"The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James is a gothic novella written in the late 19th century. The story centers around a young governess who is assigned to care for two orphaned children at a remote English estate called Bly, where strange and unsettling events occur, raising questions about both the environment and the children themselves.

At the beginning of the novella, a group of friends gathers around a fire on Christmas Eve. During their conversation, they discuss ghostly experiences. One of the members, Douglas, hints at a chilling tale involving two children and a dreadful apparition that appeared to them. This sets the stage for the governess's recounting of her experiences at Bly.

Upon her arrival at the estate, she is captivated by the beauty of the children, Miles and Flora. However, beneath this charm lies an unsettling tension, particularly related to the previous governess, who died under mysterious circumstances. The opening sequence effectively builds an atmosphere of suspense, promising a haunting exploration of innocence, corrupted motives, and the supernatural.