Chapter VIII explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Innocence and Corruption

  The governess grapples with the possibility that Miles and Flora are not innocent but are corrupted by their association with Quint and Miss Jessel, as seen in Miles's lies and Flora's deceptive behavior.

• Appearance vs. Reality

  The children appear angelic, but the governess suspects they are hiding their awareness of the ghosts, as when Flora pretends not to see Miss Jessel by the lake.

• Power and Control

  The governess seeks to control the situation by extracting information from Mrs. Grose, while Quint's past influence over Miles suggests a struggle for control over the children.

Characters to notice

• The Governess

  Presses Mrs. Grose for information about Miles's past with Quint, recounts Flora's suspicious behavior by the lake, and struggles with her suspicions about the children.

• Mrs. Grose

  Reluctantly reveals that Miles lied about spending time with Quint and that she had criticized their close alliance, showing her fear and hesitation.

• Flora

  Described as engaging in suspicious behavior by the lake, including singing and gabbling nonsense, which the governess interprets as an attempt to hide her awareness of Miss Jessel.

• Miles

  Discussed in terms of his past with Quint; Mrs. Grose reveals he lied about spending time with Quint and that he had been 'bad' in the past.

• Peter Quint

  Referenced as having a close relationship with Miles, spending hours with him, and being described as a 'base menial' by Mrs. Grose.

• Miss Jessel

  Mentioned in connection with Flora and as having been approached by Mrs. Grose about Quint's relationship with Miles, responding with a strange manner.

Key passages

• “I had simply, in other words, plunged afresh into Flora’s special society and there become aware—it was almost a luxury!—that she could put her little conscious hand straight upon the spot that ached.”

  The governess spent time with Flora and found that the child's innocent affection soothed her distress.

  Highlights the governess's conflicted feelings about Flora's apparent innocence.

• “It was a pity that I should have had to quaver out again the reasons for my not having, in my delusion, so much as questioned that the little girl saw our visitant even as I actually saw Mrs. Grose herself, and that she wanted, by just so much as she did thus see, to make me suppose she didn’t”

  The governess regrets having to explain that she now believes Flora saw Miss Jessel and pretended not to.

  Reveals the governess's growing suspicion that Flora is deceiving her.

• “What my friend had had in mind proved to be immensely to the purpose. It was neither more nor less than the circumstance that for a period of several months Quint and the boy had been perpetually together.”

  Mrs. Grose revealed that Miles and Quint spent a great deal of time together over several months.

  Provides key background on Miles's relationship with Quint.