Corruption of Innocence: Turn of the Screw Essay
Webster's dictionary defines the word "cataclysm" as a sudden and violent physical action producing changes in the earth's surface, yet, the corruption of innocence in children can be seen also as a cataclysm, as their lives are abruptly uprooted and changed forever. This morose situation becomes a prevalent theme in the Henry James novel Turn of the Screw as the two young characters in the story become engulfed with wanton acts and discreet situations. The reader witnesses the loss of innocence one step at a time as the corruption of evil takes a prominent role in the story of a governess, two children, and an enigma enraptured mansion. The governess accepts a position as head governess at a mansion named Bly; she will be nurturing and schooling two young children who have lost their mother and gone to live with their uncle. Yet, suspicious acts occur almost immediately as the governess converses with the head servant, Mrs. Grose, and learns that the young boy Miles has recently been expelled from school for no apparent reason. The governess is determined to seek out the meaning be
She further learns the reason Miles was expelled from school was because he "said things. The loss of innocence in children today has unfortunately become too common. The reader can sense the governess' longing for answers and the reader has many questions regarding the suspicious events throughout the house. The fact that many children respect and have a necessity to trust and rely on adults for safety further tangles the situation at Bly; the governess urges for the love of Miles and soon her lewd intentions become relevent to the reader. The insidious and evil ways of Peter Quint are revealed and the corruption of innocence becomes a dominating factor in the novel. James takes the reader along for a great ride following the governess through an awakening, which represents evil prevailing over everything in sight. May the world dream that the future of the universe not lie in the hands of evil, but in the hands of kindness, morality, and wisdom. Soon, one of the ghosts is identified as Peter Quint; the governess has severe reservations as to the relationship this man obtained in Miles. The loss of innocence becomes apparent to the reader once the reason for Miles expulsion is disclosed. Many adults question why the youth of this nation are so troubled, but they do not realize that the children follow the examples and are influenced by the adults around them. Because people are easily tempted, evil is the source of all corruption. hind his expulsion, but her search for answers just lead her into a deeper mist of ambiguity and fear. The fact that parents are getting divorced, classmates are bringing guns to school, and countries are going to war are apparent reasons as to why the children of today are socially maturing too early. These children have already lost their mother and are now being corrupted by the evil doings of their uncle's employees.
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