The Lord Of The Screw And Northanger Abbey - 1635 Words

The Role of the Innocent Heroine in Turn of the Screw and Northanger Abbey The function of the innocent heroine in gothic literature is, primarily, to follow her curiosity into the deepest, darkest corners of an appropriate gothic setting, uncover some awful secret contained therein, and do a lot of running around in her nightgown to be saved at the appropriate moment by a strong, capable suitor. In both Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, and The Turn of the Screw by Henry James this trope is challenged, with both books presenting us with a slightly different version of the gothic heroine. Northanger Abbey gives us Catherine Morland, with her own knowledge of the gothic genre through the books she has read herself, and a propensity for common sense over hysteria. This foreknowledge and self-awareness creates a very different heroine than the typical gothic damsel in distress, and allows for Jane Austen to explore and parody the gothic genre instead of adhering to its every rule. The Turn of the Screw gives us the governess, who appears at first to follow the gothic heroine trope; young and pure of heart and motive, but who must also fill the role of both innocent heroine and protective hero. As the story progresses, doubt begins to fall on the governess’ sanity and motives. This essay will compare and contrast the treatment of these two gothic heroines, explore the different ways the characters challenge the innocent heroine trope, and discuss the effect this has on the