soon after, the governess also sees a woman near the lake whom she later identifies as Miss Jessel, the former governess who had also died. The governess becomes convinced that these ghosts are trying to corrupt the children.
3. Growing Paranoia and Fear
The governess believes that Miles and Flora are secretly communicating with the ghosts. She becomes obsessed with protecting them, though neither child admits to seeing the spirits. Flora, who was previously affectionate, suddenly grows distant after the governess confronts her about seeing Miss Jessel. Meanwhile, Miles behaves increasingly strangely, speaking in an unsettlingly mature manner and avoiding direct answers about his school expulsion. The governess begins to feel isolated, unsure if Mrs. Grose fully believes her claims.
4. Flora’s Breakdown and Miles’s Defiance
Determined to expose the supernatural presence, the governess forces Flora to acknowledge Miss Jessel’s ghost by the lake. When Flora refuses to admit seeing anything, she becomes hysterical and falls ill. Mrs. Grose takes Flora away, leaving the governess alone with Miles. The governess sees this as her final chance to “save” the boy from Quint’s influence.
5. The Tragic Climax
That night, the governess confronts Miles, demanding to know the truth. He finally confesses that he had been expelled for saying “things” he should not have. As the governess presses him further, she sees Quint’s ghost outside the window. She pulls Miles close, assuring him he is now safe. In the next moment, Miles collapses and dies in her arms. Whether he dies from fear, supernatural forces, or the governess’s own actions is left ambiguous.
Theme 1: The Unreliable Narrator
A key theme of The Turn of the Screw is the question of reality versus imagination. The governess is the sole narrator of these ghostly events, leaving readers to question whether the apparitions are real or a product of her paranoia. Her increasingly erratic behavior and obsessive fixation on the children suggest that she may be losing her grip on reality. This ambiguity is what makes the novel a psychological horror rather than a straightforward ghost story.
Theme 2: Innocence and Corruption
The story also explores the fragile line between innocence and corruption. The governess sees herself as a protector of the children, believing they are under the influence of malevolent spirits. However, the children’s behavior suggests they may not be as innocent as they appear, particularly Miles, whose past remains mysterious. The novel raises unsettling questions about childhood, morality, and the effects of adult intervention, making it a chilling and thought-provoking tale.