The Stereotype Toward Women in James’ The Turn of The Screw

This research aims to identify the kind of stereotype toward women that experienced by the female main character in The Turn of The Screw novel by Henry James. In addition, it also tries to disclose on how the female main character straightens out the issue of gender roles in the story.

The writer applies the structuralism approach to scrutinize the object itself. This approach relies on the intrinsic elements in fiction work which fixed on the character, plot, setting, and theme. The writer explicates specifically to the stereotype toward women related to women’s gender role which reflected in the novel.

After analyzing the object, the writer found that the main character in the The Turn of The Screw novel does reflect the attitude that is opposite to the stereotype of a certain sex. The Governess is succeeding to demonstrate a strong character like independent, tough, brave, and dependable. She also put on a show on a fight against stereotype about women. It is portrayed by The Governess as a female main character is capable to work in the public sphere and does not work on domestic task only, which on a certain era was considered taboo or against the standard tradition. Governess indicates the thoughts and behavior that change the social order on feminity ethics when she face to face with the children and series of supernatural phenomenon during working in Bly Manor.

Keywords : Stereotype, Structuralism Approach, Novel The Turn of The Screw.