The Turn of the Screw

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The Turn of the Screw

"I must take my horrid plunge" from the opening line sets the tone of

the passage. The novel's gothic form is revealed very early on in the

passage. There is a distinctive differentiation between horror and

terror derived from the studies of Radcliffe. "Terror" is when one

induces to action and "horror" is when one is "powerless" and

"freezes" as a result of it. The Governess' horrid plunge is a forced

action, as she is powerless to combat the supernatural forces that

oppose her. The gothic tone is intensified by strong language and a

series of effective individual words, aiming to build up a sense of

fear and insecurity for the reader. "Shrouded", "dangerous", "dread"

are among other words that are used for effect in this passage. James

has introduced us to this passage very well, as we are able to

understand how the governess feels. We have a sense that her world is

"godless", a world of no social hierarchy. From a Freudian point of

view, the governess is going through a kind of self- administered

psychoanalytical therapy.

There are effective uses of language in this passage that shape the

readers' interpretations. "Push my way through it" builds up

expectation. It promotes violence in a mild undertone making the

reader eager to read on. "Cold touch" and "soft breath" give a sense

of haunting and supernatural presence. These words are tangible - they

personify the source of the governess's fear. In "Sequestered home" a

strong notion of isolation and loneliness is presented and;

accompanying these emotions we are presented with "draping curtains".

This raises ambiguity and an uncertain presence. This strong

descriptive language gives us a feeling of the place and its gothic

a...

... middle of paper ...

...o. The first

paragraph sets the scene as it creates terror and prepares the reader

for a fearful experience. The second paragraph focuses upon the main

event, in this case the appearance of Quint. The final paragraph

disperses the tension. The figure of Quint disappears and the pace of

the encounter dies. The pace that is created mainly in the second

paragraph is crafted by the use of hypo-taxis earlier.

Having analysed the passage in detail, one can say that this is a

sensationalist piece of writing. There is a general feeling of

intimate knowledge mixed with a state of excitement. James' enhanced

literary techniques influence the views of the readers in a

significant way. Throughout the passage, there is evidence of rich

descriptive language and literary devices that intensify the feeling

of dread and a sense of ambiguity crucial to James' purposes.

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