The turn of the screw

The Turn of the Screw is a classic ghost story by Henry James, first published in 1898. The novella tells the story of a young governess who is hired to take care of two children at a remote estate in England. The governess soon begins to see ghostly apparitions and becomes convinced that the children are being possessed by the spirits of the former governess and her lover.

Chapter 1

The story begins with the unnamed narrator describing his evening spent listening to his friend Douglas read from a manuscript. The manuscript is the story of a governess who was hired to take care of two young children, Miles and Flora, at a remote country estate. The governess was young and inexperienced, but eager to prove herself and make a good impression on her employer, who was known only as the Master.

Chapter 2

The governess arrives at Bly, the estate where she is to be employed, and is immediately taken with the beauty of the place. She is introduced to Mrs. Grose, the housekeeper, and is shown to her room. The governess is excited to begin her work and to meet the children, who are expected to arrive soon.

Chapter 3

The children arrive, and the governess is immediately struck by their beauty and innocence. Miles is a charming and intelligent boy, and Flora is a sweet and innocent little girl. The governess is thrilled to be taking care of them, and she quickly becomes very attached to them.

Chapter 4

One evening, the governess sees a strange figure on the tower of the house. She assumes it is the Master, but when she mentions it to Mrs. Grose, she is told that the Master is away in London. The governess becomes convinced that the figure was a ghost, and she becomes increasingly anxious about the safety of the children.

Chapter 5

The governess begins to see more ghostly apparitions, including a woman and a man who she believes to be the former governess and her lover. She becomes convinced that the spirits are trying to possess the children, and she becomes increasingly obsessed with protecting them from harm.

Chapter 6

The governess becomes convinced that Miles is being possessed by the spirit of the former governess's lover, and she decides to confront him about it. Miles denies everything, but the governess is convinced that he is lying. She becomes increasingly paranoid and begins to see ghosts everywhere she looks.

Chapter 7

The governess becomes increasingly agitated and paranoid, and she begins to fear for her own safety. She becomes convinced that the spirits are trying to possess her as well, and she becomes desperate to leave Bly with the children. She tells Mrs. Grose of her plans, but Mrs. Grose is skeptical and advises her to wait and talk to the Master before making any rash decisions.

Chapter 8

The governess becomes more and more convinced that the spirits are trying to possess the children, and she becomes increasingly paranoid and unstable. She begins to fear for her own sanity, and she becomes convinced that the only way to protect the children is to take drastic action.

Chapter 9

The governess decides to take the children to see the Master, hoping that he will see the danger they are in and agree to take them away from Bly. But when they arrive at the Master's house, he is dismissive of the governess's concerns and insists that the children are fine. The governess becomes increasingly frustrated and desperate, and she begins to fear that the Master is under the influence of the spirits as well.

Chapter 10

The governess becomes more and more paranoid and obsessed with protecting the children. She becomes convinced that the spirits are trying to possess her as well, and she becomes increasingly unstable.