"The Turn of the Screw" is a novella by Henry James that tells the story of a governess who takes care of two children, Flora and Miles, at a remote estate called Bly. The narrative centers on the governess’s growing fears as she believes the children are being influenced by the spirits of former employees, Peter Quint and Miss Jessel, who died under mysterious circumstances. The psychological suspense and ambiguity of the story leave readers questioning the reliability of the governess's perspective.
As the governess becomes increasingly obsessed with protecting the children from these perceived threats, she finds herself isolated and struggling with her own mental state. The eerie atmosphere of Bly and her intense focus on the children create a sense of imminent danger. The children's behavior also becomes more unsettling, blurring the line between innocence and corruption.
The conclusion is deliberately ambiguous, raising questions about what is real and what may be figments of the governess's imagination. Henry James crafts a tale that explores themes of fear, obsession, and the complexities of human perception, leaving readers to grapple with the haunting implications of the story in its entirety.