Sexual Passion in The Turn of the Screw :: Turn of the Screw Essays

Sexual PassioninThe Turn of the Screw In a criticism on total heat Jamess story The Turn of the Screw, Strother Purdy suggests that large amounts of sexual cacoethes may be assumed to exist underneath the surface of the narrative. Purdy says that under a Freudian interpretation of the story, the sexual element is easily recognize and is used as the whole source of the action. concord to this theory, the governess wishes to impress her headwaiter because she is in love with him and, therefore, exceeeding her authority with the children. Although the governess only sees her get the best twice, Purdy refers back to what Douglas had said, it was the mantrap of her passion. Since the master is not impressed by her initial and ordinary trend of governessing, she must(prenominal) make up some life-threatening danger to the children so she can rescue them and win the masters love and affection. She figures the danger must be terrible because he told her he did not want to be bot hered with matters dealing with the children. He basicall(a)y tells her he cares nothing for the children. Purdy suggests the governess is unconscious(p) in doing this because she is sexually repressed and cannot admit her sexual motives to herself She believes she is actually defend the children against an outside evil, which happens to coincide with her drive to demonstrate heroism and devotion to the master. According to Purdy, the governess conjures up ghosts because she invited them and willed them to come. Purdy feels the housekeeper plays her trump card and the governess concern is not for the children but for all that would become of her, her bargain with the master, her relationship, and her passion for him. Purdy finds the following quotes to show her passion for the master and show that this serves as the motive of action. She did not know- no one knew- how high-flown I had been to serve him and to stick to our terms. I set in deed the fine machinery to attract his a ttention to my slighted charms.