The Theme of Equality in Henry James' The Turn of the Screw and Edith Wharton's The Lady's Maid's Bell
Henry James' The Turn of the Screw and Edith Wharton's "The Lady's Maid's Bell" share a common theme: all people are equal. Both authors generate this theme by bridging class barriers with a generous master and mistress who have revolutionary ideas. Although circumstances differ in both stories, the common theme remains easily discernable with the words and actions of both Mrs. Brympton in "The Lady's Maid's Bell" and the young master, Miles in The Turn of the Screw. Through their friendship, trust, and eventual love for their servants, both the master and mistress prove their modern thoughts of equality between servants and higher
…show more content…
Although Miss Hartley obviously cares for for her mistress, Mrs. Brympton unexpectedly begins to take care of Hartley. Concerned with Hartley's health and knowing about her illness, Mrs. Brympton insists "that [Hartley] should take [her] walk regularly, and often invent[s] errands for [her]: a yard of ribbon to be fetched from the village, a letter posted, or a book returned to Mr. Ranford" (Wharton 20). Further illustrating Mrs. Brympton's caring nature, Hartley once discovers her "mistress lying very weak and still, but she forced a smile when she saw [her]" (Wharton 25). Additionally, Mrs. Brympton also notices that Hartley looks "pale," and Hartley when says she "[has] a headache," the mistress thoughtfully says "she would not require [her] again that evening, and advise[s] [her] to go to bed" (Wharton 32). As a result of the care she receives from her mistress, Hartley begins to fill the loyal position of Emma, the former maid, to Mrs. Brympton, and a bond of love grows between them exemplifying the equality of Mrs. Brympton's servants. Their loyalty and devotion toward one another increase with Hartley's loss of subservience and lower-class status in the eyes of Mrs. …show more content…
Miles and the governess have a relationship that goes beyond friendship; they grow to love each other, taking the love of Mrs. Brympton and Hartley one step further. The governess, like Peter Quint, looks far beyond her class status for a lover in a higher class; the young Miles, innocent of the understanding of such class barriers, looks to the governess for love. According to the governess, they sit awkwardly at dinner and convene "silent[ly] while the maid was with us - as silent, it whimsically occurred to me, as some young couple who, on their wedding-journey, at the inn, feel shy in the presence of the waiter" (James 109). However, when the maid leaves, Miles replies with insinuating undertones, "Well - so we're alone!" (James 109). By saying only those uncomfortable words, Miles reveals his nervousness and discomposure and therefore proves his convictions that servants are companions or friends rather than merely servants; because what conventional master would feel discomposed in the presence of his servant? Robbins also suggests that because of his time alone only with servants, Miles has matured with the conception that servants are equal, and anyone with the opposing conviction that servants are not equal have radical, even senseless, ideas (Robbins
Gender Criticism and The Turn of the Screw The Turn of the Screw by Henry James continues to stir up an immense amount of controversy for such a short novel. Making a definite, educated decision on the actual truth considering the countless inquiries that develop while reading this story proves more difficult than winning a presidential election. That being said, taking one particular side on any argument from a close reading of the story seems impossible, because the counter argument appears just as conceivable. Any side of the controversy remains equally disputable, considerably supported by textual evidence from the novel.
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is usually read as a ghost story in which the central character, the governess, tries to save the souls of two children possessed by evil. However, the short-story can be also analyzed from many different perspectives, as we come upon a number of hints that lead to various understanding of certain scenes. One of the possible interpretations is the psychoanalytical one, in which we interpret the events either from the point of view of the governess or from the perspective of the two children. I will concentrate on the problem of the governess who, restricted by her own problems and moral dilemmas, projects her fears on her pupils and in this way harms the children. What causes her moral corruption and gradual maddening lies deep in her psyche. Both the Victorian upbringing and the social isolation of a poor village tell her to restrict her sexual desires evoked by the romance reading. The result is tragic. The governess becomes mad and the children psychologically destabilized and scared of the adults. The story ends with the governess strangling the boy in a hysteric fit. The Turn of the Screw is a very popular work of literature, with reach history of critical interpretations where not much can be added, therefore my essay is mostly based on The Turn of the Screw. A History of Its Critical Interpretations 1898 1979 by Edward J. Parkinson.
In relation to leadership and women, historically women who wanted to seek leadership roles were often seen projecting the traditional masculine model of leadership. This model means to be rational, unemotional and analytic. It also, means in order to succeed traditionally women needed to look and act like a man to be taken seriously in leadership positions. Women in the past often dressed up in suits and ties and anything feminine was seen as an internal “weakness”. To be a leader in power meant to exude confidence in masculinity and shy away from anything remotely girly. As opposed, to the feminine model which casts power as focused on connection and harmony instead of power over something, someone. This power can be skilled through collective gain or physical attractiveness (Kruse 22).
In the famous novel, The Turn of the Screw, Henry James tells a story of a governess who
The different leadership styles of men and women was discussed. Women prefer democratic and participative styles while men preferred autocratic styles (Landy & Conte, 2013, p. 508). Women can tend to be more interpersonal where men are more focused on tasks versus worrying about how their staff
The gap between men and women produce three important concepts that reason the difference. First is the discussion of the better leader- men or women? It has been studied that women approach their followers with an interactive style with the encouragement of sharing power and information with others, participation, and self-worthiness to others. On the other hand, men have a consistency to be more task-oriented in their leadership styles and emerge in short-term conditions. The simple claim that women are just different than men, can be argued with the idea that men have effective traits for leadership. Women are less likely to negotiate and as a leader, this leads to lack of communication. And as discussed, leadership’s main ingredient is communication. Without it, nothing gets across to followers, and nothing is reciprocated to leaders. As a leadership position becomes larger and larger, (such as a CEO’s leadership position) there are fewer and fewer women holding these positions. The biggest question is why? Generally, females and males share the leadership values, work equally as hard to accomplish their goals, and react accordingly. Society plays a huge role in the gender gap. Some jobs aren’t even offered to women because of their gender and women
Throughout The turn of the Screw by Henry James, the theme of ambiguous issues is constantly leaving the reader on their own. The ambiguity and uncertainty within this text causes the readers to come up with their own theories as to what the text really means. The ghost story perspective only adds to the infuriating vagueness. The title itself is about all of the twists within this story and basically foreshadows the confusion that the text will cause.
Walker, Henry A., Barbara C. Ilardi, Anne M. McMahon, and Mary L. Fennell. "Gender, Interaction, and Leadership." Social Psychology Quarterly. V59 n3 p255, 1996.
In Brontes’ work, there is a barrier separating the upper class from the lower class as she describes the upper class being rewarded while the lower class are punished. The protagonist Jane was written in this world where these rules were made to reduce the lower class pride to make them easier to control. However, Jane’s character is stubborn, and is depicted to believe, “they (upper class) are not fit to associate with me” (27). Therefore, Jane is attributed to be a superior being because Bronte shows her believing in herself and will not allow someone to control her. In “The Turn of the Screw” the author James, has given power to characters which increase their personal pride, making them feel superior. The protagonist the Governess was hired by an Uncle to watch over his niece and nephew. But these children were written to have two ghosts of their past guardians visit them. Although power, as displayed by the writer, is taken into the wrong hands of the lower class, as it creates them into superior beings for, “protect(ing) and defend(ing) the little creatures” (153). Furthermore, James creates characters becoming superior as they gain power. This increases their personal pride of themselves because they are valued and needed. In both “Jane Eyre” and “The Turn of the Screw”, the personal pride of the protagonists makes them superior beings as they ignore
This novel was one of the most radical books of the Victorian Era. It portrayed women as equals to men. It showed that it was possible that men could even be worse than women, through John and Jane. It taught the Victorians never to judge a book by its cover. The novel would not be as successful were it not for Charlotte Brontë’s talent in writing, and were it not for the literary devices employed.
The character analysis of Mary Anne Bell in comparison and contrast to Martha and Elroy Berdahl implores the audience to consider the idea that gender is not inherent.
Interpreting The Turn of the Screw by Henry James from a Marxist point of view brings about serious social class distinctions and consequences of violation within that code. Miles and the unnamed Governess’ relationship demonstrate the wrongdoing of social and legal norms. The Governess’ indeterminate social status leave her as a forbidden woman in Victorian society taking on the role of primary caretaker to children, while Miles embodies the character of the absent master to whom the Governess feels intimately attracted. Mile’s union with rebellious, symbol of threat, Peter Quint, ultimately possesses him and lead to the breakdown of the social hierarchy. The Governess and Mile’s connection display the inappropriate boundary crossed between professional duties and desirable futures as a sexually active individual. Through the two characters moments alone, the rising apprehensions end in the governess’s infringement of social status as she employs to a mysterious sexual relationship with Miles.
The reading assignment for this unit included reading several articles and one book in particular, The Female Advantage, by Sally Helgesen as an introduction into varying leadership styles. Leadership, as a honed craft is practiced continually in different ways and varying circumstances, no two individuals will have the same leadership style. Certain distinctive traits brought into the forum and on display for followers to observe. Some traits can be visible, clothing or skin color as examples, others, however, are not as visible such as upbringing or family situation. Each of these factors could play a role in the leadership style of a leader. One trait that the author of the book uses to distinguish leaders is gender. As much as men and women must be treated the fairly and equally, it cannot be denied that outside of the biological aspect, men and women are slightly different. Each gender brings a unique approach to leadership situations.
Both the 19th and 20th century authors of Henry James and Edith Wharton are commonly compared to one another and their works are criticized as being close to, if not, the same. For ten years, the two authors had been close friends and even traveled throughout France and Europe together looking for inspiration and new ideas. Wharton had never taken any type of criticism well. Eventually Edith Wharton sent her first written story, “The Line of Least Resistance,” to Henry James and she learned to accept criticism respectfully as one author to another. Henry James soon became a vital literary advisor in some of her most famous works. But soon she began to follow the example of James closely and started to write in his style. This style included the construction of appearances along with a tragic ending. Writing with the manners, customs, and beliefs of the upper class society, also allowed James to question the truth of that society. While including this style in Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton also reflects Henry James’s ideas of an unreliable narrator, through the view of a different gender than that of the author, from The Turn of the Screw. In writing through the mind of another person, Henry James and Edith Wharton both used their knowledge of psychology to influence their works. But while psychology is only a minor influence in Wharton’s work, her texts closely resemble that of an influence from James. Since Henry James was a friend, critic, and mentor to Edith Wharton, her novel Ethan Frome, published in 1911, reflects the influences James had on her writing, especially from his novel The Turn of the Screw, published in 1898.
To improve academic achievement of Aboriginal students, I propose that high school principals need to become both managers and leaders. The requirement for this approach is demonstrated by an informative case study of a principal within a rural school setting who acts solely as a manager. I have chosen this case study because I believe it to be representational of the trend most principals currently follow. I will also demonstrate how positive the effect of shifting to a leader-manager run school will be on the academic achievement of high school Aboriginal students. To begin however, it is necessary to differentiate between the terms leadership and management, and determine whether it is possible for one person to perform both functions.