Niya Norwood

LENG-201-005
Chwalibog
7/25/16

Psychoanalysis of Turn of the Screw

The Turn of the Screw is a text made to be analyzed and interpreted many different ways.
In fact, when the story was first released in 1898 it was a review in 1934 that claimed it was no
longer a ghost story but the study of a case of neurosis. Many psychoanalytic interpretations have
been made of Henry James text but the most notable include Freudian elements of sexual
identity and Luce Irigarays principles of sexual difference.
Sexual identity, also known to Freud as gender orientation is something to be sought after
as explained in his Oedipus complex. This complex journey of self discovery is a prominent
element of Turn of the Screw represented by the relationship between the governess and young
Miles1. Rictor Norton covers Freud and the Oedipus complex in his essay Henry James Turn of
the Screw. He explains that the Henry James text shocked its contemporaries because of the
sexual ambiguity and sexual perversion disturbingly hinted at throughout the story. It is not
difficult to understand the governess love for Miles, particularly from the Freudian view-point,
for as a mother-surrogate she would have the incestuous desires common to the Oedipal
situation.2 Also, to discuss the children of Turn of the Screw is to explore Freuds concepts about
sexual identity and gender orientation starting at the final stage of the psychosexual stages of
1 "Henry James's The Turn of the Screw - Gay History and Literature." 2008. 18 Aug. 2016
<http://rictornorton.co.uk/henjames.htm>

2 "Henry James's The Turn of the Screw - Gay History and Literature." 2008. 18 Aug. 2016
<http://rictornorton.co.uk/henjames.htm>

development3. Miles is a ten year old boy which puts him in the Genital stage4. According to
Freud this means that he is experiencing a time of adolescent sexual experimentation, the
successful resolution of which is settling down in a loving one-to-one relationship with another
person in their 20s.5 Flora, Miles younger sister is eight years old which also places her in the
Genital stage. While both are assumed innocent in their adolescence James tells readers
otherwise through the eyes of the Governess. Miles gets expelled from school and the Governess
assumes this evil is a result of the haunted house supposedly inhabited by the ghosts of its
former servant and governess Peter Quint and Miss Jessel. Throughout the book the Governess
does her best to keep the children from being corrupted but we later realize that these thoughts
and maybe even ghosts are solely in her mind.6
According to Irigaray, Freud defines sexual differences as, a function of the a priori of
the same, having recourse, to support this demonstration, to the age old process: analogy,
comparison, symmetry, dichotomous oppositions and so on.7 Irigaray often challenges Freuds
logic throughout her text Speculum of the Other Woman. As she cross examines Freuds
principles, her concepts stand out above all because they are objective to her experience as a
woman, an area where Freud simply cannot compete. For example in her text Irigaray discusses
Freuds process of The Change of "Object" or the Crisis of a Devaluation.8 Her overall
3 "Psychosexual Stages | Simply Psychology." 2011. 18 Aug. 2016
<http://www.simplypsychology.org/psychosexual.html>

4 "Psychosexual Stages | Simply Psychology." 2011. 18 Aug. 2016

<http://www.simplypsychology.org/psychosexual.html>

5 "Psychosexual Stages | Simply Psychology." 2011. 18 Aug. 2016

<http://www.simplypsychology.org/psychosexual.html>

6 Felman, Shoshana. "Turning the screw of interpretation." Yale French Studies 55/56 (1977): 94-207.
7 Irigaray, Luce. Speculum of the other woman. Cornell University Press, 1985.
8 Irigaray, Luce. Speculum of the other woman. Cornell University Press, 1985.

statement strongly questions Freuds concepts as she summarizes his findings. A woman finds
herself therefore required to give up her first love object in order to conform to the man's. To
have only one desirethat of being as much as possible like man's eternal object of desire.9
These are strong feminists thoughts and statements that were never to be expounded upon before
Freud as is the theme of James Turn of the Screw. Never question the male as he is the default
and every experience should be taken into consideration from this perspective. This is the Freud
way of thinking.10
There are so many questions left unanswered throughout the psychological ghost story
therefore leaving room for vasts amounts of interpretation. The most notable interpretation and
examination can be found in Shoshana Felmans suitably titled text, Turning the Screw of
Interpretation. Most importantly Felman discusses the Governesss mental state and her
psychosexual desires. The overall consensus according to Felman is that the Governess is
projecting her sexual desires for the Master onto the children, Miles specifically.11 The
Freudian critic proposes the question of the Governesss sexual desire for the Master.12 In the
case of the thematic question of uncanny strangeness of the fantastic happenings [the critic]
answers with a diagnosis: the ghosts are merely the symptoms of pathological, abnormal sexual
frustration and repression.13 Irigaray touches on this concept as well always challenging Freuds

9 Irigaray, Luce. Speculum of the other woman. Cornell University Press, 1985.
10 "Henry James's The Turn of the Screw - Gay History and Literature." 2008. 18 Aug. 2016
<http://rictornorton.co.uk/henjames.htm>

11 Felman, Shoshana. "Turning the screw of interpretation." Yale French Studies 55/56 (1977): 94-207.
12 Felman, Shoshana. "Turning the screw of interpretation." Yale French Studies 55/56 (1977): 94-207.
13 Felman, Shoshana. "Turning the screw of interpretation." Yale French Studies 55/56 (1977): 94-207.

view saying, Here the unconscious is speaking. And how could it be otherwise? Above all when
it speaks of sexual difference. Sexual difference specifically in relation to the contrast between a
man approaching a woman and a woman approaching a man as well mans view of a woman and
vice versa. Irigaray discusses the seemingly nonexistent sexual desires of the Governess towards
Master in terms of the passivity. It is perhaps the case that in a woman, on the basis of her share
in the sexual function, a preference for passive behaviour and passive aims is carried over into
her life to a greater or lesser extent, in proportion to the limits, restricted or far-reaching, within
which her sexual life thus serves as a model.14 Here Irigaray is explaining that the way the
woman seems to the general outsider or male is a representation of who she is sexually. This
infact is false but at the same time correct in Freudian perspective. Her desire to protect the
children and keep them from evil essentially represents her relationship with the Master as he is
the mysterious source of her predicament yet remains unattainable. Similar to her presumed
mental state; invisible insanity in plain sight.
As mentioned earlier in this essay Henry James Turn of the Screw could be interpreted
many ways. Some include; the Freudian, the critique of the Freudian, the feminist, the general
reader and more. Irigaray would question every insanity claim concerning the Governess as they
are put forth through the male point of view. The contrast between sexual identity and sexual
difference are clear indicators of the males understanding of the female and the females view
and knowledge of this understanding. I cannot offer answers but only provide more questions
pertaining to where you can find answers. As Felman said, It would be inaccurate, indeed to say
that the traditional analytical response to literature is to provide the literary question with
something like a reliably professional answering service.15
14 Irigaray, Luce. Speculum of the other woman. Cornell University Press, 1985.
15 Felman, Shoshana. "Turning the screw of interpretation." Yale French Studies 55/56 (1977): 94-207.

Works Cited
"Felman, Shoshana. "Turning the Screw of Interpretation." Yale French Studies 55/56 (1977): 94.
Web.
"Henry Jamess The Turn of the Screw." Henry Jamess The Turn of the Screw. N.p., n.d. Web.
18 Aug. 2016.
Otten, Anna, Luce Irigaray, Gillian C. Gill, Luce Irigaray, Catherine Porter, Carolyn Burke, and
Luce Irigaray. "Speculum of the Other Woman." The Antioch Review 44.1 (1986): 114.
Web.
"Psychosexual Stages." Simply Psychology. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Aug. 2016.