Strictly real horror discussion

Discussion thread for The Turn of the Screw.

So far a pretty interesting read. Surprised that its kinda difficult to read, some of the parts I have to reread twice just to follow what is going on. After having read alot of Machen and Lovecraft, didnt think it would be much of a difficult read.

K Ive finished it. I got some questions bout the end Id like to ask but dont want to be a spoiler. When you guys are done, Id like to ask some questions bout what you think happened.

Ok I'm getting there! I'm 3/4 of the way done - I would be done but I'm also re-reading some. I'll log back on in a few hours so post away, next time I log on I'll be finished.

Considering the time that Turn of the Screw was written, its probably unlikely that Miles liking the boys had much to do with sexuality. Homosexuality didnt really make appear in literature till the mid 1900s. Even Oscar Wilde who was at the very least Bi sexual didnt bring homosexuality into his works blatently, although there were undertones of it, at least in Picture of Dorian Grey. Thats just an oppinion though, I am by no means any kind of expert or anything lol.

Im still up in the air about what happened to Miles at the end. Ill probably have to read the ending a couple more times, and here you guys oppinions before Ill be satisfied with knowing what happened.

I don't know how else he could have died, if the governess didn't kill him. I didn't find that I was scared a bit while reading this, maybe a tinge when she was describing first seeing Quint. I found it interesting that she only saw Quint when with Miles and only saw Ms. Jessel when with Flora. I also don't think homosexuality is the trouble Miles had - he is only 10 right? I don't think boys have those kind of thoughts much before age 12 at the earliest, though I'm certainly no expert there! lol

So much of it is left up to interpretation - the way the children's comments are always vague and you can interpret them any way you please. I found the book entirely frustrating, to be honest.

I think there were, but it seems alot of people think there were no ghosts and it was just the governess's imagination.

Well, I'd have to go back and re-read to be sure, but she didn't know the names or descriptions of Ms. Jessel and Mr. Quint before she saw their ghosts, and she described them accurately, right? So - there must have been ghosts, with the added cruelty that they only revealed themselves to the governess. The idea that ghosts can selectively reveal themselves is somewhat disturbing, definitely...

Was anyone else confused by the information give to the reader at the beginning? I am wondering if I truly did not read carefully enough. Here is 1 thing specifically -
from page 9 (in my edition): So far had Douglas presented his picture when someone put a question. "And what did the former governess die of? Of so much respectability?" Our friend's answer was prmopt. "That will come out. I don't anticipate."
---DID that come out? Or are we to assume she died the same way Miles did??

Does anyone think Douglas was the "master" who hired her?

ah now that I re-read that section - yes Mella I think you are right, that must have been sarcasm. Good point.