On Saturday I finished reading The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James. My only knowledge going into reading this book was a) it was due for Writing Class tomorrow, b) it was some sort of ghost story, and c) it was obviously an excellent book for us to read for writing class, because it was a scant 87 pages. (At least in my copy.)
So as I spent my Friday and Saturday afternoons finding various corners of the house in which to curl up with this book, I slowly started getting into the story. Oooh! The people are going to hear a ghost story. Oooh! It’s a really special ghost story. Oooh! This governess apparently had the hots for her young charge. OOOH! Ghosties! (You can see the subtle appreciation that I devoted to this fine piece of literature.)
Honestly, though, I liked the way James depicted every action of the children and the governess as if they were calculated moves in a secret game of chess. And, of course, the ghosties fascinated me: Why were they back? What had they really done to the children while they were alive? What were they trying to do now? Why were they so darn creepy? I came up with all sorts of possibilities, however unlikely (I think The Sixth Sense may have affected a few of these): perhaps there really were no ghosts. Perhaps the governess was actually the ghost. Perhaps the children were the ghosts. Perhaps they were ALL ghosts, living in happy denial in ghost world. But however unsatisfying the ultimate answer might be, I at least expected there to be an answer.
Wrong.
As I watched the final pages of the book grow closer, I realized, “Hey, he’s gonna really have to pick up the pace to wrap things up here!” Then, “Whoa, we’re really getting close,” then, “The answer must be simpler then I thought!” then, THE END. “Wait… but… were they real or not? Darn you, Henry James!”
I realize that I’m not being fair, and that as Dad would like to point out to me, James’ intention was to leave you with an ambiguous ending, and that I should be enjoying the mystery. Well, you know what, James, I want an answer.
So now I’m asking you: have you read Turn of the Screw? What do you think was really going on? Why? And if you haven’t read it… well, if you haven’t read it, in hindsight this entry must have been excruciatingly boring for you. Sorry about that. I had to get it out of my system. 