The Power of Presumed Trauma and the Perpetuated yet Unintentional Silence in Henry James' The Turn of the Screw

Authors

Andria E. Rivero, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Major/Program

English

First Advisor's Name

Michael P. Gillespie

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Michael Grafals

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Nathaniel Cadle

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

The Turn of the Screw, trauma studies, Henry James, adult powers, children subjects

Date of Defense

11-13-2020

Abstract

Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw (1898) has long been a work capable of numerous interpretations and readings centering around the lead character, the governess, and her intentions and interactions in the novella. However, this thesis explores the extent of the governess’s actions and power and their results towards the children for which she is responsible. In this thesis, I focus on the presence of trauma as presumed by the adult characters, perpetuating unintentional limitations on the children who are assumed to be traumatized. The thesis uses trauma studies to understand power dynamics within the novella. The power dynamics between adults create a culture of silence that isolates and hinders the potential of understanding knowledge for those assumed to have undergone some form of witnessing to the mistreatment.

Identifier

FIDC009242

Recommended Citation

Rivero, Andria E., "The Power of Presumed Trauma and the Perpetuated yet Unintentional Silence in Henry James' The Turn of the Screw" (2020). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4545.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/4545