On The Indeterminacy Of The Turn Of The Screw

The Turn of the Screw is Henry James's most controversial novella written in his late period. Since its publication in 1898, critics have made a number of completely contradictory interpretations. This thesis attempts to probe into the indeterminacy of the textual interpretation and James's aesthetic idea of humanity from the narratological perspective on the basis of narrative framework, narrative mode and characterization.This thesis begins with the discussion of the narrative levels of The Turn of the Screw."Mise en abyme"is the narrative structure of the novella: the narrations of two frame narrators bring the interior narrator's story—the governess's reminiscence of the events that took place in Bly. This multiple narrative levels help achieve the artistic effect of meaning uncertainty. Furthermore, the novella ends with the narration of the interior narrator and never returns to its exterior frames. This incomplete multiple narrative levels lead to the various understandings about the ending for readers. Then the thesis discusses the obscure genre and James's ingenious dramatization. James intentionally uses the obscure sources and dramatic devices to dupe readers and leave his novella a puzzle forever.In Chapter Two, the analysis mainly focuses on the narrative mode of this novella. James is silent in comment and makes his heroine—the governess—to be an observer telling the central story from the first person narrative. However, due to the incredibility of the narrator, the meaning of the story is more complex: scenes are left open ended, questions are up in the air, and conflict is unresolved. Besides, there are three different narrators in the novel and seven different perspectives present in front of readers: three from the governess, two from Douglas and two from the frame narrator"I". The multiple perspectives complicate the situation and increase the indeterminacy of the novella.Finally, the thesis discusses the indeterminacy in characterization of The Turn of the Screw. Except the narrator, other characters—the two children, Mrs. Grose, and the master of Bly are the main aspects of discussion. Their"dubious"language, behaviors and complex inner activities make further the novella ambiguous and at the same time show James's aesthetic change from the exterior to interior.Henry James, as one of the founders of aesthetics in 20th century, penetrates the nature of human beings, explores the relationship between art and life, aesthetics and ethics, and pursues the traversing of spirit; he abandons the traditional aesthetic theory and brings the"ambiguity"and"uncertainty"into the aesthetic field. James, in the process of the combination and conversion between the humanity savior and aesthetic innovator gives birth to the perfect structure and creates the vivid language. His superb writing art and great insight will shine forever!...