All of these possible conjectures demonstrate that “the whole story is to be\u00a0doubted, and we can be certain of nothing.” This is why “we have had theory\u00a0after theory proposed as the answer … and there is still no single explanation\u00a0which satisfies everyone … The whole point about the puzzle is its ultimate\u00a0insolubility”<\/p>\n
This is the way to turn failure into success. And its author is Louis D. Rubin in\u00a0One More Turn of the Screw<\/i>\u00a0(1964), as quoted by Edward J. Parkinson\u2019s 1991\u00a0dissertation<\/a>\u00a0The Turn of the Screw ; a history of its critical interpretation<\/i>\u00a01898 – 1979<\/i>. A book that, in its turn, is presented \u00a0as<\/p>\n A valuable study for Jamesian scholars, as well as for\u00a0students of literary theory – it can be seen as a study of the development of\u00a0literary theory in the twentieth century with this particular literary work as a\u00a0touchstone study.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The study would have been even more valuable, if its author had taken the\u00a0trouble of judging developments, rather than merely presenting them in\u00a0chronological order. True, he had no Holmes at his side to expose the puzzle\u2019s\u00a0ultimate insolubility as inadequate research, but he should at least have\u00a0exposed the basic flaw at the root of all research in this field :<\/p>\n \u201cAgain and again, of\u00a0course, the same incidents from the plot have been cited by different critics\u00a0to support conflicting – often diametrically opposite – interpretations.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n This focus on supportive evidence is fatal – true science is in the attempt to\u00a0prove one\u2019s convincion (i.e. interpretation)\u00a0wrong<\/i>\u00a0– and, because the resulting\u00a0stalemate between conflicting interpretations prevents any future progress,\u00a0it has effectively neutralized literary criticism as a branch of science.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n —<\/span><\/p>\n —<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n go to next chapter<\/a>\u00a0– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –<\/span>\u00a0back to the previous chapter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" All of these possible conjectures demonstrate that “the whole story is to be\u00a0doubted, and we can be certain of nothing.” This is why “we have had theory\u00a0after theory proposed as the answer … and there is still no single explanation\u00a0which … Continue reading \n
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How difficult it is to pick the right choice, is demonstrated by Dr. Parkinson in his very next\u00a0lines (chapter VI), in which he \u00a0refutes a correct observation. A matter of arguments that do not apply. And\u00a0of poetic justice : even a correct observation is not entitled to have its basic facts wrong.
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