Author: Charles Thomas SamuelsPublisher: Urbana : University of Illinois Press
ISBN:
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 260
Book Description
The Ambiguity of Henry James
Author: Charles Thomas SamuelsPublisher: Urbana : University of Illinois Press
ISBN:
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 260
Book Description
The Turn of the Screw
Author: Henry JamesPublisher: Aegitas
ISBN: 0369411692
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 120
Book Description
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is a classic ghost story that continues to captivate readers over a century after its initial publication. Set in the late 19th century, the novella follows a young governess who is hired to care for two young children, Flora and Miles, at the remote and eerie Bly Manor. As the governess begins her duties, she becomes increasingly convinced that the manor is haunted by the spirits of the previous governess, Miss Jessel, and her lover, Peter Quint, who both died under mysterious circumstances. The story unfolds as the governess tries to protect the children from the malevolent ghosts, while also questioning her own sanity and the motives of the children in their interactions with the spirits. One of the most intriguing aspects of The Turn of the Screw is its unreliable narrator. The story is told through the perspective of the governess, whose mental state and perceptions of events are constantly called into question. This creates a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, leaving readers to question whether the ghosts are real or just figments of the governess's imagination. James masterfully plays with the theme of perception and reality, leaving readers to draw their own conclusions about the events at Bly Manor. Another striking element of the novella is its use of Gothic elements. The isolated location, the decaying mansion, and the presence of ghosts all contribute to the eerie atmosphere of the story. James also incorporates psychological horror, as the governess's fears and paranoia intensify throughout the story, building tension and suspense. The Turn of the Screw is a prime example of Gothic literature, with its exploration of the dark side of human nature and the blurred lines between the living and the dead. One of the most controversial aspects of the novella is its ambiguous ending. The governess's final confrontation with the ghosts and the fate of the children are left open to interpretation, inviting readers to ponder the true meaning of the story. Some critics argue that the ghosts are a product of the governess's overactive imagination, while others believe that they are real and that the children are in danger. This open-ended conclusion has sparked countless debates and interpretations, making The Turn of the Screw a thought-provoking and enduring piece of literature. In addition to its literary merits, The Turn of the Screw also offers insight into the societal norms and expectations of the time period in which it was written. James explores themes of gender roles and class distinctions through the character of the governess, who is expected to be subservient and obedient to her male employer and to maintain the social hierarchy between herself and the children. The story also touches on the taboo subject of sexual relationships, particularly in regards to the ghosts and their influence on the children. Ultimately, The Turn of the Screw is a haunting and enigmatic work that continues to captivate readers with its complex characters, Gothic atmosphere, and thought-provoking themes. It is a testament to Henry James's mastery of storytelling and his ability to create a sense of unease and suspense that lingers long after the final page. A must-read for anyone interested in Gothic literature, psychological thrillers, or the blurred lines between reality and the supernatural.
The Ghostly Rental
Author: Henry JamesPublisher: Good Press
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 43
Book Description
"The Ghostly Rental" is a brilliantly written ghost story with a twist and many allusions. A 22-year-old takes up his studies in Cambridge. One day, he takes a shortcut home, sees a mysterious, gloomy mansion, and thinks this house must be haunted. He meets an older man, Captain Diamond, and discovers his tragic secret. When the older man falls ill, the boy is to visit the haunted house on his behalf of him. Will he meet the ghost there?
A Superficial Reading of Henry James
Author: Thomas J. OttenPublisher: Ohio State University Press
ISBN: 0814210260
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 222
Book Description
Do the surfaces matter? In this provocative book, A Superficial Reading of Henry James: Preoccupations with the Material World, Thomas J. Otten demonstrates that surfaces matter profoundly. Taking seriously the accessories of Henry James's fiction-the china and bric-a-brac, the antique cabinets and tapestries, the ribbons and hats-this book argues that James's famous ambiguity is a material state, an indeterminate zone where the difference between essence and ornament disappears. Ranging between fictions as well-known as The Portrait of a Lady (whose heroine is celebrated for her psychological complexity) and ones as understudied as "Rose-Agathe" (whose heroine is a hairdresser's manikin), Otten suggests that the distinction between what counts as thematic depth and what counts as physical surface is, for James, impossible to maintain. Achieving a superficial reading of Henry James means demonstrating the persistence of the material within the novelist's most conceptual formations of meaning-an argument with important consequences for literary theory, as Otten shows in his concluding chapters. Eloquently written and guided by a perverse love for the superfluous detail, this book makes an important contribution to a fast-growing area of the humanities, one newly committed to the serious study of material culture, the concrete experiences of everyday life, and the history of the physical senses. Book jacket.
The Triple Thinkers
Author: Edmund WilsonPublisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 0374513228
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 286
Book Description
These essays range over time from the Ben Jonson to Bernard Shaw; included are those on Pushkin, Houseman, Flaubert, and others, among them the famous and controversial interpretation of Henry James's The Turn of the Screw. In every case, Wilson wrote, his aim was "to present some writer who was not well enough known, or, in the case of a familiar writer, to call attention to some neglected aspect of his work or his career." In brilliantly fulfilling that purpose, Wilson proved--if further proof were needed--that he was one of the most original, perceptive, and important American men of letters. Book jacket.
The Bostonians
Author: Henry JamesPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Boston (Mass.)
Languages : en
Pages : 280
Book Description
The Turn of the Screw Illustrated
Author: Henry JamesPublisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 170
Book Description
The Turn of the Screw is an 1898Horrornovella by Henry James that first appeared in serial format in Collier's Weekly magazine (January 27 - April 16, 1898). In October 1898 it appeared in The Two Magics, a book published by Macmillan in New York City and Heinemann in London. Classified as both gothic fiction and a ghost story, the novella focuses on a governess who, caring for two children at a remote estate, becomes convinced that the grounds are haunted.
The Wings of the Dove
Author: Henry JamesPublisher: Modernista
ISBN: 9180948332
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 354
Book Description
The young and beautiful Kate Croy finds herself torn between her love for the penniless journalist Merton Densher and her desire for a life of wealth and privilege. When she becomes acquainted with the wealthy Milly Theale she devises a plan that hopefully will lead to both love and riches. However, as she navigates the complexities of love and loyalty, she must confront the consequences of her actions and decide where her true allegiances lie. HENRY JAMES [1843 -1916] was born in New York but emigrated to Europe early in life. He is one of the most important figures in Anglo-Saxon turn-of-the-century literature, with novels such as The American [1877] and the horror novel The Turn of the Screw [1898].
Henry James and the Visual
Author: Kendall JohnsonPublisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521283397
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
In the decades after the Civil War, how did Americans see the world and their place in it? In this text, Kendall Johnson argues that Henry James appealed to his readers' sense of vision to dramatise the ambiguity of American citizenship in scenes of tense encounter with Europeans. By reviving the eighteenth-century debates over beauty, sublimity, and the picturesque, James weaves into his narratives the national politics of emancipation, immigration, and Indian Removal. For James, visual experience is crucial to the American communal identity, a position that challenged prominent anthropologists as they defined concepts of race and culture in ways that continue to shape how we see the world today. To demonstrate the cultural stereotypes that James reworked, the book includes twenty illustrations from periodicals of the nineteenth century. This study reaches startling conclusions not just about James, but about the way America defined itself through the arts in the nineteenth century.
The Critical Reception of Henry James
Author: Linda SimonPublisher: Camden House
ISBN: 9781571133199
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 180
Book Description
