The novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë can be identified as a Gothic novel, in that the eponymous heroine encounters all five of the essential elements: Edward Rochester as the Byronic hero, Bertha Mason as the evil, imprisoned woman, supernatural elements and psychological fears, and a haunted mansion. All of these elements combine to create a strong Gothic novel. Throughout the novel, Edward Rochester proves himself to be a Byronic hero, through his tall and dark figure, his mysterious past, and his yearn for the love of Jane. When he is first introduced, Rochester is described as having a dark and serious face: “He had a dark face, with stern features and a heavy brow” (Brontë 115). His dark and mysterious features are one of the reasons Throughout the novel, Jane experiences many paranormal creatures such as ghosts. For example, in the beginning of the novel, Jane is placed in the Red Room as punishment for her actions against her cousin John Reed. While she is in the Room, she sees the ghost of Mr. Reed, her uncle who had passed away previously, showing that Jane experienced supernatural elements in her earlier years as well. Later in the novel, when she first arrives at Thornfield, Jane believes there is a ghost in the halls after she hears a haunting laugh: “It was a curious laugh; distinct, formal, mirthless … the laugh was as tragic, as preternatural a laugh as any I ever heard” (Brontë 108 – 109). However, Jane’s theory is quickly denied when she was told it was the laugh of another servant named Grace Poole. In addition to hearing and seeing ghosts, many characters in the novel can be compared to paranormal creatures. For example, Blanche Ingram’s fair complexion and white clothing give her the appearance of a vampire: “The sisters were both attired in spotless white” (Brontë 175). These white clothes also symbolize the pale skin of a vampire and immortal life, because white was supposed to be worn by the younger, pure women. Blanche can also be compared to a vampire, because she is “sucking the blood” out of Rochester, or using him for his money. Thus, supernatural elements are identified when Jane believes she hears a ghost in Thornfield Hall, and the when characters themselves represent paranormal
Reed had received a letter from a John Eyre of Madeira; saying that he wanted to meet Jane and wanted to adopt her because he didn't have any family himself, he was not married and had no children. As the merciless person she was, she did not want Jane to experience the feeling of hope or contentment. The author's use of Jane being locked in the red room, as a symbol of hell. Jane is being punished for her sins and her boorishness; meanwhile, in the room, Jane becomes hysterical when she thinks she sees her dead uncles ghost, which becomes a traumatic experience for her that leads to her being unconsciousness. The red room symbolizes the death of Mr.Reed and the promise Mrs. Reed vowed to keep to take care of Jane and that she be treated and
In life the people around Jane Eyre has a way of shaping her as a person. As a person grows older, weather very negative or positive it makes a stronger person out of a person or it affects that person in some way in life. Unfortunately and sadly for Jane she had horrible and wicked people in her life as she grew to be a young woman. Luckily for Jane, down the line of life she was able to meet those whom was respectful to her and appreciated her help and servant abilities. Multiple people had an effect on shaping Jane as a person. By the end of this essay it will be proven that the person in Jane’s life has shaped her Social drive and development as a young woman succeeding its also will be proven on the affects of Jane Eyre and bildungsroman life and early figures in feminist movement, with the affects of Jane’s life and thoughts.
Blanche Ingram’s stunning beauty contrasts Jane’s simple physical appearance as they are described physically opposite. Throughout the book many characters describe Jane as plain and simple. When one of Ms Reeds maids, Ms Abbot describes Jane she states, "If she were a nice, pretty child, one might compassionate her forlornness; but one really cannot
... the red room and likewise, saw a reflection of her in Mr. Rochester. In both traumatizing situations, Jane ironically experiences an outer body experience from within her body. In the red room she literally saw herself and fainted because of the sight of herself, but when conversing with Mr. Rochester she saw the hatred she had for Mrs. Reed in his hatred for Bertha. For example, "the paroxysms, when my wife is prompted by her familiar to burn people in their beds at night, to stab them, to bite their flesh from their bones," (306)
Eventually, she returns to her former employer, discovering Thornfield in ashes, Mrs. Rochester dead, and Mr. Rochester blind and free from wedlock. Flooded with motifs, Jane’s continual struggles between her passions and responsibility prevail as the main theme of Bronte’s entrancing narrative. From the introduction of Jane’s orphan life, she battles between her ire at cousin John’s antics and obedience to Aunt Reed’s reluctant guardianship.
When Jane arrives at the summer estate with her husband, a physician of some repute, she immediately begins to fantasize that the location is haunted, at the least strange, she can “feel it” (479). We begin to see that something is occurring with her mentally, that possibly she is the one feeling strange. “This is our first intimation that all is not right, though whether with the house, or with Jane, we have yet to be told. However, the fact that she tells us at the beginning that this is not a haunted house, suggests that the "queerness" will lie with her” (Kerr). This is again reinforced in the next lines when she confesses that she get “unreasonably angry” with her husband (479).
Charlotte Bronte presents Rochester in many different ways. He comes from a rich family, and has a sophisticated personality. His attitude and behavior from the start of the book and the end of it has a dramatic change. Rochester corresponds to the mould of a Byronic Hero however, with his brave and humble actions, he starts to become less attractive as a hero. Moreover, one could argue although he is an unconventional hero he is appealing in both physical and mental ways. However, another could argue against this and find no attractive views of Rochester.
The three events that mark Jane as an evolving dynamic character are when she is locked in the red room, self reflecting on her time at Gateshead, her friendship with Helen Burns at LoWood, her relationship with Mr. Rochester, and her last moments with a sick Mrs. Reed. Brought up as an orphan by her widowed aunt, Mrs. Reed, Jane is accustomed to her aunts vindictive comments and selfish tendencies. Left out of family gatherings, shoved and hit by her cousin, John Reed, and teased by her other cousins, Georgina and Eliza Reed, the reader almost cringes at the unfairness of it all. But even at the young age of ten, Jane knows the consequences of her actions if she were to speak out against any of them. At one point she wonders why she endures in silence for the pleasure of others. Why she is oppressed. "Always suffering, always browbeaten, always accused, forever condemned" (Bronte, 12). Jane’s life at Gateshead is not far from miserable. Not only is she bullied by her cousins and nagged by her aunt, but help from even Bessie, her nurse and sort of friend, seems out of her reach. In the red room scene Jane is drug by Ms. Ab...
When reading Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, I find myself cheering for Rochester. After finishing the book, I ask myself why Jane chooses Rochester over St. John. After all, Rochester has a "mad" wife, Bertha Mason, locked in the attic of Thornfield Hall at the same time that he is proposing marriage to Jane. He has a ward living with him, possibly the offspring of an illicit affair with a French dancer. He is arrogant, pushy, and basically ill-tempered. St. John, on the other hand, is well mannered, respected, and has a promising future. To answer my own question, then, it is essential to look at how each man fits the idea of masculinity in Victorian society, at how each man relates to Jane, and at why Bronte creates her two leading men to be such extreme opposites.
Sympathy is created for Jane as she is thought. of a weak and vulnerable heroine. This I consider to be very Gothic. The.... ... middle of paper ...
In the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, there are many changes for almost all characters, two of the biggest being how Mr. Rochester and Jane change over the course of the story; Mr. Rochester is changed tremendously by Jane and Jane by him. At the beginning of her relationship with Rochester, Jane begins to open up emotionally to him, but shortly after, closes down again because he breaks her heart. By the end, however, she opens up her heart again and they live out their lives very peacefully. Rochester is a closed-up hermit at first, similar to Jane’s closed heart, but then he evolves into a loving and caring husband to Jane. Mr. Rochester gets damaged in both emotional and physical ways when Jane and he break up, but he is resolved
coincidentally one night she hears Mr Rochester calling out to her. This is a very important scene with gothic elements included in it. Jane has some sort of psychic message from Thornfield. When she runs outside. It is very dark with a low sighing wind which gives the scene in an eerie setting.
Despite Rochester’s stern manner and unhandsome appearance, Jane still finds herself falling in love with him. During her first encounter with Rochester Jane describes him
Although written during both the Victorian and Gothic time period, Jane Eyre draws upon many revolutionary influences that ultimately enabled it to become one of the most successful books of all time. Jane Eyre is merely a hybrid of a Victorian and Gothic novel, infusing a share of dark allusions with overzealous romanticism. The primitive cultures of the Victorian period reflect high ethical standards, an extreme respect for family life, and devotional qualities to God, all in which the novel portrays. Yet, to merely label Jane Eyre as a Victorian novel would be misleading. While the characteristics of a Gothic no...
The development of Charlotte Bronte's character, Jane Eyre, becomes vital to her novel Jane Eyre, and the other characters in which she is involved. She is an intelligent, plain featured, honest young girl whose reaction to her situations brings more depth to her personality. She is forced to deal with oppression, discrimination, and at times poverty, which disrupt her strong will, dignity, and desire for freedom. At the beginning, Jane possesses a passion for pride and the idea of freedom and these characteristics, along with her integrity, are tested continuously throughout the novel by the many personalities with whom she encounters. Living in a male dominant world Jane is expected to remain obedient and docile and her passion sometimes keeps her from being able to do this. She is a rarity among obeying female characters and we see this throughout the book.