The Turn of the Screw · Chapter
XXIV explained
In the climactic final confrontation, the governess forces Miles to confess to stealing a letter she had written to his uncle, then presses him about his expulsion from school.
What happens
In the climactic final confrontation, the governess forces Miles to confess to stealing a letter she had written to his uncle, then presses him about his expulsion from school. Miles admits he 'said things' to a few friends, which were repeated and led to his dismissal. As the governess exults in her perceived victory, Peter Quint appears again at the window. She tries to shield Miles, but he sees the ghost, names Peter Quint, and then collapses in her arms, his heart having stopped.
Themes in this chapter
Innocence and Corruption
Miles's confession of 'saying things' and his subsequent death highlight the tension between childhood innocence and the corrupting forces (both real and imagined) that surround him.
The Supernatural and Psychological Terror
Quint's repeated appearances at the window and Miles's final vision of the ghost underscore the blend of supernatural horror and the governess's psychological strain.
Power and Control
The governess's desperate attempt to control the situation and 'save' Miles ultimately leads to his death, revealing the destructive nature of her need for power.
Characters to notice
- The Governess
Drives Miles to confession, confronts Quint's ghost, and ultimately holds Miles as he dies.
- Miles
Confesses to taking the letter and to having been expelled for saying things to friends; sees Quint's ghost and dies in the governess's arms.
- Peter Quint
Appears at the window multiple times during the confrontation, finally seen by Miles before his death.
- Miss Jessel
Mistakenly thought by Miles to be the ghost at the window, but the governess corrects him.
- Mrs. Grose
Not present in this chapter, but referenced indirectly through the earlier events with Flora.
Key passages
“It was like fighting with a demon for a human soul, and when I had fairly so appraised it I saw how the human soul—held out, in the tremor of my hands, at arm's length—had a perfect dew of sweat on a lovely childish forehead.”
The governess feels she is battling a demon for Miles's soul, and as she holds him, she sees sweat on his innocent forehead.
Reveals the governess's perception of the struggle as a spiritual battle for Miles's salvation.
““Yes—I took it.””
Miles admits to stealing the letter.
Miles's confession is a key moment in the confrontation, confirming the governess's suspicions.
““Peter Quint—you devil!””
Miles names the ghost as Peter Quint, addressing him as a devil.
Miles's direct identification of Quint marks the climax of the supernatural encounter.
“We were alone with the quiet day, and his little heart, dispossessed, had stopped.”
After the ghost vanishes, the governess realizes Miles has died in her arms.
The final line of the chapter reveals the tragic outcome of the confrontation.