Peter Quint and Miss Jessel symbolize the indistinguishable nature of both the governess and Miles' sexuality in The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. Regardless of whether or not these ghosts actually exist in a literal sense, Quint's presence evokes what could be interpreted as sexual desires in the housekeeper, while also reminding her of her social status. Similarly, Quint forces the reader to question Miles' sexuality due to the implication that their past relationship was sexual in nature. Miss Jessel, on the other hand, serves as the governess's sole reminder of the wickedness of her desire for a sexual self and ultimately prevents her from acting on those desires. These developments highlight the mysteriousness of the bond between Miles and the housekeeper and lead to a deeper sense of dismay about the true nature of their bond. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayAlthough The Turn of the Screw begins in a rather dark mood with Douglas's tale, it quickly changes tone during the tale of the housekeeper's first meeting with her rich uncle. This scene makes it clear that the governess places her uncle on a pedestal and that she herself desperately wants to be in such a privileged position. Her attraction to him quickly goes beyond that of an employee to closer to sexual desire. She also describes the “moment [when] he held her hand, thanking her for the sacrifice, she already felt rewarded” (James 29). While this is just the introduction to the piece, her attraction to her uncle plays a huge role in her later encounters with Quint, a former domestic worker known for parading around in master's attire. In fact, when she sees Quint's supposed ghost for the first time, she is fantasizing about meeting her uncle and is almost deceived by the sight of Quint as the master. She proclaims that she “stood there,” as if the man she saw was really her uncle. However, after discovering the man's true identity, he states that "my second [reaction] was a violent perception of the error of the first: the man who met my eyes was not the person I had hastily supposed" (Giacomo 39). She is initially disappointed that she met Quint rather than her uncle, but soon develops a growing desire to meet the ghost. This misplaced desire to meet Quint, however, is nothing more than a projection of the housekeeper's desire for her rich uncle rather than her true attraction to Quint. Although she claims to confidently "[hurry] to meet" Quint, her enthusiasm is only the result of his misplaced attraction (James 72). She doesn't really want to meet Quint, but the sight of him allows her to believe that one day she will find the rich uncle who is ultimately the key to the privileged life she's always wanted. This desire for a life of privilege and his apparent longing for his uncle are directly supported by the text in the nature of Quint's first appearance. Rather than a traditional entrance, it simply appears to the housekeeper “at the top of a tower” overlooking a meadow (James 39). This apparent phallic symbol could be seen as a direct insinuation of the Governess's attraction to Quint. However, the text identifies her attraction to Quint in relation to her desire for her uncle a few lines later. She states that "they were distinct...though I could see little difference, like the new and the old (James 39). As for the two men, the housekeeper suggests here that Quint resembles her uncle and therefore is attracted to him. This sort of confusing logic is a moment that allows thereader to see the deterioration of the governess's credibility and, ultimately, can influence his opinion on the children's psyche. Ultimately, the only real distinguishing factor the housekeeper can find is the simple fact that Quintnon wears a hat (James 48). This fact alone is what is mentioned in her description of Quint and ultimately changes her opinion of him. When the housekeeper first sees Quint in the garden, she believes him to be a noble man. It is only when she discusses the man's clothing with Mrs. Grose that she fully understands Quint's social position and forms a more solid opinion of him. The housekeeper's opinion of Quint, which develops after she notices that he is wearing his master's clothes, leads her to question other aspects of Quint's time in Bly. In particular, her relationship with Miles is often under scrutiny. From the beginning, the reader is led to believe that there is more to their relationship than meets the eye. Mrs. Grose reinforces this suspicion in her initial description of Quint's relationship with Miles; states that “it was Quint's fantasy. Play with him…spoil him” (James 51). He even goes so far as to say that “Quint was too free” (James 51). The reader's reaction to this statement is directed by the housekeeper's response; he reacts to the news with “a sudden pang of disgust” and proclaims his shock at the revelation (James 51). However, many scholars dispute the implication that Miles had a sexual relationship with Quint because they argue it is based solely on speculation. However, Mrs. Grose once again implies a strange nature to their relationship when she tells the housekeeper that "for a period of several months Quint and the boy had been perpetually together" (James 61). The meaning of this statement is not fully understood until the end of the book, when Miles tells the housekeeper that it seems strange "for a boy to be with a woman all the time" (James 83). Here he hints that spending a lot of time with a particular person, as he is said to have done with Quint, suggests that there is more to the relationship than what is visible on the surface. The fact that Miles immediately comes to this conclusion makes his relationship with Quint even more suspicious of sexual transgressions. These questions that lie between the lines of Quint's relationship with Miles are often a topic of discussion. However, there is another unusual relationship between Miles and the housekeeper, which is even less obvious and is often viewed differently by different readers. This relationship is found in brief moments in the book where their connection seems to run deeper than their actions initially suggest. Much of Miles' speech is involved in the strange feelings the reader develops about his relationship with the housekeeper because he seems abnormally mature for his age. His constant use of the phrase "my dear" when addressing the housekeeper is a strange aspect of their relationship because it sounds like the language of one lover to another. This is particularly evident during the discussion in the churchyard, when even the housekeeper notices the peculiarity of his speech. He states, “his 'my dear' was constantly on his lips to me, and nothing could better express the exact shade of feeling which I wished to inspire in my pupils than his affectionate familiarity” (James 83). Although her reaction to Miles's strange tone seems tame enough, her affection for his mature speech suggests to the reader, once again, that there is something more beneath the surface of their relationship than mere “affectionate familiarity ” (James 83). From the first time she meets Miles, the housekeeper describes him with adoration, analyzing his every trait, “the, 2004.