Sheppard
Elizabeth A. Sheppard analyzed “The Turn of the Screw”
in order to understand what the author’s intention was and some of the elements
of the plot, i.e. if the ghosts were real or the governess suffered from “mental illness”. Sheppard based her
analysis on biographical research and on what Henry James read or
did not read before writing the novella.
ü She affirms that T.T.S. is based on the book called “The Proceedings” of the Society
for Psychical Research”, an organization that believes in psychic and
paranormal events and abilities. She explains that James could have never read
or known about the existence of “Freud or
Breuer’s Studies in Hysteria,” unless the philosopher and psychologist William
James (Henry James’s brother) or Frederic Myers had influenced Henry to
read them.
ü She believes that after the death of his sister Alice who suffered from
hysteria, James should not have continued reading about scientific treatises on
hysteria.
ü James might have been more interested in “The Proceedings”
(1883) or “The Phantasms of the living” (1886) rather than in psychiatric
material to write the novella. In TTS there are many details that are connected
with these two books.
ü She says that the “ghost
are not mere hallucinations” that the governess experienced. Sheppard
interprets this as “evidence against Freudian non-apparitionist readings.”
ü Narrative frame: at the beginning of the story, we can
notice the intention of the book about haunted children and not about the
problems that the governess had. This can be seen with the recommendation that
Douglas made about the governess, or with the expulsion of Miles from the
school or with the bad language of Flora.
ü Sheppard insists that the governess did not express “repressed sexuality” because of her love
for her employer. Also, Sheppard points out that the first time the governess saw
Quint was not because of this repressed sexuality but because she was
daydreaming about her employer and it was not him who appeared to her.
ü From the point of view of the Society for Psychical
Research, the novella can be interpreted as a ghost story in which some kind of
force is seen after death. “Quint and
Miss Jessel died some months before” and clearly the governess was having a
kind of connection with them. As regards Miles and Flora, they might have not
seen anything or they could have been lying.
ü Another interpretation could be “thought- transference or telepathy between living persons” In the
story, Miles and Flora could have been obsessed with the people dead and the governess
could have received these images of the deceased telepathically.
ü The governess tried to protect the children from the evil
ghosts.
ü Sheppard affirms that Miles died and was damned because
the governess performed an exorcism on him.
ü NAMES:
- Peter Quint:
This name reminds Sheppard about the stage-manager of “A Midsummer Night’s dream”. Also, Quint’s physical
appearance helps Sheppard make a comparison with George Bernard Shaw. According
to her, there was a strong dislike between James and Shaw. Quint did not wear a
hat and was not dressed in an appropriate way. These characteristics “are reminiscent of Shaw’s carelessness”,
which was something that James hated. James was a very elegant person.
- Jessel:
is a Jewish name which can be reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Jessica or the judge
of the case of Annie Besant.
- Miles
and Flora: Latin names that represent the ideal male and female.
- The
Governess: she has no name. This is an authentic characteristic of Victorian
times.
To conclude, I don’t really know if Sheppard believes
in ghosts but she examined The Turn of the Screw from an apparitionist point of
view. She refutes psychiatric material such as Freudian arguments.
I am a firm believer in ghosts and apparitions. I had
some personal experiences and I know many cases of this subject. Imagine that I
cannot believe that the governess suffered from mental illness.
