Gothis Elementa In Jane Eyre

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Explore the Gothic Features Used In

The Novel “Jane Eyre”

 Gothic features are all through the novel ‘Jane Eyre’. Even though the novel is romantic, not gothic, metatonamy, references to the supernatural, and other gothic features can all be found in ‘Jane Eyre’.

 Charlotte Bronte uses metatonamy throughout her novel as a gothic technique, creating atmosphere.

  The novel begins with pathetic fallacy, with ‘sombre clouds’ and ‘penetrating rain’, which reflects Jane’s ‘sombre’ mood. This makes the reader immediately aware of the sadness of Jane’s childhood.

  Another example of this technique is in Chapter 5, where, on the journey to Lowood, it is ‘wet and somewhat misty’. The word ‘misty’ gives the effect of insecurity and secrecy surrounding Lowood, and Jane’s future there. It also creates a gloomy atmosphere, which reflects Jane’s life at the school.

   The weather is also described as ‘misty’ when Jane arrives at Thornfield in Chapter 11. This has the same effect, and also reflects Jane’s life at Thornfield, as it is where she discovers Mr.Rochesters’ secret.

   This use of pathetic fallacy to forewarn the reader of Mr.Rochester is also employed when Jane first meets him. The moon is ‘pale yet as a cloud, but brightening momentarily’. This ‘brightening’ symbolises the brief time that Mr.Rochester and Jane are together as a couple.

   The moon is also used by Charlotte Bronte to give prior notice to the reader about the events on the night

Mr. Mason was attacked. The moon is described as ‘beautiful, but too solemn’, which helps the reader to understand that something is about to happen which will stop it being so ‘solemn’. The word ‘solemn’ also creates an effect because it is not a word that is usually used to describe the moon; this then sets the sombre mood for the rest of chapter 20.

  Another example of Charlotte Bronte’s use of metatonamy is in the final paragraph of chapter 23, when it is noted that lightening had split the horse chestnut tree in half. This symbolises Jane and Mr.Rochester, as they too are about to be split. Once again, the author has employed nature to forewarn the reader of upcoming events. The lightening has destroyed another aspect of nature, and therefore the elements are responding to the immoral position that Mr.Rochester has put Jane into.

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  Metatonamy is one technique of using symbolism in a gothic way. Symbolism and imagery are also used at the beginning of chapter 1. Lots of spiritual imagery is used, with the ‘haunted’ churchyard, ‘marine phantoms’ and ‘black horned thing’. Words like ‘haunted’ and ‘phantom’ are very gothic words; they create a depressing and gloomy atmosphere for the beginning of the novel in which the reader is immediately thrown into.

  There are many spiritual references in the novel ‘Jane Eyre’. Mr.Rochester refers to Jane throughout the novel as a spirit, using terms such as ‘sprite’, ‘changeling’ and ‘fairy’. The ...

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