An Empsonian Analysis Of Ambiguities In The Turn Of The Screw

Since its publication in 1898, there are volumes of critical materials on The Turn of the Screw. As Gerald Willen said, “certain works of literature, like certain inventions, give rise to flourishing industries. In modern literature, Joyce’s Ulysses and Finnegan’s Wake, and James’ s The Turn of the Screw, have, in a sense, been industrialized.” The critics were debating between the governess’ s hallucinations and the reality of the ghosts. Not until the late twentieth century, when the focus has been shifted to James’ s language in the work. The thesis intends to conclude that James is one of the first novelists of his contemporary who was well aware of the importance of ambiguity as a technique to explore into the complexity of the modern mind.Apart from the introduction and conclusion, the thesis is divided into three chapters. The introduction part includes a brief account of the writer and the literature review of the book The Turn of the Screw, and the theoretical basis is contained. The essay is based on William Empson’s ambiguity theory, mostly recorded in Seven Types of Ambiguity. The book was descriptive and applicable in interpreting the texts. Ambiguity originally referred to a fault in style and has long been ignored. While Empson, through numerous researches on English poetry, found that ambiguity was a deliberated writing technique and claimed, “All good poetry supposed to be ambiguous.”The thesis starts with the ambiguity in figure of speech. In the novella, James has employed figurative devices such as metaphors, allegories and puns, etc. Readers have to search for the meaning beneath the surface of the novella, hence multiple interpretations of the text are generated. Henry James’ arrangement coincides with William Empson’s description of the first-type and third-type ambiguity in Seven Types of Ambiguity.The second chapter focus on the ambiguity in diction and syntax. James used ambiguous lexis and sentences. For example, the unclear pronoun references and the complex sentences have put the authenticity of the information in question, which could be proved in Empson’s second-type ambiguity. “An example of the second type of ambiguity, in word or syntax, occurs when two or more meanings are resolved into one. There are alternatives, even in the mind of the author.”The third chapter centers on the ambiguity in characterization. The governess, as the major narrator, was inconsistent in her thoughts and actions. While the housekeeper held an ambiguous attitude towards important issues, the children seemed to be pure and na?ve but actually were impenetrable. For Empson, “An ambiguity occurs when two or more meanings of a statement do not agree among themselves, but combine to make clear a more complicate state of mind in the authore.” Ambiguity of this type seems identical to the third one, however, it actually lies not in the expression, but the frame of mind.What gives the novella its appeal is its ambiguities, as far as I am concerned. The Turn of the Screw was accomplished in the middle-stage of Henry James’ s writing career, when he made some experiments on subject matters and writing techniques. During this period, the writer has made in-depth research into human experiences. This presenting thesis will delve into the ambiguous phenomena in The Turn of the Screw. Through efforts in figure of speech, diction and syntax, and in characterization, Henry James intentionally injected ambiguity and indeterminacy into his work. This was a great innovation in traditional ideas. Besides the Henry James’ thinking on artistic creation and human nature is still illuminating for modern people.