FROM TEXT TO SCREEN: ANALYZING ANXIETIES AND CORRUPTION IN FILM ADAPTATIONS OF HENRY JAMES’S THE TURN OF THE SCREW

Abstract

In this study, film adaptations of Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw (1898) will be examined in terms of cultural anxieties and domestic violence that lead to the inevitable corruption embedded in James’s original novella. The significance of corruption, as a central motif in James's novella, reflects the deeper psychological and societal issues of the era, offering a lens to explore the complex interplay between individual psyche and societal norms. The Turn of the Screw will be utilized as a base for exploring the relevant themes. To demonstrate these themes, “The Innocents” (1961) and “The Turn of the Screw” (2009) will be analyzed to find out how they reflect on the themes of cultural anxieties and domestic violence that lead to the inevitable corruption, which is embedded in James’ original novella. Adaptation theory will be analyzed under three categories throughout the adaptations: themes transferring to film, fidelity, and how they adapt to the context and time in which they are produced. In addition, adaptations will be analyzed to show their power to reflect and question their times while showcasing the lasting significance of a canonical work.