Gothic literature typically contains many of the following elements: ghosts, scary and strange environments, castles, creepy places, the supernatural, monsters, doppelgangers (characters that act as doubles), magical objects, the femme fatale, demons, devils, witchcraft and sorcery, science used for evil, cultural taboos, crossed boundaries, sexual misconduct, scenes of violence, iniquity...you get the picture. The purpose is often to address subject matter too controversial for society at the time of the writing by creating a fantastic version of a real-life situation to hot to explore. It is about secrets of the heart, places unspeakable.
What elements of the gothic novel do you see in this reading? Select two elements and speak to their presence and purpose in the novel.
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I think one of the elements is definitely strange places. The governess was in a mansion that housed only 2 little kids. Another is femme fatale. In this book that would be Flora because the governess was relieved by her beauty but I think that will eventually lead to her demise.
ReplyDeleteThe first obvious element is ghosts. At one point the Governess didn't know that Peter Quin or Miss Jessel were ghosts because they looked real to her as she says she was able to describe them to the very last detail after seeing him, but so far these two apparently having been dead and are now back haunting the Governess and/or the children has been a significant part of the first eight chapters. Another element is femme fatale as the Governess is obsessed with multiple people in this mansion such as the man she works for, who she seems to be in love with since her interview, Flora, who she is obsessed with her beauty and looks, and Miles, as she is keen on looking at all the bright sides of him being asked to not return to his school.
ReplyDeleteThe first obvious element is ghosts. At one point the Governess didn't know that Peter Quin or Miss Jessel were ghosts because they looked real to her as she says she was able to describe them to the very last detail after seeing him, but so far these two apparently having been dead and are now back haunting the Governess and/or the children has been a significant part of the first eight chapters. Another element is femme fatale as the Governess is obsessed with multiple people in this mansion such as the man she works for, who she seems to be in love with since her interview, Flora, who she is obsessed with her beauty and looks, and Miles, as she is keen on looking at all the bright sides of him being asked to not return to his school.
ReplyDeleteAlex Dessin
One huge element of the Gothic novel is the ghost. As the governess was in her bedroom, she saw a person out her window. After confronting the maid about the person, she said that the man died years ago which made the scene more suspenseful. Another huge element of the Gothic novel is the strange places. The governess moved into a mansion for only two children. The place is very old, dark, and huge for only two little children.
ReplyDeleteOne element is definitely the very large and creepy mansion with squeaky staircases and doors. This will probably be one of things that will lead to future creepy situations. Another element are ghosts. There will most likely be a large presence of ghosts since the governess thinks that the estate is haunted and the front cover of the book includes a ghost as well.
ReplyDeleteTwo major elements in this book are creepy castles and ghosts. The story is set in a remote mansion (similar to castle) with many empty rooms and long, twisting corridors. Only 4 people (including the governess) live in this huge mansion, and the emptiness adds to the creepiness of the setting. The mansion is also in the countryside, set apart from the rest of civilization and also apart from the governess' employer (so she can't ask for immediate help if needed). The second element is ghosts. The story revolves around the idea of ghosts living in the mansion; however, what the author doesn't clarify is whether the ghosts are real or if this is all just part of the governess' imagination. This creates a suspenseful mood and adds to the uncertainty about the events that the governess claims to have witnessed.
ReplyDeleteJoyce Koo p. 2
Ghosts and iniquity are seen in this novel. The governess sees a man in a tower on her walk and he appears again, staring through a window. The governess is determined by the second time to catch the man staring but he disappears by the time she gets to where he was staring at her from. Mrs. Grose identifies the man the governess describes seeing as Peter Quint, a man who used to work there but died. This man that the governess has been seeing is a ghost and she also saw the ghost of Ms. Jessel. The purpose of these ghosts is to create the eerie affect and story line since these ghosts play a significant part throughout the whole novel. Ghosts are linked with horror and this is a horror novel so it goes well with the genre of the book. Iniquity is also seen in this reading when Mrs. Grose informs the governess about Peter Quint's close relationship with Miles and Ms. Jessel's relationship with Flora. It seemed like they also were aware of their beauty and spent a lot of intimate time with the kids. The purpose of this is to give more mystery and hint at the purpose of the ghosts in the novel and how their relationship with the kids impact their purpose throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteGhosts and creepy places are elements seen in this book. Peter Quint is introduced as the ghost of Bly Manor and he has a background with the area and the children. He was the valet and had a close relationship with Miles. He is introduced to begin the conflicts later in the book. He is the one that starts the actual purpose and plot of the book. The manor is also represented as a creepy element. Bly was a mansion with lots of space and little people. It's an important element because it sets the scene of why the family is so weird and why the governess takes the job.
ReplyDeleteVickie Tu (Period 2)
One of the more prevalent gothic elements throughout at least the first few chapters have been ghosts. The first appearance of a ghost was made by the late estate keeper of Bly- Mr. Quint. First, he was spotted by the governess atop of a tower, but then later appeared again watching her from outside of a window. His presence is not explained thoroughly by Ms. Grose when the governess confronts her with the news of Quints’ presence on the manor. Although, it is explained that Mr. Quint had a unique relationship with Miles and later Flora’s relationship with Ms. Jessel, the second appearance of a ghost, is explained. These ghosts’ presence in the novel may be to clue into the children’s oddities and their offsetting characteristics or could clue to the governesses growing instability and insanity.The “attractive” ghost of Quint appears just as the governess was thinking about the barrier between her and the master of Bly. The possibly imaginary ghost is meant to emphasize how the governess is losing her sanity. The whole storyline is also taking place in a “beautiful” castle with luscious greenery and quirky towers. Throughout the beginning chapters, the castle and its beauty are what give the governess comfort when she feels nervous about this new journey. The castle is meant to deceive the governess with its appearance since its history and secrets are anything but beautiful. It begins by giving her comfort, but will eventually lend itself to the horror.
ReplyDeleteGhost have been elements that are repeatedly brought up in the novel. They are introduced in the novel to not only the reader but the characters them self which add suspense because no party is informed about what is going on.Another element that is introduced is description of horrific imagery which add a sense of horror to the novel with every chapter you read the changes in the environment and how the dark cold castle sets the mood for reader and characters.
ReplyDeleteI believe that James is attempting to explore, in his story, the nature of relationships that are often thought to be inappropriate. I often find that ghosts are depicted to be spirits with convictions that keep them from the afterlife, depicting Quint and Jessel as ghosts obsessed with the children may be an analogy for their affection for these children perhaps becoming corrupted by some sort of malevolence: maybe perversion or possessiveness. The relationships that they had bordered on obsession, an obsession that keeps them tied to this mansion and the children, despite their death.
ReplyDeleteTwo Gothic elements of which stood out the most to me where ghosts and scary/strange environments. The reader is introduced to the fact that this novel will have ghosts from the very beginning. Both on the cover and in the prologue they are included. However, the first time a ghost actual seems to appear in the text is a bit later. The governess views Peter Quint, a man who had worked at the mansion, as a real person to begin with but later learns he has passed away. The governess works at a mansion, under quite unusual circumstances. Personally, I am not all to familiar with this type of setting. Coupling the ghosts with the mansion gives the novel a particular feeling. Haunted Mansions are rather iconic in terms of scary things. Obviously, it was probably not the intention of the author, but some readers that have gone through similarly themed experiences (around Halloween, namely) at things such as the Haunted Mansion Ride in Disneyland, they may subconsciously recall that same fear they once had.
ReplyDelete- Julia Bentley
DeleteAmera Mohamed 5: One of the major elements I see in this novel is the ghosts that are always popping it. Ghosts like Quint and Miss Jessel are what the entire plot is based around as of now. They appear and disappear and when Mrs.Grose recognizes their description and proves that they’re dead made the haunting of the Governess and children more cryptic. Their purpose is to create mystery in the novel. Also the big castle in the middle of nowhere with only two kids living in it is a gothic element. The Bly manor is known for running out people who work there and making people do crazy stuff. The purpose of this manor being so spacious with so little people is so the Governess feels isolated. She currently is focused 100% on the kids since she doesn’t leave the manor much, having a feeling of being lonely and vulnerable is an effect of that.
ReplyDeleteThe first and most obvious Gothic element is the presence of ghosts. Eight chapters in, I can;t do much more than speculate on their purpose; however, I feel as if the ghosts are acting as a foreshadowing device, predicting some fate the Governess will soon meet. All the ghosts so far have been of previous servants to the master. If everyone who works for him ends up dead, why will the governess end up any better?
ReplyDeleteSecondly, this book has many, many acts and allusions to sexual misconduct. The governess enjoys being held by Mrs. Gross just because it's arousing. The governess has some weird perversion towards Miles and Flora. And for Pete's sake, you can't tell me that the tower that Quint stood "erect" upon wasn't a phallic symbol. As for its purpose in the book, I do not know. I can speculate that it is a release of some inner tension he himself had, however.
One big part of the book is ghosts. The ghost QUinn Peters and Miss Jessel are presented as though they were real(alive) people but that have a weird atmosphere to them. Their motives are not one hundred percent certain. But for some reason they allowed the Governess to see them.
ReplyDeleteAnother is strange places. As someone mentioned before, she only has to take care of two kids in a huge mansion and the castle seems to be a place that the ghosts liked to hang around for some reason.
Keyli
DeleteAt first this book wouldn't seem like a Gothic novel because it just seems to focus on the governess and her weird antics and then suddenly we see a ghost. However, when the ghost did appear the author would use long sentences and very descriptive language. Sometimes it would feel like the author described it too much. The house itself seems very strange and I can't imagine that its a bright sunny place. That brings it back to the Gothic elements of the book.
ReplyDelete-Andrea Arbaiza
Two elements I see in this book are ghosts and uncommon relations. The unnatural apparitions enable the governess to learn a bit about past occupants of the house. It fits in with the uncommon relations to discover existences of unapproved relationships, possibly to the point of being taboo. The plot utilizes this in a way of almost questioning who would have greater influence over the children, the governess or the ghosts.
ReplyDeleteI think that some of the aspects that may be underlooked are the crossing of boundaries. The governess crosses many boundaries with her feelings for the master as well as her creepy relationship with the children. This makes the story somewhat chaotic and puts strain on the relationships, creating some tension in the book. The other aspect is the isolated creepy mansion. The fact that it is so far away from anything creates a sense that there is no one else to turn to when in need of help. The huge house makes for a stereotypical "haunted mansion."
ReplyDeleteOne element in this book is ghost, it seems like they are real, the way they just pop out, and we know that all the ghost have been Master servants in the past. At a point Governess didn't know they were ghost, Miss Jessel and Peter, because they looked alive. They are repeatly brought up in the novel and are a big part of it. Another element is strange place, the huge mansion with only 4 people living in it and empty rooms with ghost popping out at anytime. This make the house very creepy
ReplyDeleteThe big part about this novel that is considered to be gothic is the ghosts. The ghosts are essentially the main characters of the novel. The novel also considers uncommon relations. Such as the governess and Miles and Miles and Peter Quint. Where the relationships are so wrong in so many different ways.
ReplyDeleteI noticed the ambiance of the house. It definitely paralells every spooky mansion ever, since it is isolated, old, mostly empty, and has a dark past. One could not imagine the events of this book taking place in a city, and most gothic stories occur in some form of isolation. The book also demonstrates a contrast between class. You have the rich master and the servants. Several servants are mentioned at Bly, but only Mrs. Grose and the governess ever participate in the action. The invisible hand of the master hold sway over everything, and they refuse to contradict his mysterious insistence that he be left alone.
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely an element of sexual taboo in this book. As we have discussed in class, the way the story is told makes many of the governess' encounters with the children seem very sexualized. However, this may only be the way the governess experienced these instances (the novel is narrated from her perspective) when in reality they could have been completely innocent.
ReplyDeleteMost blatantly gothic however is the presence of ghosts in this novel. The appearance (and reappearance) of Peter Quint and Miss Jessel is a perfect example of demonic presences in gothic tales. In The Turn of The Screw however, the actual existence of the ghosts is called into question by the fact that the story is told from the first person and we must therefore question the reliability of the narration. Nonetheless, the ghosts add to typically the spooky nature of a gothic story.
^^^ Ella Gatlin Pd. 5
DeleteThere's no denying that the novel definitely aligns with the element of sexual misconduct. There's an underlining tone of sexuality that is hard to ignore. The intimate descriptions of the governess overshadows the possible innocence that could actually be taking place. During the socratic, we discussed how the kiss Miles gave her could simply be a goodnight kiss and nothing more, but the governess's interpretation and sensual explanations strip that moment of it's purity. Turn of the screw also incorporates the cultural taboos of the time. We've discussed how there was a hierarchy established and certain levels of communication that were deemed acceptable between the different classes. Hypothetically speaking, Peter Quint is evidence of that by being "too comfortable" with Miles.He was remembered for establishing a relationship with him that shouldn't have been formed. I feel like Henry James skillfully made the relationship feel uncomfortable to the reader to place us in the mentality of those who held those values and make us feel the sense of abnormality that the higher class probably felt the relationship as.Or maybe James was just being weird. Either way, it served a purpose.
ReplyDeleteI believe the most obvious trait the novel shares with Gothic novels is the idea of ghosts since the story keeps implying that the ghosts of Peter Quint and Mrs. Jessel haunting the children. I think that the sexual misconduct is a little more subtle when if you think to the extreme of what the children's relationship with Quint and Jessel
ReplyDelete-Christian Harris
I think a big element of this book is the idea of crossed boundaries. Not only did Miss. Jessel cross a boundary with Quint, but also with the children. And the new governess herself has very obviously crossed many boundaries, most obviously with the children but also with Mrs. Grose. I think that this reflects a bit about the authors ideas of society and how some boundaries shouldn't be crossed.
ReplyDeleteThe castle is another element that I think is very important in this story. The castle serves to make the characters isolated from other people, as well as to provide a cold and eerie mood. Without the isolation of the castle, the story would be much less unnerving, as we would know that the narrator could easily run of next door anytime she wished.
--Katie Brockmeyer
I think the most obvious and first element is ghosts. Quint and Miss. Jessel are presented in the novel in an almost real view, but they also carry this mysterious aura around them that seems to really confuse and at the same time frighten the governess. It's hard to understand what their exact purpose in the novel is because they tend to just sort of appear randomly at times. They seem real only because the governess had very precise descriptions of them as if they were truly there. Another element is the idea of sexual misconduct. We see this kind of weird interaction between the governess and Miles, and at first read it doesn't necessarily seem sexual, but when looked closely at it almost seems like sexual tension which is hard to believe considering Miles is only 10. The governess' obsession to be extremely close to Flora and Miles almost goes out of hand when Miles and the governess are in a room together and kiss.
ReplyDeleteSome underlining gothic tones are definitely seen in the sexual nature of the characters themselves. There actions towards one another can be very horrific and disturbing to say the least. Overlooking the whole mansion and characters are the ghosts. They seemingly add this disturbing view of the mansion and pop in and out of the novel in a creepy and dark way. Which I think pays a big role in making the novel overall feel gothic.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the top gothic elements has to be the sexual misconduct the governance puts us through. The way she describes her perspective of how she sees things (specifically with the kids) makes the reader feel disturbed and disgusted, and I say this from experience. It’s one of the scariest part of the novel for me. I think the idea of pedophilia was still controversial during the victorian era as well so it really does describe a subject that’s too heated to explore at the time using a real-life situation. Another element is the setting, specifically the mansion. When imagining this story in your head when you read each page, you picture the big lonesome house and it dramatizes the plot of the story. For some horror entertainment of any kind, you see this big, dark, lonely setting and suddenly, you get worried for the character; what may be hiding within one of these creepy, big, empty spaces, what might pop out, what they might see, what if they get hurt. And in a similar way, this story also gives me a sense of that because of the setting.
ReplyDeleteIn this story I think there’s an array of different gothic elements incorporated into the novel. The strange and scary environment is one of the most prominent ones I noticed. I’ve read the book over twice and I have yet to really understand the setting and its importance. It’s haphazardly corrupt with the second-most gothic element, the ghosts. When the governess first sees the man (who ended up being a ghost) eerily staring at her with no genuine purpose or reason, that’s WEIRD just like the entire book was. You can’t tell if the governess was insane to begin with or if the mansion and her environment drove her to insanity. I don’t know if she made up the encounters she had out of sheer delusion or if the place is really haunted, and it’s never really answered either. I think the purpose is to have the reader keep their mind open to all the different possibilities of the book and why the characters are and act the way they do.
ReplyDeleteKat Camara (5)
ReplyDeleteThe element everyone probably talked about is the presence of ghosts throughout the novel but considering it’s a ghost story, I find it to be the most fitting and important. The first ghost introduced both to the governess and audience is that of Peter Quints. Miss Jessels ghost is introduced not too long after and throughout the novel, it seems as though they are in kahoots with the children and still hold a powerful influence over them. The question that frequently yet subtly arises is whether miss jessel has fabricated her ability to see the ghosts and this has all been fiction rather than reality or not (which makes sense especially since no one else can “see” them). Moreover, this wouldn‘t be the least bit surprising considering the next gothic element prevalent in the book is sexual misconduct. The whole book in itself almost acts as a fan fiction where the governess gets to tell and romanticize her relationships because she doesn’t get the same kind of pleasure in real life. She has fabricated a relationship with a 10 year old boy and a person of higher status as her (the master) which at the time would’ve been unacceptable. So if she can fabricate all the sexual tension that she feels in her life, why not the ghosts too?
The Turn of the Screw contains many basically all those gothic elements (except the ones alluding to magic and some of the occult) but I’ll focus on ghosts and castles. I feel like the purpose of the ghosts is to progressively show the madness building up. With a lot of supernatural elements, if you saw something like that you’d be scarred. But with ghosts, you can play it off as a trick of the eyes. As she sees more and more ghosts, her mentality slowly deteriorates to the reader, as the reader can interpret it as madness. Essentially it’s a good tool for gradually building up the effect and also alluding to problems/issues with other people (as ghosts looking like people). I know the setting is a country house, not a castle, but I imagine it as a grand estate like a castle. It’s used as a form of false assurance for the main character and the reader. It’s originally seen as amazing and beautiful by the reader and the main character, but progressively gets worse and worse through the story. It’s a setting than can easily be seen as beautiful and creepy, and can gradually change to fit the elements of fear the story introduces. - Caitlin Henderson, Pd 2
ReplyDeleteTwo of the main gothic elements are the creepy places and cultural taboos. The castle setting is eerie and mysterious. Since it is a castle it must be a large building, but there are only four characters that the story explains their life. There are many rooms in the castle that are vacant: dark, old, and empty. In addition, the characters make the location creepy. The governess sees the lake and Flora and makes the lake a creepy location to involve Ms. Jessel. On its own the lake could be a beautiful spot in nature but the governess creates a totally different image that is creepy.
ReplyDeleteThere are various taboo topics included in this novel. For example Ms. Jessel "going off in shame". Not once did they explicitly say she was pregnant. Also, the relationships between the different characters are not completely clear. I believe this is because they had relationships that were not approved of so they keep the details of the relationships very vague.
The first gothic element that's blatant in the book is the supernatural. Peter Quint and Miss Jessel are the two ghosts that haunt the Bly estate. Their perceived presence (by the Governess) is ambiguous throughout the story, thus far. The ghosts appear to be more real to the Governess than Flora or Miles in the way she details their appearance, but we don't know if the children interacted/saw them. Their purpose in the text could be to show the Governess's mental & emotional instability. The next gothic element present in the book, is strange environments. The story takes place in Bly: a desolate, and lonely country estate. The location and grandioseness of the mansion elevate the eerie feeling that's evoked throughout. The confines of the estate are suffocating and serve as the disassociation of those living in it, from the rest of the world. This is why the Governess finds being outside of it (e.g. going to Sunday service) freeing.
ReplyDeleteThe two elements of Gothic being used in turn of the strew is the supernatural things. Like the kids Miles and Flora being haunted by the ghost of Peter Quint and miss Jessel. And the other element being the sexuality being used throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteThroughout this novel had discussed a lot of supernatural beliefs. This novel had went off of the belief that there's life after death. A claim that was made that a man died in that home being that his ghost now haunts it. Evil was also explored within this novel. The evil in this novel being the ghost that's trying to get these kids and terrifying the nanny.
ReplyDeleteThroughout this book, there are many attributes of the gothic style. The whole idea of there being ghosts, mixed with this strong sense of sexuality plays into the gothic era style of writing. James incorporates the eriee unknown of the actuality of spirits in this home, while making it seem like the children aren't as innocent as they seem. It is a very dark story and James continues to keep the reader engaged by making the plot confusing and unclear.
ReplyDeleteOne aspect of a gothic piece in Turn of the Screw is dopplegangers or doubles. The ghosts in the story act as doubles in many different combinations. For example, Peter Quinn acts as a double for the master, wearing his clothes, yet being the corrupted version with red hair. The Governess was only saw Quinn after fantasizing about her and the Master. Miss Jessel asks as a double for the governess; and lower class figure who seeks an affair with the higher man. They are both governesses as well. Miss Jessel even sits and the Governess's desk in the schoolroom scene. Another aspect of gothic features in this novel is, as I've already mentioned, the presence of ghosts. It is unclear if they are real or not, but there nevertheless, are ghosts. They serve a very specific purpose in the governesses's story and help create that gothic feel for the novel.
ReplyDeleteOne gothic element in the novel is conveyed with the use of doubles. Peter Quinn serves as a double for the Master and Miss Jessel serves as a double for the governess. This can be shown since Peter appears for the first time as the governess imagines her with the master. Furthermore, Miss Jessel acts as a double to represent the governess's want for her as a lower class women to be with the master, who is in a class above hers. Peter and Miss Jessel both also represent a sexual aspect of the novel.
ReplyDelete