Peter Quint and Miss Jessel symbolize the indistinguishable nature of both the governess's and Miles's sexuality in Henry James's The Turn of the Screw. Regardless of whether or not these ghosts actually exist in a literal sense, Quint's presence evokes what could be interpreted as sexual desires in the housekeeper, while also reminding her of her social status. Similarly, Quint forces the reader to question Miles' sexuality due to the implication that their past relationship was sexual in nature. Miss Jessel, on the other hand, serves as the governess's sole reminder of the wickedness of her desire for a sexual self and ultimately prevents her from acting on those desires. These developments highlight the mysteriousness of the bond between Miles and the housekeeper and lead to a deeper sense of dismay about the true nature of their bond. Although The Turn of the Screw begins in a rather dark mood with Douglas's tale, it quickly changes tone during the tale of the housekeeper's first meeting with her wealthy uncle. This scene makes it clear that the governess places her uncle on a pedestal and that she herself desperately wants to be in such a privileged position. Her attraction to him quickly goes beyond that of an employee to closer to sexual desire. She also describes the “moment [when] he held her hand, thanking her for the sacrifice, she already felt rewarded” (James 29). While this is just the introduction to the piece, her attraction to her uncle plays a huge role in her later encounters with Quint, a former domestic worker known for parading around in master's attire. In fact, the moment she first sees Quint's supposed ghost, she is fantasizing about meeting her uncle and is almost deceived by the... middle of paper... she engages in a struggle with sexual identity. Both the housekeeper and Miles find themselves lost in a gray area of ​​their sexuality. Although for Miles it refers to his relationship with Quint and how this translates into his sexuality, the governess creates her own difficulties through the desire for a sexual identity. Although she is ultimately attracted to every male she meets, she still does not achieve her various goals, from privilege to love. The rich uncle indeed offers the opportunity to achieve a higher status, but even in this case he translates his dream into sexual desire. It is this desire that manifests itself in the ghosts of Peter Quint and Miss Jessel. These two individuals manage to represent everything the governess fears. Quint insists on his desire for his rich uncle while Jessel questions his adoration for Miles.