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5 pages in length. When asking the question of whether the governess in Henry James' Turn Of The Screw was truly crazy or merely a victim of ghostly pranks, one has to establish a basis for such an answer. Did she display consistent acts of lunacy in her daily activities? Was she construed as deranged by those with whom she regularly came in contact? The answer is no in both instances. The writer discusses how the governess was quite sane yet still routinely visualized apparitions. No additional sources cited.
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basis for such an answer. Did she display consistent acts of lunacy in her daily activities? Was she construed as deranged by those with whom she regularly came
in contact? The answer is no in both instances. In fact, the governess was quite sane going about the house and visualizing apparitions. It was only within
her own mind that she thought, perhaps, she may be just a little touched. Seeing ghosts is not a reason that one should
be considered insane. However, the very existence of such ghosts could easily push someone in that direction. But the governess was neither crazy from the start nor after
she experienced several ghostly encounters. The mere fact that Mrs. Grose was able to recognize the spirits description as given by the governess provides sound evidence that the governess
was in full control of her mental capacity. Had the ghosts been of unknown origin, perhaps then she could have been construed as loony.
The governess kept her wits about her at all times so that she could deal with the constant ghostly appearances. A crazy person would not be capable
of discerning between reality and a fantasy world. Thus, it was clear that the governess, by exhibiting rational thought and action even during the most terrifying of moments, was
of sound mind. "We were to keep our heads if we should keep nothing else--difficult indeed as that might be in the
face of what, in our prodigious experience, was least to be questioned " (James PG). There were points in the story, however,
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