Nardin's criticism-

Jane Nardin is a critic whose criticism about The Turn of the Screw took place mainly in 1970. She held a non- apparitionist view and sought to relate many events of the story as well as some of the characters' personality traits to Victorian moralism. She stated that the protagonist's feelings about her employer were based on a repressed and unrequited love, stemming from the cruel pressures of Victorian values of the time. Nardin states adult characters had good intentions but they were submitted to mental deterioration as time went by, corrupting Miles and Flora's innocence through the instillment of Victorian values. I agree with that point, since both children were quite liable to be influenced by certain beliefs that Mrs. Grose, among others, held.


Nardin also mentions sexual repression as a constitutive element of the story, adding that Victorian values and prescriptions frustrated the carnal desire of love. Miles and Flora's love for Quint and Jessel was also repressed, as they, their surrogate parents, were socially inferior to the children. I agree that the desire of showing love was somehow constrained by social differences in the children's case, due to the aforementioned instillment of Victorian values. Nardin also reminds us the governess is aware that the master sees her only as a servant.


By only wishing to marry beneath her, a lady proved she lacked the innocence and purity of mind which Victorianism expected of her. Miss Jessel intention's to marry Quint would have been seen as thoroughly inappropriate, showing lack of 'purity and innocence of mind' as the man was socially beneath her.


The critic's sociologist approach was based on Freudian and Marxist arguments, suggesting society as an element of corruption in The Turn of the Screw" (132).


As a conclusion, I can say Nardin's view is very persuading. The fact of considering the social flamework of the time is a sensible way of analysing a literary piece, and this critic didn't overlook the social element as a factor that influenced the characters' thoughts, feelings and behaviour.