Commentary on Turn Of The Screw Essay

The Turn of the Screws Frame Narrative

Henry James novel The Turn of the Screw has proved to be one of the most popular (as well as extremely ambiguous) tales of its time. The novel begins with an introduction in which we have an un-named narrator who is setting the scene for us (the readers). It starts with a group of friends who are gathered around a fireplace in the parlor of an old house to share gruesome stories with one another on the night of Christmas Eve. This part of the story produces an interesting effect due to that fact that ghost stories are usually told over a fire in a fireplace or around a camp fire in order to give a creepier ambiance. Ghost stories are always told through a second hand perspective (by someone who wasnt there), and here in our story, we are introduced to a story teller named Douglass (who offers to give a story more frightful than the one just heard). The purpose of a frame story is to prove to the reader that the tale they are about to hear is, in fact, a story. The frame narrative in The Turn of the Screw has the intent of building up an element of suspension and tension before the governess account begins.

People truly enjoy being entertained and what better way is there to intrigue the interest than by telling a good ghost story! The audience gets excited at the thought of being scared or hearing gory details. The very name of the novel itself invokes images of torture (as mentioned in class we imagined thumb screws being turned). The fact that the torture is inflicted on a child gives the story an even stronger effect (or another turn of the screw) that greatly intrigues the audience. The story teller Douglass exclaims that he can do even better. He suggests a story that heightens the horror and terror by not giving one, but two turns of the screw (involving two children). At this point, the group is telling stories in order to please and amuse themselves. They arent viewing the story in the aspect that this is happening to real children. Their only thought is the fact that two turns will double their pleasure (the story will be twice as good if ghost appears to two children instead of one) and prove to be a great story!

The narrator in the frame suggests that Douglass knows how to attract the attention of his audience. He seems to know how to charm and/or manipulate the audience. The worst the story is the more people want to hear it. Douglass over embellishes the horror of the story to gain extreme interest of his listeners. He states the story is quite too horrible and dreadful as the reasons he is the only one who has heard it. The narrator points out that these statements give Douglass story the utmost price (meaning it gives it more appeal and makes the audience want to hear the story even more. Dramatic pauses from Douglass intensify the audiences curiosity (as well as the fact that he has the story locked up and has to send off for it).

The story to be read is from the written account of a nameless governess (whos relationship with Douglass has been questioned in the frame). Douglass appears to have a certain respect for the governess. It is important for him to not just tell the story (for he may give an incorrect detail) but to send off for the original copy (in order to give the governess exact account as she has written it). This may also be a ploy to make the audience less critical of the story teller and give them a reassurance that the story is not being embellished. However, Douglass endless compliments of the governess in the frame lead the audience to believe that he was possibly in love with her. That fact that she would share her story with only him implies a special relationship between the two. His constant praise could have had the intent of giving her story credibility, but it tends to put his character judgment in question (if hes in love with her, hes going to be bias. The story is already one sided for it is the governess account and nobody is around to give a different version).

A small but important factor in the frame worth mentioning is the relationship between Douglass and the narrator. The narrator remains nameless and un- gendered but gives us the impression that there is a special (maybe intimate) relationship between the two. The frame tells us that Douglass interacts with the narrator directly and also gives particular focus on how the fix each other (making more sense for the narrator to be a woman). Theres also the fact that Douglass gives the story to the narrator before he dies (which is what the governess did for him and one of the reasons Douglass felt it was proven that she took a liking to him).

So basically, the frame narrative is filled with important details that aid in setting up the actual story. It gets the audience aroused and makes the reader anticipate what theyre in for. One of the significant things about this frame story is that it not only builds up our intensity, but it even give us a possibly explanation of how the governess got herself into this terrifying situation (which was probably for the love of a bachelor that she would never see let along be with). A good prologue leaves you to settle in for a good story.