23rd Annual Student Research Conference
Stereotypical or Atypical: The Portrayal of The Governess in Benjamin Britten's "The Turn of the Screw"
Eugenia A. Siegel♦
Dr. Marc Rice, Dr. Warren Gooch, and Dr. Jay Bulen, Faculty Mentors
The operas of Benjamin Britten are not known for their female roles, as the higher number of Brittens roles are for men. However, female characters in Brittens operas have been interpreted as unidimensional or stereotypical foils for male protagonists (MacDonald). To add to this discussion, we will examine Britten's The Turn of the Screw alongside literary criticism of the original novella by Henry James, to determine whether the central character of the Governess can be determined a stereotypical manifestation or a psychologically complex portrayal.
Keywords: Music, Opera, James, Britten, Stereotype, Criticism, Literature
Topic(s):Music
English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 44-1
Location: VH 1010
Time: 1:15