The Governess has issues conveying her feelings and making rational decisions. When the Governess consults Mrs. Grose about seeing the ghosts, Mrs. Grose suggests contacting the Uncle for assistance. However, the Governess refuses to bother the Uncle, since she wants to maintain her undertaking to “give [the Uncle] no worry” (James 48). Although this seems noble on the outside, there is no rationality to this decision. If any other sane person were in charge, they would have contacted the Uncle immediately if they believed ghosts to be threatening the safety of the children. After all, the Uncle is the only family the children have. However, the Governess cannot see this point and is blinded by her love for the Uncle. Instead of admitting her desire for him, she risks the safety of the children just to impress him. The Governess also interacts abnormally when she encounters the ghost of Miss Jessel. When she thinks she sees Miss Jessel in the room, the Governess addresses her, “You terrible… woman!” (James 58). The Governess not only believes in ghosts, but she tries to interact with them. She believes they can communicate with her and tries to talk to them. Normally, people would be startled by a ghost’s presence and flee, not start talking to the ghost. This shows how much the Governess’s belief in these ghosts has changed her ability to act and make decisions in a natural
The Governess has issues conveying her feelings and making rational decisions. When the Governess consults Mrs. Grose about seeing the ghosts, Mrs. Grose suggests contacting the Uncle for assistance. However, the Governess refuses to bother the Uncle, since she wants to maintain her undertaking to “give [the Uncle] no worry” (James 48). Although this seems noble on the outside, there is no rationality to this decision. If any other sane person were in charge, they would have contacted the Uncle immediately if they believed ghosts to be threatening the safety of the children. After all, the Uncle is the only family the children have. However, the Governess cannot see this point and is blinded by her love for the Uncle. Instead of admitting her desire for him, she risks the safety of the children just to impress him. The Governess also interacts abnormally when she encounters the ghost of Miss Jessel. When she thinks she sees Miss Jessel in the room, the Governess addresses her, “You terrible… woman!” (James 58). The Governess not only believes in ghosts, but she tries to interact with them. She believes they can communicate with her and tries to talk to them. Normally, people would be startled by a ghost’s presence and flee, not start talking to the ghost. This shows how much the Governess’s belief in these ghosts has changed her ability to act and make decisions in a natural