Jane eyre gothic conventions
Discuss how Charlotte Bronte develops the Gothic Features of Jane Eyre Gothic literature refers to a period in the 18th 19th century when writing included supernatural or horrifying events. The word Gothic relates to the Middle Ages when stories commonly depicted courtly love, and villainous characters. 'Gothic' is also seen as a derogatory term for the Middle Ages used by the Victorians to describe an immoral and spiritual way of life. 'Jane Eyre' has been described as a Gothic novel, and portrays many characteristics of this particular style of writing. Charlotte Brontë was influenced as a child by the literature, which surrounded her. As a child, she gained an intense interest in the Gothic style, which is reflected in her novels. A new form of writing was discovered which explored the dark side of the human soul, wild romantic yearnings, and deep passions. Many Gothic novels include detailed description, and add reference to the intimate feelings, and passionate love of their characters. The authors of these novels wanted to entertain and to enlighten their audiences. Many stories were written with imaginary coincidences, mysterious characters, supernatural, unexplained, or dramatic events and adventures between a hero or heroine and their lovers. The imagery and description in these novels creates an illusion of time, space, and people. The settings for many of the
Jane Eyre and Gothic Literature
Jane Eyre and Gothic Literature The first ever gothic novel was written by Horace Walpole in 1765 entitled the castle of Otranto. This genre became popular and inspired great writers such as Mary Shelley who wrote Frankenstein and Bram Stoker who wrote Dracula. Horace Walpole also inspired painters such as Henry Fuseli. The elements that distinguish a gothic novel to any other genre of novels are the active involvement of mystery horror and violence. Two other famous writers included Charles Dickens and Charlotte Bronte. In particular I am going to look deeper into Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. In the very first sentence of this novel the gothic elements are made apparent. "It was winter" Winter is very cold and bleak, in winter there are lots of thunder storms, howling winds and thick fog this emplys horror and distress, in films they always set frightening scenes in the dark or in the fog. Also in the opening of this novel Jane's taunts from her cousins are made apparent when she tells us about then laughing at her when she gets tired on their walks. Jane's troubled life is described to us, she tells us about the fact she is an orphan and that she now lives with her aunt and her cousins neither of which she gets on with. Her joy for literature got her into many scrapes at Gateshead hall, we are told about one time especially, when john hit her this happened many times
Jane Eyre as a gothic romance
How far is Jane Eyre a Gothic Romance? Jane Eyre can undoubtedly be called a gothic romance. This is so as it covers all the aspects of this theme. The love between Jane and Rochester truly makes it a romance. And the fact that their love, despite of running smoothly, is coupled with the supernatural aspect makes it a Gothic Romance. Throughout the novel the reader can sense the underlying feelings of mystery and suspicion. The major reasons why the novel can be termed as a Gothic Romance is the presence of the haunted castle, the Thornfield hall, and the aspects of the supernatural. Right from the very beginning the reader can sense the mysterious and the threatening atmosphere. The 'red room' is symbolic of this. The red colour of this room acts as a visual imagery to the reader. It allows us to visualize the scene of burning fire. Not only this, the red room, is also symbolic of the evil. This in turn adds layers of terror to the plot of the novel and at the same time also portrays the aspect of the supernatural. When Jane was locked in this room she even sees glimpses of her dead uncle which helps bring about the mystical part of the novel. Not only the red room but the Thornfield Hall is also highly mysterious. Often called the haunted castle this is actually a huge imposing house with an air full of ambiguity. Apart from being grand and luxurious this house has many
Has the Gothic novel tradition influenced 'Jane Eyre'?
Has the Gothic novel tradition influenced 'Jane Eyre'? I believe that the gothic novel tradition has indeed influenced the novel that is Jane Eyre. Most gothic novels contain supernatural encounters, remote locations, complicated family childhood, ancient monad homes, dark secrets, suspense and a successful conclusion. The story contains the majority of these elements. The romantic section in the novel has a fairytale theme; this is quite common if the story is to follow the gothic tradition. We meet the Byronic hero 'Mr Rochester' and therefore we expect a damsel in distress but Jane never presents herself in this manner. In fact, it is she who rescues 'Mr Rochester' and Jane becomes the heroin. 'He laid a heavy hand on my shoulder and leaning on me with some stress, limped on to his horse. Soon afterwards, Mr Rochester and Jane fall deeply in love with one another, but due to the gothic tradition, there must be someone or something that must block Jane from achieving true happiness. According to the gothic tradition, good will overcome evil. We are not sure what evil Jane will have to overcome but it appears in the form of Bertha. Bertha is indeed a true gothic character. The only place in Thornfield where Jane is forbidden to explore is the third floor of the mansion. This gives suspense and curiosity to find out what or who is in the third floor. At first, it
What features of Jane Eyre can be considered Gothic?
What features of Jane Eyre can be considered Gothic? You may wish to consider Bronte's use of language in relation to the following: setting and location; description of atmosphere; description of character; description of key events; and the nature of Rochester's relationship with Jane. A Gothic novel is a type of literature, which became very popular in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. In this time, society was governed by strict moral codes. The "Gothics" would escape into a world of dark, supernatural and wild passions. The word 'Gothic' meant barbarous and wild and many writers liked to involve these elements in their novels. Gothic novels were usually set in foreign countries, particularly in Catholic countries in Southern Europe, and usually set in the past, in the Middle Ages. Many Gothic novels took place in castles, dungeons and monasteries, and were supernatural and mysterious, involving ghosts and monsters. Gothic novels often follow this pattern: a young beautiful girl who is rather helpless with no family, is abducted by a rough, dark villain who imprisons her in his castle. After much danger and possible exploitation, she is rescued by a good, pleasant young man who falls in love with her. Gothic novels are always very dramatic and mysterious, with a great deal of detailed description and suspense and tension. Charlotte Bronte did not
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
To what extent is Jane Eyre a 'gothic fairytale'?
To what extent is Jane Eyre a 'gothic fairytale'? Jane Eyre can be described as many things. Romantic, sad, happy etc. but one of the most common descriptions of this novel is 'gothic fairytale'. This is a popular genre used in many novels such as Dracula and The Woman in White. In my opinion this is an accurate description of the novel, the reasons for which I will now discuss. In the first few chapters, Charlotte Bronte describes Jane's early life, from the time she spent at her aunt's until she got to Lowood. The impression the reader gets of the aunt is of an evil aunt and cruel cousins who 'take her away to the red-room and lock her in there' when she misbehaves. Her eldest cousin John 'bullied and punished' her while the other cousins, two girls by the names of Eliza and Georgiana, showed no love for her, only 'proud indifference' but took their brothers side in all matters. This is not unlike the scene portrayed in the popular fairytale Cinderella which gives the book its first reference to a fairytale. When her aunt locks her in the red-room, Jane is so afraid that her imagination runs away with itself and causes her to see things that are not there. 'Something passed her, all dressed in white, and vanished' which is what the servants say she saw, although what she actually saw is not too clear. This is a reference to the gothic aspect of the book where the main
What features of Jane Eyre can be considered Gothic?
What features of Jane Eyre can be considered Gothic? In the novel, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë uses a variety of aspects of Gothic tradition to create a mysterious and uneasy atmosphere in places, but also one of passion with hints of the supernatural in others. Through Jane, Brontë explores in depth the Gothic aspect of fear at Gateshead. For example the vivid images that are conjured in the readers mind when we are informed by Jane about John that "every nerve I had feared him, and every morsel of flesh on my bones shrank when he came near". This is such an intense degree of fear, and we see it through the eyes of a ten year old. This is an especially poignant, as well as being a highly Gothic, description. Other uses of Gothic tradition at Gateshead are isolation, use of a gloomy setting, hints at the supernatural and a macabre event when "the volume was flung" at Jane by John Reed. Another setting which is used by Brontë to explore aspects of Gothic tradition is Thornfield. Here confinement, seclusion, irony, foreboding, macabre events, passionate romance and the supernatural are used to create a chilling and mysterious atmosphere and to generate curiosity in the reader. At the beginning of the book, we see nineteenth century life through a child's eyes. Gateshead has a Gothic atmosphere, but it could not be called a Gothic setting. There are a number of Gothic ideas
Is Jane Eyre best described as a romance or a Gothic novel?
Is Jane Eyre best described as a romance or a Gothic novel? You should pay close attention to form, structure and language. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The novel 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte has been categorised as both romantic and gothic by scholars and literary critics. The plot entails the exploration of a woman's domestic trap, a common Victorian theme, with her subjection to patriarchal authority and her dangerous attempts to escape from such restrictions and the consequences. There is a mixture of mysterious events, moonlit natural environment, beautiful dream-like landscapes, enigmatic characters. Jane is represented as the heroine of the story, the virginal Christian female character. In opposition to her is the character of Bertha who is insane and is hidden in the attic of Thornfield Hall, representing Rochester's torment and his terrible secret. It can be argued that the plot has many entwined characteristics of both genres and it is very difficult to think of it as of one kind. The essay will discuss the way in which the novel accords with the characteristics of a romantic novel and a Gothic novel and evaluates whether it may be possible to assign it with one of the two labels. Romantic novels emphasize imagination and feeling, they focus on nature's ability to
Jane Eyre
Identify and analyse the gothic elements in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. Explain their use and effect on the reader. The Gothic genre in many cases plays a vital role in suppressing a feeling of fear and mystery, adding to the writings characteristics. The gothic derives from the medieval period. Gothic tradition utilizes elements such as supernatural encounters, remote locations, complicated family histories, ancient manor houses, dark secrets, and mysteries to create an atmosphere of suspense and terror. Gothic horror refers to a kind of fiction which may have a medieval setting, but which also develops a brooding atmosphere of gloom and terror. Sometimes, events are represented in an uncanny, macabre way. Sometimes, they are violent in a melodramatic way. Often, strange psychological states are also explored. The Gothic is a compilation of many elements; these elements can be classed under setting, vocabulary, writing style and characters. Within these classifications there are many articles which make up the idea of Gothic within writing. There are aspects of the gothic in many films and novels, including Bram Stokers Dracula, the haunted hotel by Wilkie Collins and the candy man. The gothic genre is used to keep the readers interest throughout, enticing them into the plot and key events, making them want to read or watch to the end. The gothic elements allow the
