Why is The Turn of the Screw considered one of Henry James’s important ghost stories?

The Turn of the Screw is widely regarded as one of Henry James’s most significant works and a masterpiece of the ghost story genre due to its profound psychological ambiguity.12

The novella centers on a governess attempting to protect two children from the apparitions of former household servants. Its importance stems largely from the enduring critical debate regarding the reality of these ghosts; readers are left to question whether the apparitions are supernatural entities or manifestations of the governess's own deteriorating mental state.1

James intentionally heightened this sense of terror by refusing to explicitly detail the evil deeds of the ghosts, instead inviting readers to supply their own visions of horror. By framing the narrative as a "fable" and utilizing the governess's journal as the primary lens, James created a sophisticated, open-ended psychological thriller that continues to challenge and engage audiences.1