Question

Hello could you please help me write a commentary on this passage? (Chapter 6 of the book "turn of the screw")

I scarce know how to put my story into words that shall be a credible picture of my state of mind; but I was in these days literally able to find a joy in the extraordinary flight of heroism the occasion demanded of me. I now saw that I had been asked for a service admirable and difficult; and there would be a greatness in letting it be seen—oh, in the right quarter!—that I could succeed where many another girl might have failed. It was an immense help to me—I confess I rather applaud myself as I look back!—that I saw my service so strongly and so simply. I was there to protect and defend the little creatures in the world the most bereaved and the most lovable, the appeal of whose helplessness had suddenly become only too explicit, a deep, constant ache of one’s own committed heart. We were cut off, really, together; we were united in our danger. They had nothing but me, and I—well, I had them. It was in short a magnificent chance. This chance presented itself to me in an image richly material. I was a screen—I was to stand before them. The more I saw, the less they would. I began to watch them in a stifled suspense, a disguised excitement that might well, had it continued too long, have turned to something like madness. What saved me, as I now see, was that it turned to something else altogether. It didn’t last as suspense—it was superseded by horrible proofs. Proofs, I say, yes—from the moment I really took hold.
This moment dated from an afternoon hour that I happened to spend in the grounds with the younger of my pupils alone. We had left Miles indoors, on the red cushion of a deep window seat; he had wished to finish a book, and I had been glad to encourage a purpose so laudable in a young man whose only defect was an occasional excess of the restless. His sister, on the contrary, had been alert to come out, and I strolled with her half an hour, seeking the shade, for the sun was still high and the day exceptionally warm. I was aware afresh, with her, as we went, of how, like her brother, she contrived—it was the charming thing in both children—to let me alone without appearing to drop me and to accompany me without appearing to surround. They were never importunate and yet never listless. My attention to them all really went to seeing them amuse themselves immensely without me: this was a spectacle they seemed actively to prepare and that engaged me as an active admirer.

Thank you!

Answer 1

In Chapter 6 of "Turn of the Screw," the protagonist describes her state of mind as she takes on the responsibility of protecting her young charges. She sees her duty as admirable and difficult, and takes pride in the fact that she has been asked to perform such an important service. She is committed to defending and protecting the children, who are vulnerable and lovable, and she sees herself as their only hope in a dangerous situation.

The protagonist describes her sense of unity with the children, as they are cut off from the rest of the world and have only each other. She sees her role as a screen, standing between the children and the dangers that threaten them. She watches them closely, with a sense of excitement and suspense that borders on madness, but ultimately, it is the horrible proofs of danger that she encounters that save her from this state.

The passage also highlights the charming qualities of the children, who are able to amuse themselves without being importunate or listless. The protagonist is impressed by their ability to let her be without dropping her, and to accompany her without surrounding her.

Overall, this passage emphasizes the protagonist's sense of duty and responsibility towards the children, as well as her admiration for their charming personalities. It also highlights the dangers that threaten them, and the protagonist's determination to protect them at all costs.

Answer 2

The excerpt is from Henry James' novel, "The Turn of the Screw." The narrator, a governess, reflects on her state of mind when she was tasked with protecting and defending two young children who were in danger. She finds joy and heroism in the task and sees it as a magnificent chance to prove herself. However, her excitement turns into a stifled suspense and then something else altogether when she witnesses horrible proofs of the danger they are in.

The language is descriptive and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the governess's emotional state and her view of the children she is charged with protecting. The excerpt also hints at the complexity of the relationship between the governess and the children, with her admiring their ability to amuse themselves without her, while still being vigilant in protecting them. The passage provides a glimpse into the psychological suspense and ambiguity that characterizes the novel.