Friday, October 20, 2023

For Tuesday: The Turn of the Screw, Chapters 19-24


Answer TWO of the following as always: 

Q1: Why do you think the Governess becomes so antagonistic toward Flora, even seeing her as an "old, old woman"? It seems that if spirits were attacking the two children, Flora would have the most chance of redemption, being the most innocent. And yet the Governess sees her as the most forsaken, and has her removed from Bly altogether. Why is this, especially as Miss Jessel seems the less menacing of the two spirits?

Q2: Do you think Mrs. Grose finally believes the Governess, which is why she agrees to take Flora to her Uncle? Or is she simply removing her from the Governess (and if so, why doesn't she take Miles, too)? Are the "horrors" that Flora says in private about the Governess proof of Miss Jessel's instruction? Or might she have learned them from someone else? 

Q3:What does the Governess expect to happen now that the influence of Flora and Mrs. Grose has been removed? How might we account for statements such as, "We continued silent...as some young couple who, on their wedding-journey, at the inn, feel shy in the presence of the waiter"? Why might this moment invoke ideas of wedding/marriage/wedding night for the Governess? Is it as lurid as it first appears? 

Q4: Does Miles tell her the truth at the end of the story, or is he still lying (whether or not under the influence of Peter Quint)? Also, what reason does he ultimately give for being kicked out of the boarding school? Does she believe him?

Q5: (one more for good measure) What exactly happens at the end of the story? Has the Governess saved him from Peter Quint's influence? Is the exorcism successful? Or is he just dead? Was that the only way to save him from an evil spirit?  

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