Fantastical Ideas and Gothic Tendencies in Jane Eyre

Fantastical Ideas and Gothic Tendencies in Jane Eyre

The novel, Jane Eyre, is infused with fantastical ideas and gothic

tendencies. The novel is an example of Bildungsroman heroine with the

title character Jane maturing from childhood. We see her spiritual,

psychological and social development. Through this development Bronte

manages to join both fantastic elements with a more realistic

structure by weaving in references to fairy tales, dreams, mythic

imagery and plot twists. Fantasy is used by Bronte to inform the

reader of any emotional subtexts in the novel.

Jane's dreams are a good indication of her feelings and provide the

reader with a window into her emotions. This use of fantasy plays a

major role and it helps Jane's character develop as a Bildungsroman

heroine because it highlights her emotional and spiritual journey.

The fantastic symbolism and imagery used throughout the novel are as

important to the narrative as the plot because it allows the reader to

understand many emotions and true characteristics of the protagonists.

The novel is littered with faintly gothic references to folklore,

ghosts and sprites. The core of the story lies in Jane's descriptions

of what goes on in her mind and it is here that we see Bronte's most

imaginative and fantastic imagery.

Jane imagines herself in a fairy tale. When she first encounters

Rochester, Jane writes, "I remembered certain of Bessie's tales,

wherein figured a North-of-England spirit called 'Gytrash', which, in

the form of a horse, mule or large dog haunted solitary ways and

sometimes came upon travellers as this horse was now coming upon me."

Here, reality becomes distorted which reveals new truths about the

characters and their surroundings....

... middle of paper ...

...out Jane, from fantasy

to reality.

Bronte uses fantasy with Jane's character to underline the distinction

between childhood and adulthood. Jane tends to invert adult and

children's values in the same way. The fact that Jane is still finds

fairy tales scary, infers that she possesses a fanciful, girlish

nature. The imagery used when she meets Rochester for the first time

gives the reader an insight into her immaturity. It is not until later

on that Jane sees Rochester's "beastliness". A more mature adult knows

that humans can be a lot worse in reality and more frightening than

any "monster" in a fairy tale.

The feature of fantasy is a creative ploy, which Bronte uses to

enhance the thoughts and feelings of the main characters. The reader

is given further insight and understanding of relationships with the

magical and mystical imagery and vocabulary.