Peter Quint and Miss Jessel symbolize the indistinguishable nature of the governess and Miles' sexuality in The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. Whether or not these ghosts actually exist in the literal sense, Quint's presence evokes what could be interpreted as sexual desires in the governess while reminding her of her social status. Likewise, Quint forces the reader to question Miles' sexuality due to the implication that their past relationship was sexual in nature. Miss Jessel, on the other hand, is the governess's only reminder of the wickedness of her sexual desire and, ultimately, prevents her from acting on those desires. These developments highlight the mysterious nature of the bond between Miles and the governess and lead to a deeper sense of dismay about the true nature of their bond. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Although The Turn of the Screw begins in a rather dark mood with Douglas' story, it quickly changes tone during the story of the governess's first meeting with the rich uncle. This scene makes it clear that the governess places the uncle on a pedestal and that she desperately wants to be in such a privileged position herself. Her attraction to him quickly goes beyond that of an employee to closer to sexual desire. She even describes the “moment [when] he held her hand, thanking her for the sacrifice, she already felt rewarded” (James 29). Although this is only the introduction to the play, her attraction to the uncle plays a huge role in later encounters with Quint, a former domestic worker known for parading around in the master's clothes. In fact, at the moment when she first sees Quint's supposed ghost, she fantasizes about meeting the uncle and is almost fooled by the sight of Quint in the master's clothes. She proclaims “he was there,” as if the man she spotted was truly the uncle. However, after discovering the man's true identity, she states that "my second [reaction] was a violent realization of the error of the first: the man who met my gaze was not the person I had hastily assumed” (James 39). She is initially disappointed to meet Quint rather than the uncle, but soon develops a growing desire to meet the ghost. This misplaced desire to meet Quint, however, is nothing more than a projection of the governess's desire for the rich uncle rather than a genuine attraction to Quint. Although she confidently states that she “[hurries] to meet” Quint, her enthusiasm is only the result of her misplaced attraction (James 72). She doesn't really want to meet Quint, but the sight of him allows her to believe that she will one day be in sight of the rich uncle who is ultimately, the key to the privileged life she has always desired. of privilege and his apparent desire for the uncle is directly supported by the text in the nature of Quint's first appearance. Rather than a traditional entrance, he simply appears to the governess “at the top of a tower” overlooking a lawn (James 39). This apparent phallic symbol could be seen as a direct insinuation of the governess's attraction to Quint. However, the text identifies her attraction to Quint in relation to her desire for the uncle a few lines later. She states “they were distinguished…though I could see little difference, like the new and the old (James 39). Regarding the two men, the governess here suggests that Quint resembles the uncle and that she is therefore attracted to him. This kind of fuzzy logic is amoment that allows the reader to see the governess's credibility deteriorate and may ultimately influence her opinion of the children's psyche. In the end, the only real distinguishing factor the governess can find is the simple fact that Quint does not wear a hat (James 48). This fact alone is brought up in his description of Quint and ultimately changes his opinion of him. When the governess first sees Quint in the garden, she takes him for a noble man. It is only when she discusses the man's attire with Mrs. Grose that she fully understands Quint's social position and forms a more robust opinion about him. The governess's opinion of Quint, which develops after she notices that he is wearing the master's clothes, leads her to question herself. other aspects of Quint's stay in Bly. Most notably, her relationship with Miles is often under scrutiny. From the beginning, the reader is led to believe that there is more to their relationship than meets the eye. Mrs. Grose reinforces these suspicions in her initial description of Quint's relationship with Miles; she claims that “it was Quint’s own fantasy.” Play with him… to spoil him” (James 51). She even goes so far as to say that “Quint was much too free” (James 51). The reader's reaction to this statement is led by the governess's response; she reacts to the news with “a sudden pang of disgust” and proclaims her shock at the revelation (James 51). Yet many researchers debate whether the implication that Miles had a sexual relationship with Quint because they claim it is based solely on speculation. However, Mrs. Grose once again hints at a strangeness to their relationship when she tells the governess that “for several months Quint and the boy had been perpetually together” (James 61). The significance of this statement is not fully understood until later in the book, when Miles tells the governess that it seems strange "that a man should always be with a lady" (James 83). He implies here that spending a lot of time with a particular person, as he allegedly did with Quint, suggests that there is more to the relationship than what is visible on the surface. The fact that Miles immediately jumps to such a conclusion makes his relationship with Quint even more suspect of sexual transgressions. These questions that lie between the lines of Quint's relationship with Miles are frequently a topic of discussion. However, there is another unusual relationship between Miles and the governess, one that is even less open and is often perceived differently by different readers. This relationship occurs in brief moments throughout the book where their connection appears to be deeper than their actions initially suggest. Much of Miles' speech is involved in the strange feelings the reader develops about his relationship with the governess, as she seems unusually mature for her age. His constant use of the phrase "my dear" when addressing the governess is a strange aspect of their relationship because it resembles the language of one lover to another. This is particularly evident during their discussion in the church courtyard, when even the governess notices the peculiarity of his speech. She states, “his ‘my dear’ was constantly on his lips to me, and nothing could have expressed more exactly the shade of feeling which I desired to inspire in my pupils than its tender familiarity” (James 83). Although her reaction to Miles' strange tone seems docile enough, her attachment to his mature speech suggests to the reader, once again, that there is more beneath the surface of their relationship than mere "affectionate familiarity" (James 83). . From the first time., 2004.