The Use of Gothic in Charlotte Bront's Jane Eyre
The Use of Gothic in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre
Melissa K Medders Newton
U474758X
TMA 02
In Charlotte Brontë's novel, Jane Eyre, the use of Gothic is employed strategically by the author. De Sousa Correa states that the "...Gothic [is] so overwhelming present in Jane Eyre". By defining the Gothic novel and applying these aspects to analyse two/three scenes from the novel, this statement will prove correct. [C.F.1]
In Realisms, it is stated that "Gothic sensibility arose as a reaction against the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and the ordered symmetry of neoclassicism" (71). For a novel to be considered a Gothic novel, it must consist of various characteristics to qualify it as a Gothic. The classic Gothic novel consists of both "emotional extremes" and "very dark themes". The novel's setting would be in dark, remotes places in large houses, mansions, or castles. The Goth[C.F.2] novel would include, as well, an anti-hero, a persecuted heroine, supernatural encounters, some sort of physical or psychological terror, or insane relative ("Gothic fiction", n pag[C.F.3]). Brontë's, Jane Eyre, fits the description of a Gothic novel. It has a persecuted heroine, is set in a dark, brooding house, complete with supernatural occurrences[C.F.4], a mad woman in the attic, and above all a sense of mystery. De Sousa Correa said "...We are aware of the intense relationship in Bronte's novel between the description of external conditions and the portrayal of individual thoughts and feelings". This "helps establish Jane's consciousness at the centre of the narrative where it remains throughout the rest of the novel" (87). Jane is portrayed as an outsider and the reader is made aware of this immediately (De Sousa Correa, 87[C.F.5]).
The scene in which Jane's aunt, Mrs. Reed, locks her in the red-room is full of Gothic references. Through Jane's imagination and superstition about her uncle John dying in the room and the room's description, it can be described as a Gothic scene.? The red-room was rarely used; it was a spare room. It was decorated with a mahogany pillared bed "hung with deep red damask" and the windows "with their blinds always drawn down... the carpet was red... the crimson cloth" along with the other dark mahogany furniture made the room feel as if it was filled ...
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The scene in which Jane's aunt, Mrs. Reed, locks her in the red-room is full of Gothic references. Through Jane's imagination and superstition about her uncle John dying in the room and the room's description, it can be described as a Gothic scene.? The red-room was rarely used; it was a spare room. It was decorated with a mahogany pillared bed "hung with deep red damask" and the windows "with their blinds always drawn down... the carpet was red... the crimson cloth" along with the other dark mahogany furniture made the room feel as if it was filled not only with the death of Jane's uncle but blood as well (Bronte, 15).? Furthermore, Jane believes she sees her uncle's ghost and faints. Death, blood, and ghosts all are highly Gothic features and all three present in this scene. Even though this scene shows Jane's horror at the injustice her aunt does to her, it shows how sensitive she is as well[C.F.6].
Thornfield Hall is the epitome of a Gothic setting. Jane describes her journey to her new home: "the night was misty", which implies that Jane's future is unclear at this point (Bronte, 96). The common Gothic aspect of this scene is to use the weather to create a sense of uncertainty or foreboding. This also shows that Jane has left behind friends at Lowood and is quite isolated; however, she is looking forward to her new life and employment and the independence it will give her. When Jane reaches Thornfield, "the driver got down and opened a pair of gates; we passed through, and they clashed behind us", and thus imitating Jane being trapped (Bronte, 97). This suggests confinement and isolation, another Gothic feature, and Bronte has used this to demonstrate how Jane and her situation are exposed. Thornfield Hall is compared more to a church than a house, which gives an impression of a cold, crypt-like building rather than a comfortable, welcoming home[C.F.7]. The name itself, Thornfield, is almost an omen to say that life at the house is not what it seems. This is ironic as Jane, after her first night at the Hall, states that "my couch had no thorns in it that night", which implies that she did not expect to have such a restful night, but that there might be a future of uncertainty ahead. This reference to Thornfield and thorns also implies that there is pain and suffering currently transpiring or will transpire and it might involve Jane. This pain and suffering reference is another Gothic trait.
As Mrs. Fairfax gives Jane a tour of Thornfield Hall for the first time, Bronte utilizes Gothic description to its full potential: "A very chill and vault-like air pervaded the stairs and the gallery, suggesting cheerless ideas of space and solitude" (Bronte, 107). This description makes Thornfield appear rather a gloomy, musty, and uninhabited place so that Jane's future at Thornfield Hall is still undetermined. The third floor bedrooms are "narrow, low, and dim" and the corridor that could be found "in some Bluebeard's castle" (Bronte, 108). Here is where Jane hears "a curious laugh - distinct, formal, mirthless" and "as preternatural a laugh as any I have ever heard", which can be attributed to Bertha, Rochester's mad wife. Jane refers to the laugh as preternatural, as supernatural. This is further proven when Jane sees an "apparition" of Bertha in her own bedroom and hears a "demoniac laugh - low, suppressed, and deep" directly outside her door which precedes the fire in Rochester's bed (Bronte, 149).? Later in the novel, after Jane discovers that Rochester is still married and has kept his mad wife locked in the attic at Thornfield Hall, she debates whether or not to stay on with him or leave. The moon, which is a constant symbolic presence of change, is used throughout the novel (89). The moon speaks to her to "flee temptation", another supernatural-like occurrence (Bronte, 316). And again, this happens towards the end of the novel where Jane lives at Marsh End and believes she hears Rochester calling her (414). These "supernatural" occurrences are another characteristic of Gothic literature[C.F.8].
As we can see from describing what a Gothic novel entails and the analysis of these scenes, Brontë has employed the use of Gothic in Jane Eyre. The characteristics of Gothic novels: the persecuted heroine (Jane), supernatural encounters (real and imagined), some sort of physical or psychological terror (Bertha), or insane relative (Bertha) and have proved that the novel is a Gothic novel in every sense of the word.
REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
Brontë, C. (1994) Jane Eyre. Reading, Berkshire: Penguin Popular Classics.
Da Sousa Correa, D. (ed) (2000) The Nineteenth-Century Novel: Realisms. Milton Keynes: Routledge.
"Gothic fiction". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_fiction [accessed April 2007].
[C.F.1]It might be an idea to make clear from the beginning that the novel mixes different generic influences. So, while there are clear Gothic elements, there are also realist features. The novel is autobiographical in form, resembling a bildungsroman. It raises social questions that were important at the time - the governess question, the position of educated women. These elements are a long way from the Gothic, so you need to think about how the Gothic works in this particular context.
[C.F.2]Gothic
[C.F.3]?
[C.F.4]Though most of these do turn out to have a rational explanation.
[C.F.5]Yes, and I would add that she is shown from the beginning to be extremely sensitive and passionate. Her intensity means that she experiences life in a very acute way, and Bronte could be seen to draw upon Gothic influences to highlight this.
[C.F.6]Yes, good detail. It is worth noting that the older Jane as narrator does step in to undercut the sense of Gothic. She offers some rational explanation for Jane's reactions. This does underline Jane's sensibility and suggest that Bronte uses the Gothic as a way of heightening this sense.
[C.F.7]Though Mrs Fairfax and Adele do work to 'normalise' the house.
[C.F.8]Good detail here. The actual identity of Bertha does provide an rational explanation, with insanity replacing the supernatural in her story. But Bronte uses Gothic detail to engage the reader and to create expectations of Gothic horror. So, she uses the devices but then undercuts them with more realist techniques.
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