Thursday, October 25, 2012
Essay: The Evil Within
Prompt: Choose a complex and important character in a novel or a play of recognized literary merit who might on the basis of the character's actions alone be considered evil or immoral. In a well-organized essay, explain both how and why the full presentation of the character in the work makes us react more sympathetically than we otherwise might. Avoid plot summary.
Miles has experienced the tragic death of his parents. This immediately draws sympathy from the audience to the poor boy. Realizing the challenges a child must face in this situation, one can't help but to feel sorry for Miles. Miles and his sister seem to be abandoned by their uncle after the death of their parents. This could be seen as rejection by a loved one when Miles' uncle refuses to participate in raising him by hiring a new governess to watch over the children. Early into the story, it is apparent that Miles is also dealing with issues in school after he is expelled for unknown reasons. These issues seem to be caused by various reasons from the death of his parents to his inner struggle with homosexuality. The apparitions that are introduced, including Peter Quint, have had a significant influence on Miles' "evil behavior". It is evident that this seemingly well-mannered boy is hiding something horrible. The ghosts that are seen around the house are influencing Miles in some way, causing him not to elaborate on his actions to anyone, especially the governess. When Miles finally sees and acknowledges the ghost, Peter Quint, he takes his last breath as he suddenly dies. There is a sympathetic relief that the evil has vanished as well as the struggle within himself.
Although his actions were sinister for the time of the setting, the audience feels sympathy for the boy because of the idea that he had been abused in some way by either emotional neglect from his uncle, pressure from the governess or physically and sexually by the apparitions of the house, specifically Peter Quint and Jessele. If the audience was unaware of Miles' history and the affects he had emotionally and physically, then the audience would be less sympathetic. The fact that his parents had passed away, was neglected by his uncle, and was expelled from school shows that he is emotionally challenged. The possibility of sexual abuse and his eventual death from being possessed by the evil ghosts makes him worthy of the sympathy of the audience. The title, The Turn of the Screw, can also indicate the increasing pressure Miles felt to tell the governess what had mysteriously happened at school. Also, there appears to be a sexual struggle within himself, as he seems to deal with abuse or homosexuality, hence the turning of the screws in his mind.
The fact that the story involves a young boy dealing with issues of death and abuse seem to overshadow his villainous acts. Due to this, the audience is more sympathetic than they might have been if Miles' history had taken a different course. The way these issues are publicized in today's society would get a more sympathetic reaction than in the time that the novel takes place. People in that day in time did not openly discuss any issues of abuse or sexuality. A reader of today would be more emotionally influenced by the tragic events in Miles' life, knowing what may have caused his evil behavior.
The Evil Within
What outside
influences could cause a seemingly normal 10 year-old boy to do such evil and
unthinkable acts? In The Turn of the
Screw, Miles appears to have many outside factors which could have
influenced his uncharacteristic behavior. His character touches the readers from the
beginning to end as he deals with more than a child of his age should bare. Miles has experienced the tragic death of his parents. This immediately draws sympathy from the audience to the poor boy. Realizing the challenges a child must face in this situation, one can't help but to feel sorry for Miles. Miles and his sister seem to be abandoned by their uncle after the death of their parents. This could be seen as rejection by a loved one when Miles' uncle refuses to participate in raising him by hiring a new governess to watch over the children. Early into the story, it is apparent that Miles is also dealing with issues in school after he is expelled for unknown reasons. These issues seem to be caused by various reasons from the death of his parents to his inner struggle with homosexuality. The apparitions that are introduced, including Peter Quint, have had a significant influence on Miles' "evil behavior". It is evident that this seemingly well-mannered boy is hiding something horrible. The ghosts that are seen around the house are influencing Miles in some way, causing him not to elaborate on his actions to anyone, especially the governess. When Miles finally sees and acknowledges the ghost, Peter Quint, he takes his last breath as he suddenly dies. There is a sympathetic relief that the evil has vanished as well as the struggle within himself.
Although his actions were sinister for the time of the setting, the audience feels sympathy for the boy because of the idea that he had been abused in some way by either emotional neglect from his uncle, pressure from the governess or physically and sexually by the apparitions of the house, specifically Peter Quint and Jessele. If the audience was unaware of Miles' history and the affects he had emotionally and physically, then the audience would be less sympathetic. The fact that his parents had passed away, was neglected by his uncle, and was expelled from school shows that he is emotionally challenged. The possibility of sexual abuse and his eventual death from being possessed by the evil ghosts makes him worthy of the sympathy of the audience. The title, The Turn of the Screw, can also indicate the increasing pressure Miles felt to tell the governess what had mysteriously happened at school. Also, there appears to be a sexual struggle within himself, as he seems to deal with abuse or homosexuality, hence the turning of the screws in his mind.
The fact that the story involves a young boy dealing with issues of death and abuse seem to overshadow his villainous acts. Due to this, the audience is more sympathetic than they might have been if Miles' history had taken a different course. The way these issues are publicized in today's society would get a more sympathetic reaction than in the time that the novel takes place. People in that day in time did not openly discuss any issues of abuse or sexuality. A reader of today would be more emotionally influenced by the tragic events in Miles' life, knowing what may have caused his evil behavior.
Possession
I find it odd that Miles just suddenly dies when he acknowledges and sees Peter Quint, the ghost. I believe that Miles is possessed because of his strange actions dealing with the kids at school. He should not have knowledge of or be talking about the topic of things that seem to be sexual in nature, especially at his age. In the end, I get the impression that the governess is fighting with Peter for Miles. What seems to be something that the governess was protecting Miles from ended up causing him to die. He took his last breath as he sees the ghost in the presence of the governess.
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
There seems to be a relationship between the ghosts and the children. I think the relationship between Miles and the ghost, Peter Quint, definitely has something to do with his behavior in school. The governess also shares the same suspicion and keeps asking Miles what happened in school, which he will not elaborate. It is odd that they don't claim to have seen any strange people, like the governess has. I feel that the governess thinks that the ghosts are haunting Miles and Flora. It seems like the ghosts are making more frequent appearances now that they know the governess can see them.
Seeing is Believing
Who are these people that the new governess sees that come and go? The new governess sees other people at the house and questions who they are. She describes the people in detail to Ms. Grose and finds out that these people have died. This gives me the impression that the people the governess sees are ghosts. Why is the governess the only one who can see the ghosts? I think that Ms. Grose, Flora and Miles can see the ghosts, but they just aren't telling the governess. Obviously, Ms. Grose knew exactly who the governess was describing. This makes me wonder if Ms. Grose knows more than she is expressing.
Expelled Because...
When the reader finds that Miles has been expelled from school, there is no explanation. What could this 10 year-old boy have possibly done to deserve this extreme punishment? I find it weird that the governess seems to accept that Miles is expelled, glad to homeschool him, but when the subject is brought up, the boy avoids mentioning what he had done. The description of the boy seems to be normal, yet I can tell there is something strange that he is hiding. Even though Miles was expelled, I find it odd that he wants to go back to school to be with his "same sort."
Mysterious Uncle
I find it odd that the children's uncle does not want to have anything to do with them after their parents' death. The uncle's thoughts and past are not expressed in the novel, but it raises several questions to me as the reader of why he doesn't want to have any contact or have any input on decisions about the raising Flora and Miles. His situation leaves me to make my own assumptions that maybe the uncle had a bad experience in the house, is afraid of the house, or something has happened with previous servants or himself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)