Field Exposure: Wat Thum Krabok, The Temple of the Bamboo Cave

Wat Tum Krabok also known as the Temple of the Bamboo Cave is situated in the quiet and peaceful province of Saraburi 140 km away from Bangkok. The place was built in order to help people who are suffering from substance abuse and addiction. Accordingly, it has helped an air-marshal’s brother to recover from heroin addiction who afterwards left the police force, his wife and children to become the monastery’s first abbot.

Since then it has become the home of most people from all over the world who seek to recover from drug addiction. The Monastery uses a unique detox method which integrates Buddhist meditation and a dose of herbal supplement which induce vomiting. The Monastery works on a system and a day to day schedule which every residents are compelled to do. They have specific tasks at a certain time of the day which starts with basically sweeping the grounds, breakfast, steam bath – which is also one of the detox process and meditation.

The Monastery’s population is composed of local Thai residents and a number of foreign occupants who left their families in order to get rid of the addiction and hopefully move on into a better lifestyle.

Most of them agreed that the monastery is the last hope for them since most have gone through a lot of treatment and have failed. Therapy and counseling also have a big part on their healing. For the first few days the patients are provided with herbal medicine called yatan which will induce vomiting. The monks believed that it helps the body get rid of the toxins as well as aid recovery. Besides the treatment is free and the patients are admitted on their will. Also if they cannot follow the treatment system in the monastery they are also free to leave. According to them the detox process – induced vomiting is the hardest stage and it makes one think that after all they have gone through, they will never again put themselves into the same situation.

The trip provided an insight on the actual situation and thoughts of unfortunate people who suffered from addiction and their struggle to get control of themselves again. Also, childhood trauma, family problems and environmental influence played a big role into their substance addiction. Most of them recalled that it was the only way for them to cope with emotional dilemma until they realized that addiction had gotten control of their lives as well as hurt their family and friends. As a therapist it is very important to understand where they are coming from and what they are experiencing at the moment. It would also by helpful if therapist create a casual bond with them since most of them have already feel they have lost their family and friends and have no one to understands them. It is very crucial that they know someone listens and empathize with them.

It would also be beneficial if they are exposed to recreational activities, access to gym and sports facilities as well as introduced them to different arts and crafts such as learning to play a musical instrument, paint and creative writing.  This way it would help them divert their minds off their present situation and would give them something productive to do instead of too much cigarette smoking, which they, apparently, are allowed to do. Nevertheless the trip proved to be very beneficial and educational. It was such a privileged to be given a chance to visit the Monastery. The place itself offers a great sense of serenity, a world so detached from the chaos of life. It makes one feel hopeful that once a life spend there would become a life full of hope and renewed spirit.

“Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.”  Nido Qubin

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THE ROLE OF PLAY IN THE CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS

Russ (2004) discussed the development of adaptive abilities in children and the role of play as a means of getting through emotions which are not express through words. She stated that a child conveys feelings and say things which are not expressed through words and yet manifest it through the means of free play. She further stated that a child can learn to solve his issues, deals with emotional disturbance, stress and loneliness through creativity and the use of fantasy. She also added that play serves as a window to look into the child’s inner struggles and how they cope through the emotional process.

GESTALT PLAY THERAPY

INTRODUCTION

Gestalt Play Therapy was first introduced by Violet Oaklander in 1988. It focuses on the humanistic approach to therapy by giving importance to the wholeness of the child through the integration of creativity which involves the senses, emotions, body and the child’s intellect which is why it is often referred to as creative therapy. Accordingly, play takes a significant part on the child’s mental and physical developmental processes. Through dramatization and taking various roles, a child can become aware of himself, gain understanding of the outside world and how he associates to his surrounding without harming himself. In contrary to what adults think, play is not a mere tool for passing the time but rather it is an expression of the child’s interpretation of himself of which cannot be express through words. Gestalt play therapy is based on the understanding that unlike adults, children often have a difficult time expressing themselves much more on understanding themselves. Therefore, pretend act can be a helpful tool to communicate with them and gain an understanding on how they feel and be aware of what they are going through so problematic behavior and emotions can be resolved. Gestalt Therapy also provides children a safe environment of which they can express their emotions especially anger and frustrations. Carmichael (2006) mentioned the basic principles of Gestalt Therapy which are; figure-ground, organismic self-regulation, I/Thou relationship, and contract and resistance.

Figure-ground are the means of communication and representation. It also conveys two different aspects of the child, the foreground of which are verbal emotions or issues that the child and the therapist are aware of, and the background which relates to the issues that the therapist and the child are not aware of. These could be problems or matters that affect the child. The orgasmic-self regulation is the constant urge to find satisfaction and in order to fulfill those needs, children will strive to do whatever they are capable of in order to express and satisfy those needs. However, since children have not yet fully reached the age of maturation, certain developmental changes and alterations may confuse them. The struggle to distinguish what is true of themselves, others and environment are deliberately dealt with in Gestalt Therapy. Children who experienced abuse, trauma and abandonment may experience anger and yet they may choose to suppress it in fear of rejection. Therefore may take a non-directive approach to express it such as; getting sick, being destructive, social withdrawal, or hurting themselves. Gestalt Therapy views aggression as a means of maintaining a balance and healthy development in children. Gestalt Therapy believes that children should be able to learn to communicate their emotions and their needs in order for them to become a better individual.

Contact and resistance are two most important principles being considered in Gestalt Therapy. If there is willingness and a positive behavior between the therapists and the child, a healthy relationship is being developed. Gestalt Therapy believes that a healthy contact is when the intellect, the body and the mind is fully aware of the relationship being build up between the child and the therapist. However, contact diminishes if there is a resistance and the child blocks his emotions and channel it inwards.

A healthy contact is pursued in order to help the child attains a feeling of security. However, a therapist must also respect resistance and considers the limits. Constant resistance from the child may convey an important aspect that matters to the child. He may change the subject, ignore the therapist or become distracted a sign of which he refuse to deal with a certain issue. Gestalt Therapy then encourages the child to express their feeling and emotions through representation. By directing the subject to an object or interpretation of the self, the child gains a better understanding of himself. By creating scenarios and asking question, the therapist can also gain insight on the child’s altered behavior. It is important that the child becomes aware of his emotions how his body reacts to his emotions and how he can use it to relate to others.

TOY SELECTION

Toy selection is very important in the use of Gestalt Therapy. The toys must provide the child and the therapist with inspirations which encourage creativity, motivation and direction. It must assist the child in a creative expression of their fantasy and imagination. It should be properly selected so that it will appear to the child’s senses such as smelling, hearing, taste, seeing and touch. Gestalt Therapists’ chooses toys or materials that help children’s sensory interpretation and encourage self expression.

Carmichael (2006) also includes the following of what Oaklander would include as appropriate toys for Gestalt Play Therapy:

·         Art Materials: paper in all sizes, felt tip pens, crayons, pastels, colored pencils, finger paints, and similar art supplies. Various gadgets can also be added such as: kitchen timer, stop watch, egg hourglass type timer, counters and beads.

·         Creative play projects: books, writing materials, tape recorder, pictures, projective test, puppets, flannel board, sand tray, drawing, open-ended fantasies, video tape, walkie-talkie, toy microphone, imaginary television set.

·         Self expression through music: guitar, autoharp, keyboard, recorded music, folksongs and guided fantasies.

·         Collage materials: many types of paper, paints, strings and yarns, fabric scraps, colored sand, beads, shell, or anything appealing in texture or color.

·         A basin of water and various pouring materials which can be use in sand play or water play. Carmichael (2006) also added plaster, wax, soap, wood, wire, metal, paper, pipe cleaners, straws, boxes, plastic foam, or items that can be sculpt and construct.  Depending on the age of the children, Gestalt Therapist may also include nails, hammers, glue, staples, screws, nuts, bolts, hand drill, screw driver and coping saw.

·         Clay is also an essential tool to include in the playroom. Clay can be a good tool to engage children in self expression since clay appeals to the sense of touch making children express their emotion through handling the clay. They may hit, pound and punch the clay in anger. And since clay can take different shapes thus making it virtually mistake proof, it is suitable for children who often fears to make mistakes.

ROLE OF THE THERAPIST

Since Gestalt Play therapists’ use play interpretation as a means for intervention, it is very important that they create a setting of which the children can be able to work through the issues which they are facing. The therapist must display an interest in the play process and should focus on the “what” and “how” of behavior rather than the why. In examining a child’s drawing of his family, McConaughy (2005) suggested to ask questions such as; “who are the people in your picture?”, “what are they doing?”, “tell me about the people in your picture”, “what kind of person is___?”, “how does __ feel in that picture?”, “what is __thinking?”, “what is going to happen next in your picture?”. The therapist must also maintain an appropriate attitude towards the child. It must be taken into account that the therapist displays genuine and authentic attitude towards the relationship without conveying judgments or being patronizing. The therapist must focus the issue being resolve and must not be distracted regardless how the child may behave. It also important that the child must understand that the therapist doesn’t take the role of the parents and that personal issue must be guarded so that the therapist may avoid responses which may harm the child. The therapist must display integrity, courage to resolve personal feelings as well as acknowledge personal limitations. The therapist must also provide a specific exercise and use guided fantasies which will then be interpreted through the child’s drawings, storytelling, sand-tray simulation, or through drama. A Gestalt therapist may use experiments or activities to promote the use of imagination to help children explore their inner feelings and help them become aware of themselves and be able to understand his relationship to the outside world. It is important to remember that the child leads the play and the therapist does not direct but follows the child and what direction the child leads.

The following are activities that a Gestalt Therapist can use:
Use visual exercise to help children express their feelings and problematic issues.
Children may draw themselves to express how they see themselves.
Children can draw an emotional response to music, drama, fantasy, poem or dream.
Children can also draw opposites such as; sad/happy, angry/calm, good/bad, love/hate and others.

Children also draw a roadmap of their life and encourage them to include bumps, mountains, or anything that relates to them. They can then show where the road leads and what will it be like. They may include and draw themselves where they are on the road.

The therapist must also focus on the play process and observe how the child connects with the toys and how he approaches it. It is also important to observe what toys the child chooses and avoid. That way the therapist can gain an understanding on how the child views his world as well as focus on the content of play especially the manifestation of loneliness, anger and aggression, nurturance and tragedy.

STRUCTURING THE SESSION

The therapist will start the session by asking the child to take part in an activity. Then the child will be ask to describe, share and talk about his drawings or take part in a role play. The therapist will look into a child’s drawing and ask him to elaborate on the figures and the color he chooses. The child will be asked how he relates himself to his drawing as well as how he sees others and the world around him. The therapist will also encourage and guide the child to create a dialogue between two figures, colors or objects in his drawing. For example the therapist will ask, “What will the triangle say to the circle?” “What would the circle say back to the triangle?”

The therapist will also take into account the colors that are used in the drawing. The following are examples of questions the therapist can ask the child:

·         What do bright colors mean to you? What colors are those?

·         What do dark colors mean to you? What colors are those?

·         What do dull colors mean to you? What colors are those?

·         What exciting colors mean to you? What colors are those?

·         Which color will you use on this drawing? Will you use the bright colors or the dark colors?

In Gestalt Therapy the therapist will also consider how much pressure the child makes in applying the colors or how often a child uses a certain color. In every session the therapist must consider every element used and she must be able to build an awareness how those elements relate to the child’s emotions. It is also important that the child is aware of when the therapy starts and ends. Oaklander suggested that cleaning up is a good signal for the child so he knows that the session is over. It is also important that the child is aware that play has a purpose and there is a time limit to the activity. The child will not be allowed to stay longer and must be taught that the toys and other materials should be respected and toys in the playroom should not be abused or the therapist.

PARENTS INVOLVEMENT

Parents’ involvement is also important in Gestalt therapy. It is suggested that the parents themselves will take the child to the therapy and include him in every conversation they have with the therapist. That way the child is aware of the problems and issues being put to awareness. It is also significant that the therapist get acquainted with the family dynamics as well as how the child behaves in school. Parents are also given task and experiment however it is important to respect the parents and must not coerce them to do an experiment which they are not comfortable doing. When the parents agreed to an activity or experiment they are comfortable with. The therapist will then allow the child to choose an activity he can do at home. The termination of the therapy will also be discussed with the parents as well as the progress of the child.

TERMINATION OF THE THERAPY

Carmichael (2006) quoted Oaklander that a child must not be in a therapy for a long time. The therapist must consider whether therapy is making the child better or making him worst. When the therapy reached to a certain point where progress is not possible the therapist must consider it a termination phase. Furthermore termination must be considered if the child becomes stable and is showing an interest in other activities and social interactions. The therapist must also talk to the school and the parents in order to monitor the progress of the child so necessary measure for termination or continuance can be made. The therapist must also talk openly with the child especially saying goodbye. It could be difficult for the child to separate from the therapist however he must be aware that ending the therapy is a good sign which shows that he is capable of self awareness and is ready to deal with other social interactions.

ASSESSMENTS AND TECHNIQUE

Techniques and assessment in Gestalt therapy includes the use of “expressive-aids”. Oaklander (1997) suggested the use fantasy drawings and imagination. She added that through the use of these techniques the child is able to make physical and emotional contact. She also suggest to use techniques that stimulate the senses. The therapy also uses the empty chair technique to help the child channel his feelings towards others. The child is also asked to talk about their dreams and address them through the use of puppets and other tools that would aid them express their feelings of which the therapist will guide the child and go through the different characters in their dreams. The goal of Gestalt therapy is to let the child become aware of the abstract feelings and encourage them to express it through refining their senses which will help them cope with issues and problems.

Children who have been traumatized become disconnected with their body and their senses. It is the goal of Gestalt therapy to draw awareness to the self and get to know their feelings and unlock those emotions through the help of expressive play. Moreover, children should be able to gain control over their lives and learn to express their feelings towards the outside world in a healthy and safe manner. Therefore, it the goal of Gestalt Therapy helps children develop a strong self awareness and the use of play and exaggerated movement will serve as a tool to help them express those emotions. 

Reference:  Carmicheal K.D. (2006) Play Therapy An Introduction

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The Rite of Passage

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The adolescent mind is essentially a mind of the moratorium, a psychosocial stage between childhood and adulthood, and between the morality learned by the child, and the ethics to be developed by the adult. It is an ideological mind — and, indeed, it is the ideological outlook of a society that speaks most clearly to the adolescent who is eager to be affirmed by his peers, and is ready to be confirmed by rituals, creeds, and programmes which at the same time define what is evil, uncanny, and inimical. Erikson E. 1965 Child and Society pp. 252-254

The rite of passage is an ancient or current practice of cultural belief of which the coming of age is marked as another stage of a person’s life. It is when a boy or a girl has to go through a grueling test of courage, endurance and character before one can claim worthy of womanhood or manhood. In some culture coming of age is something to look forward to, it is when one has to finally be allowed to do what “grown-ups” do like driving, and getting into a bar and other things they may relate to as pleasant.  But in some culture young people may have to endure painful initiation, and risk to become or called an adult.

The Rite Of Passage: Young Mascelera Apache Girls’ Quest for a Woman Name

The Rite of Passage for the young Mascelera Apache girls in the Mountain of New Mexico would often take four days of celebration and ceremony. The girls will go through test of character and strength which they believed to be an essential aspect of being a woman. On the rise of the morning star on the Fourth of July the girls will endure four days of sleepless nights and hunger and during this course of time, they must also suppress all kinds of emotions. Then a medicine woman chosen by the family will teach them the ways of being a woman. The girls will symbolically go through the four stages of life which is being an infant, child, adolescent and a woman. They will also be dusted with pollen, a symbol of fertility and a teepee will be built by the male relatives. The celebration will begin with the girls running towards the rising sun and circles the basket full of pollen for four times, the symbol of the four stages of life. The girls will climb the hill and offers a prayer to the mountain spirit and when the night falls, they will begin to dance beside the night fire until the dawn of another morning. On last and final morning of the ceremony, the medicine man will paint their faces with white clay to represent the goddess and they will be given their woman names.

The Rite of Passage: Blood Letting – Matasu Tribe, Papua New Guinea

The rite of passage for the young boys of the Matasu Tribe in Papua New Guinea is one of the painful coming of age ceremony in the world.  They believed that everyone is contaminated by a woman’s blood passed on to them from their mother through child birth. And to be called a man they have to go through a bloodletting initiation in order to get rid of their mother’s blood. The boys will go through a series of painful rituals. The elders will shove sharp reeds into their nostrils until blood comes out of their noses as well as constantly prick their tongues to get rid of contaminated food made by the women. It is only after they survived the ceremony that they will be called warriors and men.

Ceremonial Presentation of a young Filipina

In the Philippines, a family will prepare a formal ball for the coming of age for a young 18 year old girl. It is often lavishly prepared especially in some family with social class. It is when a young girl is presented to the community which symbolizes as an announcement that she is ready to be wooed or persuaded by the gentlemen.  This was adapted from the Mexican-American practice of public presentation which called Quinceañera or Debut. During the celebration the Debutant with her friends, usually called the 18 roses (boys) and 18 candles (girls) will dance the cotillion. Often the status of the family will be judged according to how much they spend for the occasion thus leaving some of the family with a big credit to pay after the ball. Nowadays, group celebration is becoming more and more popular in the upper and middle class families where they can all join and share the expenses together to celebrate their young daughters coming of age announcement.

The Rite of Passage: Tuli (Circumcision) Boys Rite of Passage – Philippines

Tuli or circumcision is one of the rites most commonly practice among families in the Philippines. Every summer when young boys turn 9-12, they will have to go through the painful process of tuli. Although at present most hospitals perform the same procedure right after the child is born, in the provinces of the Philippines the ritual is still practice and is usually done by the elders of the village trained to perform the procedure. It is usually performed along the river and is privately done by the males since they believe that the procedure should never be seen by the women. The procedure begins with the boys chewing guava shoots then the elders will remove the foreskin of the male genitalia. The chewed guava shoots will then be applied to the area to speed up the healing process as well as bathe in the sea. In the Philippines being circumcised is perceived as a sign of manhood. Therefore, every summer boys dressed in oversized T-shirts are a common scene, a sign of which a boy has been given the rites to manhood.
Perhaps the rites of passage may have changed over the years and may vary from one culture to another. Current trends among young people may have changed and traditional practices may have been perceived to some as non-relevant. But somehow the "passage" may have played an important role as to there is a rightful awareness that another phase of ones life has finally come to an end and therefore one must proceed to take another social role.

What could be the current trends and practices that can be perceived as a rite of passage?

Reference

February 14, 2012 1:42 PM GMT. World's Most Painful Rituals. International Business Times. January 20, 2013, http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/298332/20120214/painful-rituals-world.htm

Ryan Kim. February 25, 2001, 4:00 am, Sunday. Princess for a Night /Filipina rite of passage growing popular in Bay Area. San Francisco Gate. January 20, 2013, http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Princess-for-a-Night-Filipina-rite-of-passage-2948740.php#ixzz2IU0Gfdp0

2002. Apache Girl’s Rite of Passage. National Geographic Digital Motion. January 20, 2013, http://natgeodigitalsignage.com/film/2078/apache-girls-rite-of-passage

Madonna T. Virola. Boys' rite of passage best on Black Saturday. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Makati City, P.I., Sunday, March 20, 2005.

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Psychological Analysis: Henry Jame's the Turn of the Screw

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“The Turn of the Screw” the story that claims favorable reviews as well as criticisms. It is the purpose of this review to deliberate psychological interpretation of the story since it is the fundamental belief of the content that the “ghosts” mentioned in the story is a depiction of a psychological phenomenon of which there is a thin distinction between a person’s perspective between reality and fantasy, that there is an essential rationalization behind the human motives, behavior, awareness and beliefs. It cores back to the development of Freud’s theory of personality as well as repression and psychosexual dilemma.

This will expose the psychological interpretation and primary analysis of the main character’s behavior which personifies the governess, and its effect to the children.

Parkinson (1979) interprets the theme of the story as a depiction of fear and insanity. Hence, the following text will discuss and analyze essential passages and quotes from the book with the intent of gaining a psychological validation to the issues vaguely presented.

It will be apparent that the content of this review will concur towards mental illness and the manifestation of a psychological perplexity. 

Character Analysis

Douglas

The man who was never mention in the story except he first introduce the beginning of it to a couple of guest in the hotel on a Christmas Eve. He claimed that the story is a written account of her sister’s governess.

The Military Man

The character is mentioned briefly in the story as the uncle of the children. He charmed the governess into letting her think that by accepting the task she is indeed giving him a big favor. He also made it clear that he will never be bothered in any way regarding the children’s wellbeing. However, his role takes a great effect on the story since he became the object of obsession and fantasy of the governess.

The Governess

A young woman who left her home for the first time to seek employment and was hired to take care of niece and nephew of a rich, handsome, charming military man. She is inexperienced and having overwhelmed with her new task she became anxious. Her attractions to her employer may have also caused her psychological dilemma. She adored the children but later became the subject of her suspension. The novel also affirmed the she is in love with her employer. Her battle against evil profoundly suggests that she is losing her sanity. She is determined to protect the children from the ghost of Peter Quint and Miss Jessel but in the contrary made her a threat to the safety of the children.

Mrs. Grose

An uneducated servant who works with the family and takes care of the children. Her character presents support and understanding to the governess. She would listen to her descriptions of the horrifying events and would somehow in her own understanding draws conclusion to her problem. Mrs. Grose often shows suspicion and hesitation to assumptions but still holds the governess superior. Her character often hinders the governess from corrupting the children with terrifying revelation and at the end had saved Flora.

Miles

Miles’ character has been presented as either innocent or deceiving. The governess was attracted to his brilliant display of appearance. He is radiantly responsive to her classes and is active and full of charm. The governess has even made up her mind the boy is an injury to others the reason why he was expelled from school. But when the governess met him for the first time her opinion of him has eventually change and she was charmed and second time.

However, when she confronted him about her suspicion Miles told her that he can be bad. This description of Mile’s character may have also been one of the governess’ hallucination and corrupt assumptions.

Flora

Flora character may just be a depiction of innocence. The governess described her as angelic and full of beauty. She is very responsive to her and even showed the governess around the house and told her every secret. Mrs. Grose clearly loves Flora very much and has always protected her from the governess. When Flora got ill she persuasively asked the governess to allow taking Flora to see a doctor in town.

At some point in the story, the governess believes that Flora and Miles are scheming and cunning. However, to what extend lies the truth could just be the imagination of the governess and the children are just victims of her vicious assumptions. 

The story is about a young governess who was hired to take care of a rich military’s nephew named Miles and his niece named Flora whose parents died in an accident. She was charmed by his handsome appearance and though she was hesitant at first, she then agreed to take the responsibility. The task proved to be difficult for the young woman. After days of her stay with the children in an old country house in Bly she was suddenly plagued with ghost of the former valet named Peter Quint and an the former governess, Miss Jessel. She was so convinced that the ghosts want to harm the children that she watches over them with so much care and intent.

The children were nice and gentle to her except when a mail came from her employer with an unopened letter from the boy’s school head master informing them that Miles was expelled from school. However, she did not tell her employer about the content of the letter since he made it clear to her that she will never include him about the children’s welfare.

The governess became very apprehensive. She would often see the ghost of Peter Quint in the stairway and by the window as well as the ghost of Miss Jessel.  She became very protective of the children and she always wanted them to be within her sight. Later she was convinced that Miles and Flora were aware of the ghost and that they themselves are plotting against her. One day she became very hysterical when she found out the Flora left the house. She told Mrs. Grose, the maid that Flora might be near the lake and she went to see the ghost of Miss Jessel. When she finally saw Flora she asked her if she knew about the ghost and indeed came to see it. But Flora became so scared of her and became very ill until Mrs. Grose decided to bring the little girl to town to see a doctor.

The governess felt that she failed in her task and was so determined to save Miles from the ghost of Peter Quint. That afternoon, when they were having their lunch together she suddenly became aware of the ghost of Peter Quint.  She became anxious, she was screaming at the ghost of Peter Quint to let the boy alone. They she rushed to hold Miles very tightly protecting him from the ghost but when the ghost disappeared, she finally realized that the boy had died in her arms.

Personal Review

The following text are qoutes rephrased from the book “The Turn of the Screw” as well as its interpretations.

“When I entered the room, I became aware of a presence of someone inside the room. Looking across the window I saw him…he had already appeared to me. I turn cold. This time he is so near his body emerge from behind the window. I suddenly realized that he came for someone. He wants to hurt the children.  Then impulsively I went to take his place by the window. I need to take the place where he had been and put my face against the window pane. And as if to show me how scared I was, Mrs. Grose came into the room. Through her response, I had the full recurrence of what I had just experience. She saw me as I have seen him. She looked at me and back away, she beckoned for me to meet her but I just stood there with so much thought but one, I wonder why she should be scared.”

The incident where the governess wondered why Mrs. Grose was scared when she sees her behind the window is an indication that perhaps the maid had indeed noticed a frightful display of qualities that the governess is not conscious of.

The phrase indicated a disturbing revelation of the psychological predicament reflected by   the main characters. The governess deliberately referred the apparitions to evil. The story’s portrayal of good and evil ambiguously represents the inner conflict of her character. 

“It is believed the Flora saw the ghost of Miss Jessel. Mrs. Grose was terrified and asked if Flora told me. And that’s the horror! She didn’t say a word about it but I can see it in her eyes and I know that she is absolutely aware of it.

Mrs. Grose thought that it was the same man that appeared to me from the window. But no… it was not the same… it was someone the girl knew and Mrs. Grose knew… it was my predecessor… Miss Jessel. She was staring from across the lake. Mrs. Grose did not believe me and I told her that if she ask Flora she will lie about it.

“I made Mrs. Grose believed of shocking things but there was an acceptance of my dominance- my accomplishment and my responsibility over the children. She has been so patient with my suffering.”

In the story we obtain an understanding of the governess’ thoughts through the reflection of Mrs. Grose character which often provides the reader with a different perspective of the governess’ persona. The maid became aware of the insanity and paranoia. However, having no education herself, she might have gotten confused as well. In her point of view she is clearly aware that the governess had proper education and she on the other hand doesn’t even know how to read.

“one night as I was about to sleep I saw the ghost of Peter Quint half way down the stairs. He stared at me intently but I refused to back off until he vanished. After the incident I decided to see Flora in her room. But she is not there. Her little bed was a mess and the curtains are blown apart. I frantically search for her and finally found her hiding behind a curtain. She looked extremely grave. She didn’t seem happy to see me. “

Flora’s reaction to the governess indicates that the girl is scared of her. The display of reproach may a have been an expression of fear towards to governess which eventually made the little girl ill towards the end of the story.

“Flora is not a little child, she is an old woman”

When Flora suddenly disappeared the governess anxiously searched for her. And when Mrs. Grose uttered her objection that it is impossible that Flora can hide the boat, the governess snap and told her Flora is not a child but instead an old woman. This obviously shows confusion in her part. Every time the governess encounters issues concerning the children’s welfare or at some point she feels she is neglected by the children it was then that the apparitions would seem to appear. 

“I could hear him… Peter Quint. But it doesn’t matter. I have the boy. I let go of the evil forever. I held Miles in my arms protecting him from the ghost of Peter Quint. And when it is finally over I heard a cry of the creature as if from deep within. I held the boy and as if was just a dream at the end in the silence of the day his little heart stopped.”

The ending added a tragic twist to the story. For whatever the reason Miles died, it is the purpose of this review to conclude that the governess may have unintentionally suffocated him. 

Psychological Analysis of the Turn of the Screw

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is indeed a display of artistry. However, the conflict within the characters and the interpretation of the story conceived a lot of questions.

Parkinson (1979) stated that The New York Times started a long discussion by phrasing that the book purposely portrays a horrific and powerful display of evil and how the humans are vulnerable to its influence.

However, Wilson (1934) in his essay stated that Henry James tries to portray the Freudian theory of repression. The ghosts seen by the governess are just figments of her imagination and that they are repressed sexual desires. Others also claim that the governess was losing her mind and she was the cause of the mental disturbances of the children and even cause Flora to get sick. The questions evolving the story are whether the ghosts really exist or it was just the governess’ psychological confusion.

This chapter discusses the psychological analysis of the story focusing on the main characters. It will be perceived in the discussion that there is no evident confirmation of the existence of the governess’ apparition.

Horowitz (1991) in his journal defines interpersonal theory of personality as two dimensional. That interaction between two people is considered reciprocal and that each one influenced the other.  The governess certainly assumes that somehow his employer will reward her efforts on raising the children. Each day she was overwhelmed with the weight of her responsibilities and constantly struggles to take control of the children. Her narratives reflect her uncertainty and her questioning about the past governess and the valet may have showed an indication that she was comparing herself to the previous governess who was also young like her whom her employer may have fancied.

The governess was entertaining the illusion that by some means her employer will reciprocate her feelings towards him. Millon and Lerner (2003) discussed Sullivan’s interpretation of Freud’s personality theory that is everything in the human mind is cause by the relationship conceived through interactions with others. This occur from the concept separation between interpersonal and the intra-psychic which involve perception between fantasy and reality.

The feeling of distress and fear emerge into paranoia as the children persistently request the governess to write to their uncle and tell him to come to Bly.

Renner (1998) affirmed that the story portrays a woman’s psychosexual dilemma and its effect to the children. The story proves when the governess talks about the ghost of Peter Quint and Miss Jessel. How did she know of the former valet and the governess? The journal established that she may have had a full knowledge about them when Flora showed her the house and told her of the secrets. Besides Mrs. Grose also provided her with a full description which she immediately recognized.

Renner (1998) further discussed the core reasons of her hallucinations to the fact that the governess is a young woman who for the first time leaves her home to seek employment. She then was received into the house of a gentleman of whom she was charmed and romantically dreams about. The story also reflect the details of the governess character, her religious background, her lack of experience, apprehensions, fear, weakness and vulnerability to romantic emotions.

She gives in to the seduction of the rich handsome man. The contradiction of her innocence and her sexual desire produced a psychological dilemma. In her mind she became aware of the sexual threat manifested by her bold and handsome employer who has a way of charming young woman even though she only seen him once. The conflict between being religiously conservative and her extreme romantic desire certainly convey in her hallucinations.

The images that she encountered are projections of her inner thoughts and her expectations. Moreover, Henry James’ awareness of his sister’s sexual hysteria has also showed an influence over his literary. Psychosexual disorder affects intellectual women of good character perplexed with the conflict of their desire and the confinement of social conformity cause then to repress their emotions.

The story has turn from a supernatural manifestation of ghost and apparitions into a psychological fiction. Furthermore, Kashira (2003) suggested that if the readers will perceive the man in the tower as a stranger and that his presence in the castle would trigger a threat of sexual danger to a young woman having been born in a Victorian era. The presence of a man in a lonely and isolated place is a subject of fear to any young woman. He further argues that the governess repression of her sexual desire neurotically made her hallucinate and often confused her fantasy with reality

Reference: Horowitz, L.M.; Locke, K.D.; Morse, M.B. (1991). Self-Derogation and the Interpersonal Theory. American Psychological Association. Vol. 61, No. 1 68-79

James H. (2001). The Turn of the Screw. The Electric Book Company

Kashira, Y. (2003).  Point of View in the Turn of the Screw- the pursuit of the inner reality. Kawasaki Journal of Medical Welfare. Vol. 9, No. 2, 65-71

Millon, T & Lerner, M. (2003). Handbook of Psychology: Personality and Social Psychology. John Wiley and Sons.

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rePSYCHable

"We know what we are but not what we may be."  Ophelia in Hamlet

The tragic thoughts which came to Ophelia right before she took her life. The circumstance may be quite a depiction of loss. But the words where so rightly  encouraging. It reminds us that we are what we think we are but that doesn't stop us from becoming who we want to be. 

So the question lies beneath every human thoughts, who am I? and what will I become? Indeed, humans in all our complexity is by far the most interesting organism in existence. And having claim the ultimate power over all that exist before us we seek to find the answers to the very thought of what made us diverse and  yet so the same that in our profound contempt we have come to accept that each of us have filled each of the void that we have come to be.

But we still remain a question... WHAT ARE WE and WHAT WE WILL BECOME.

Welcome to rePSYCHable. Where I share all my questions, thoughts and reflections on my understanding on current readings and random thoughts on human behavior, complexities and existence. Please feel free to browse around, ask a questions or leave a comment.

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