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Sheila asked this question about The Turn of the Screw:
Of what evil, exactly, were Miss Kressel and Quint supposed to be guilty of in life? Undue familiarity with each other, and with others, especially the children, I understand. Not staying quietly within their place. But was that tantamount to true evil? Or was more supposed to have passed between them and the children?
Ericka Back in that era familiarity between the classes was extraordinarily wrong. Just the familiarity between the children and the servants would be consid…moreBack in that era familiarity between the classes was extraordinarily wrong. Just the familiarity between the children and the servants would be considered terrible and the children were VERY familiar with their servants. Plus the former governess was supposed to be a lady and she had relations with a valet? Quel horreur! I assume she died in childbirth from the non-discussion and that would have been her ruin. We have very little understanding of the breaks between classes back then. Just watch some British shows with current aristocrats being interviewed about showing their property for funding and you can still see this superiority acting in their words and behavior.(less)
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The Turn of the Screw
by Henry James
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