adise, she is in a lovely setting, and she has a financially and emotionally rewarding job. She was carried triumphantly, through her first day.(James, 28) She is married in the sense that she has control of the home and the children; the only missing element is the husband, which would be the uncle. After her encounters with the ghosts, the myth enters phase three, the sunset, autumn, and death phase (Frye,483). Her rosy perception is lost. She begins to have fears. This point occurs around the time the governess sees a female ghost appear across the lake, and she is certain that Flora could see the ghost, but chose to say nothing. The governess questions her summer like reality, and wonders if Miles also has been consorting with the ghosts. She realizes, I dont save or shield them!Theyre lost!(James,57) She now begins to probe Miles character and his expulsion from school. Eventually she realizes that Miles may be working against her and says, The tricks playedtheyve successfully worked their plan.(James,94) Miles and his sister would fit into Fryes category of a phase three subordinate character, that of a traitor. The last part of the story, everything after Floras disappearance, appears to fit into stage four, the darkness, winter, and dissolution phase (Frye,483). It is at this point where the governess surrounded by chaos and is truly beaten. Frye coins this the defeat of the hero. The governess has not accomplished her goal, that of protecting the children.Fryes theory is that the hero in the myth gradually builds up the vision of an omnipotent personal community beyond an indifferent nature (Frye,485). This omnipotent vision is perhaps what led the governess to the tragic ending. In the story the governess has a mission, or quest, that of caring for and protecting the children without involving the uncle. Her opponents are the ghosts who take on the archetypal roles as agents of evil.However, she did not succeed in ...
