The Governess’s Conflict with Miss Jessel

The Turn of the Screw

This flow traces the Governess’s encounters with her predecessor and her belief that Miss Jessel is pursuing Flora.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Predecessor’s Absence The Predecessor’s Absence from "The Turn of the Screw". An Unexplained Vacancy A Governess Gone Miss Jessel leaves Bly for a supposed holiday and never returns.

The Predecessor’s Absence from "The Turn of the Screw". An Unexplained Vacancy A Governess Gone Miss Jessel leaves Bly for a supposed holiday and never returns.

An Unexplained Vacancy A Governess Gone Miss Jessel leaves Bly for a supposed holiday and never returns. A Death Reported Later The Children’s Uncle tells the household that she has died but gives Mrs. Grose no details. The absence creates a concealed history that the new Governess inherits without a reliable account.

The Lake Apparition The Lake Apparition from "The Turn of the Screw". A Woman Across the Water The Governess’s Sight The Governess sees a woman in black standing across the lake and believes her attention is fixed on Flora.

The Lake Apparition from "The Turn of the Screw". A Woman Across the Water The Governess’s Sight The Governess sees a woman in black standing across the lake and believes her attention is fixed on Flora.

A Woman Across the Water The Governess’s Sight The Governess sees a woman in black standing across the lake and believes her attention is fixed on Flora. Identity Supplied She identifies the figure as Miss Jessel, though Flora does not verbally acknowledge seeing her. The encounter begins the Governess’s conviction that her predecessor remains attached to the child.

The Figure on the Stair The Figure on the Stair from "The Turn of the Screw". A Silent Woman Below A Fleeting Shape The Governess glimpses a woman seated on the staircase, bent forward in grief.

The Figure on the Stair from "The Turn of the Screw". A Silent Woman Below A Fleeting Shape The Governess glimpses a woman seated on the staircase, bent forward in grief.

A Silent Woman Below A Fleeting Shape The Governess glimpses a woman seated on the staircase, bent forward in grief. Recognition Without Speech The figure disappears before turning, but the Governess believes she knows what face it would have shown. The sight deepens the sense that Miss Jessel can appear within the house as well as across the grounds.

Jessel in the Schoolroom Jessel in the Schoolroom from "The Turn of the Screw". A Face at the Table A Return Indoors The Governess sees Miss Jessel seated at her schoolroom table in clear daylight.

Jessel in the Schoolroom from "The Turn of the Screw". A Face at the Table A Return Indoors The Governess sees Miss Jessel seated at her schoolroom table in clear daylight.

A Face at the Table A Return Indoors The Governess sees Miss Jessel seated at her schoolroom table in clear daylight. Flight Abandoned The apparition rises and vanishes, and the Governess decides she must remain at Bly. The encounter transforms a possible retreat into a renewed confrontation with the house’s past.

The Lake’s Final Clash The Lake’s Final Clash from "The Turn of the Screw". Accusation Before the Water A Claimed Proof The Governess sees Miss Jessel across the lake and insists Flora sees her too.

The Lake’s Final Clash from "The Turn of the Screw". Accusation Before the Water A Claimed Proof The Governess sees Miss Jessel across the lake and insists Flora sees her too.

Accusation Before the Water A Claimed Proof The Governess sees Miss Jessel across the lake and insists Flora sees her too. A Broken Alliance Flora denies the apparition and begs to be taken away from the Governess. The Governess’s attempt to defeat Miss Jessel’s influence instead ends her relationship with Flora.

Before the Governess’s arrival

During a summer afternoon with Flora

A later night, after the first ghostly encounters

The Sunday when the Governess considers leaving

Near the ending, during Flora’s disappearance