Feminism In The Turn Of The Screw

Feminist theory or Patriarchy is a social structure in which men are considered to have a monopoly on power and women are expected to submit. That is what I think of when I think of feminist theory. Society's oppression of women has surfaced in many waves, but so has the confrontation how these cultural standings manage in an social structure.

Various meanings have been attached to the cultural identities of feminism. In The Turn of The Screw, one meaning would be that of the governess's identity. Her gender and race seem to be the common denominator in this feminist theory. She becomes a governess to get ahead in the time of the booming Industrial Revolution. It's all business in the male dominated world. With this opportunity, comes great responsibility, that could have possibly led her to improper relationship with numerous individuals in
the household.

Sexuality should not be confused with gender, race, nor class, but for the governess, it does. She is hired for the position because of all of these cultural standings. She quickly identifies with her employer and the children. With this role she gains responsibility that soon leads to other sexual activities. The dawn of this decade, The Victorian Age has been known to suppress sexual desire. Especially, that of the female gender. Women wanted more power and

then receiving it.
Men started to feel inadequate so the oppression increased along with the suppression.

Social status meant everything to both men and women, moreso to men because they had always had it and were competitive so the thought of losing said power made them irrational. Power for men, oppression for women. That was until, the Suffrage Movement and the Temperance movement occurred. In The Turn of The Screw, once the governess starts having improper thoughts towards the men of the household, ghosts start appearing to her. The children and the servants act like they are not there.

It's as if the household is another version of society. They too are oppressing and suppressing her. On second thought, women kept putting their noses were they didn't belong and society,"men" wanted to limit what their wives, daughters and even employees were capable and responsible for. Take Flora, the niece for example. She was kept from attending school whereas, her brother went freely. Despite, his bad behavior. I assume that society and men as a whole, worried at the fact women started believing and knowing that too, had a
voice.

The ghosts are a metaphor for the governess. Life. What was she before? Death? Had the previous oppression killed her or made her rotten? Had the darkness already been brought on this family and then her spirit fueled the fire? The fire that would soon send this young woman mad or to become a child abuser? Her depression and hallucinations would enable her chances at a life of prestige and opportunity. Her social status would become non-existent in the era that which destroyed her. Feminist theory in this literary text would warn the governess but her psychological state would be damaged beyond recognition. Both genders are afraid of innovation and change. This leads to the ghosts warning her to leave but in good faith, her character believes in protecting the children as any good mother would do. Except, she is not their mother.