The laugh is not something we can directly relate to, and it is not a stereotypical laugh of an evil person – which makes the creature more believable, and creates more tension, as we do not know what is making the noises. The use of the word “tragic” shows that the laugh is not expressing joy, but expressing tragedy – a mournful laugh. This makes the reader feel uncomfortable, as the sounds are very unnatural. When the laugh has ended, she begins murmuring “eccentric murmurs, stranger than her laugh”. We do not know what to expect next from Bertha, which gives us a feeling of unease. She is murmuring – but eccentrically. It is not usually expected that a murmur would be eccentric – however that is what the noises are like. All this builds up to form and uncomfortable feeling for the readers when the noises are heard again, and to make the reader aware that something is not right – that nothing human could make these noises – again echoing the point that Bertha is not human
Charlotte Brontë builds up this unease and suspense in the next episode involving Bertha. This episode happens in the light of the full moon. This immediately causes us to be wearier of Bertha, as it is proof that she really is a lunatic. Many dangerous creatures also attack at night, such as werewolves and vampires – which Bertha is also portrayed as later on in the novel. During the attempted burning of Mr Rochester, Jane hears more strange noises. Again, a murmur is heard, which allows us to link the noises to the same creature that was making them before, i.e. Bertha. The noises are described as “a vague murmur, peculiar and lugubrious”. The first noises that Jane heard from Bertha were laughs and murmurs. The linkage of noises allows the reader to immediately suspect Bertha again.
Throughout the novel, it is unclear to the reader, and Jane, exactly what, or who is making the unnatural noises. In spite of this, it is apparent through reading descriptions of the noises Bertha makes, that she is not human, and is something supernatural. In this episode Bertha is presented as a more evil being. The laugh Jane hears was a “demoniac laugh – low, suppressed and deep”. This allows the reader to come to the conclusion – just through noises – that Bertha is evil. The use of the words goblin laughter shows that not only does Bertha not sound like a human, but also she is a goblin – a nasty creature.
This conclusion that she is evil is justified when it is discovered that Bertha attempted to kill her husband. Bertha has attempted to kill one of the closest people to her emotionally, and was laughing whilst doing it.
It is in this episode, that Bertha is presented as being even less like a human being. Bertha is presented as a supernatural being – as a ghost, or a monster – by the sounds she makes:
“Something gurgled and moaned”
From these sounds, we can say that Bertha definitely does not sound human. From the words gurgle and moan, we could say that she is being described as a monster, or a ghost. The words also describe something that is mad – a mad woman who is what Bertha is. The tension is still being built up, as Bertha has not yet been revealed, so no one can tell what she is.
The next attach occurs in the light of the full moon again. During the attack of Mr Mason, no sounds are heard from Bertha. This makes the attack more horrific as the first sound heard in the Hall is a “fearful shriek”. This immediately builds up tension for the readers, as they know something dreadful has happened, but they do not know what is happening.
At this point in the novel, Jane does not know who the attacker is, but she believes it to be Grace Poole. However, Grace Poole is an ordinary, plain woman, and the evidence from Mr Mason’s attack suggests that his attacker was not human. In this episode Bertha is presented as being a beast for the first time. During this episode, Bertha is presented as a wild animal – a wild dog.
“I heard thence a snarling, snatching sound almost like a dog quarrelling”
This use of language displays Bertha to be a wild, vicious animal. The injuries that Mr Mason has include teeth bites. The attack provides not only a description of a beast, but also evidence of a beast attack.
Charlotte Brontë presents Bertha as a nasty, evil beast to build up our hatred for her. Bertha has again, attacked one of the closest people to her – her brother. She is evil, and the description of her being a beast makes us frightened of her. She has the unpredictability of a wild animal, and is just as vicious. From the above quote, the reader can tell that, not only is Bertha like a wild beast, but she is a snarling, angry beast, willing and ready to attack anyone she wants to – no matter who they are.
In the aftermath of the attack, Jane can hear Bertha stirring in the room next to her. She is in darkness – meaning that sounds can be heard, but nothing can be seen. Bertha is again described as a “wild beast” by the sound she makes, and a “fiend”. She is described as the devil, which very much emphasizes the fact that she is evil. No words have been used to make us see anything good about Bertha – we are supposed to hate her.
When Mr Mason is talking to Mr Rochester, Bertha is presented as a wild animal.
“She worried me like a tigress”
This quote describes the attack of Mr Mason to be the attack of a wild animal on its prey. Bertha’s method of attack was not one that would be used by a human to kill someone, but an attack that only a wild animal would use – worrying.
Throughout the whole of the novel, Bertha Mason does not have a human voice. She is only heard making the noise of an anima, and she never directly speaks to anyone. However, the first and only time she speaks, is during the attack on her brother
“She said she’d drain my blood”
This quote presents Bertha to be like a vampire. She threatens to drain her brother’s blood, as a vampire would do. This is a representation of Bertha to be like another frightening and deadly creature that comes out in the dead of night, and is used to build up more horror at the though of what Bertha could be.
Even though Bertha is presented as an evil beast, she is still a mystery. Bertha has not yet been seen, and so we do not know exactly what she is until her next attack.
In this next incident Jane comes face to face with Jane, but Bertha does not attempt to harm Jane. For the first time in the novel, a visual description of Bertha is given, in spite of that; we do not know what Bertha is, but from the description given there are many clues telling us that even though she is an evil creature, she is still a woman.
“It seemed, sir, a woman, tall and large, with thick and dark hair hanging long down her back. I know not what dress she had on: it was white and straight, but whether gown sheet or shroud I cannot tell”
From this quote, the reader can build up a horrific picture of what Bertha looks like. She is not quite a beast, but she is not quite a woman either. It is unclear exactly what Bertha is. She has long, thick, dark hair, but she is wearing woman’s clothes. She is also described to be tall and large – which is very unfortunate for a woman of this time, as women were supposed to be petite to be feminine. This description presents Bertha as both a beast and a woman.
During this event, Bertha is also portrayed to be a vampire by the way she looks. “It was a discoloured face – it was a savage face. I wish I could forget the roll of the red eyes and the fearful blackened inflation of the lineaments”
In this description, Bertha shows evidence of being a vampire. She has a discoloured face – not a pale face like a ghost would have, but she has a purple face – unlike anything anyone has seen before. The swelling, and darkness of her lineaments suggests that Bertha looks like she is already dead. These characteristics occur in someone who has been drowned, and is therefore dead. This again fits the description of being a vampire, as vampires are thought to be the living dead – dead people in living bodies. The same could be said for Bertha being a zombie. She is also described to have red, bloodshot eyes – another stress of how evil Bertha is.
In this episode, Bertha is not described as being a beast, or a person, but is called “it” throughout the description.
“IT drew aside the window curtain…IT saw dawn approaching and retreated to the door”.
From the above description, we can see that even though Jane has seen Bertha in the flesh, she cannot tell what she is. She calls her “it” as what Bertha really is, is still a mystery. However, from the quote, we can also find more evidence that she is like a vampire. Bertha saw daylight approaching, and immediately left the room. Whether this is because she is a vampire, and cannot be out in daylight, or because she just does not want to be discovered out her room, is unclear.
It is only in the next episode, that the truth about Bertha is revealed. Also, it is now that Bertha becomes the obvious obstacle to both Mr Rochester’s and Jane’s happiness. Charlotte Brontë leaves the revelation of Bertha until very late in the novel – when the reader has already developed an opinion of Bertha – that she is an evil beast. It is revealed to us that Mr Rochester is already married – married to Bertha. It is at this point – when we are very much hating Bertha for stopping Jane being happy – that she is revealed to us to be a true beast. On the other hand, even though Jane has seen Bertha clearly, she still cannot tell what Bertha is – whether she is a beast or a human. She still calls Bertha “it” for this reason.
“What IT was, whether beast or human being, one could not, at first sight, tell.”
This shows how strange looking Bertha is. Jane can clearly see Bertha, yet she cannot tell what creature Bertha is. This keeps the tension in the book, as Bertha can plainly be seen, but yet cannot be identified as a beast, or a human.
Nevertheless, Bertha is still described to be a beast, and a wild animal.
“It grovelled, seemingly on all fours; it snatched and growled like some strange wild animal: but it was covered in clothing, and a quantity of dark grizzled hair, wild as a mane, hid ITS head and face”
Bertha is being described as a wild animal yet again. Visually she looks like a beast – covered in wild, beastly hair. Yet, Bertha is wearing women’s clothes. She is again referred to as “it” as it is still unclear what exactly Bertha is. The noises Bertha is making are the noises that an angry, wild animal would make – perhaps before it was about to attack. This again builds up tension, as we are wary about whether Bertha is going to attack someone. As Bertha sees Mr Rochester, she becomes angrier, and her anger is described as being beastly.
“A fierce cry…. The clothed hyena rose up, and stood tall on its hind feet”
“The maniac bellowed: she parted her shaggy locks from her visage and gazed wildly at her visitors”
It is becoming clear to the reader that Bertha is getting angry, and may attack at any time. She is described to be standing on her “hind feet” not on her legs, as a person would do. She is presented to be a maniac, which again emphasizes the fact that she is angry. Just as Bertha did when she attacked her brother, she attacks Mr Rochester as a wild animal would.
“The lunatic sprang and grappled his (Mr Rochester) throat viciously…. She was a big woman... She showed virile force in the contest”
This shows that Bertha is not womanly or feminine. She is as big as her husband – and is stronger. She is very unnatural, and is described as a lunatic. She is out of control, and because Mr Rochester will not hit her, she is showing great force in the struggle.
To accentuate the fact of how big, and monstrous Bertha is, Charlotte Brontë uses a comparison of Bertha to Jane.
“I wanted her (Jane) just as a change after that fierce ragout (Bertha)…. Compare these clear eyes with the red balls yonder – this face with that mask – this form with that bulk”
This shows how very different Bertha is to Jane. How Bertha is an evil monster, and how Jane is very pure, and very calm even when faced with great danger. Charlotte Brontë uses this to show how Bertha and Jane are very much opposites of each other.
Near the end of the novel, Bertha shows how truly evil she is – how she is evil to the very end. Jane discovers that Bertha set fire to Thornfield Hall – hoping to kill everyone inside the Hall, as well as destroying the place where she is trapped. Bertha eventually commits suicide – however she is evil, beastly, and spiteful to the very end. The way she is described leaves us feeling disgust, and hatred towards Bertha – not pity.
“She was standing, waving her arms, above the battlements, and shouting out till they could hear her a mile off…. she was a big woman, and had long black hair: we could see it streaming against the flames as she stood… she yelled and gave a spring and the next minute she lay smashed on the pavement…dead as the stones on which her brain and blood were scattered”
From the description, Bertha is presented as the devil – standing amidst the flames, with her black hair streaming against them. This all helps us build more hatred for Bertha – she tried to kill everyone in Thornfield Hall, and shows no remorse – she is shouting and yelling for everyone to hear. When she jumps off the building, her death is described in a way that makes the reader feel sickened, and we do not feel sorry for Bertha for committing suicide – the reader feels relief that she is dead.
In conclusion, Bertha is presented as an evil beast throughout the whole of the novel. Right up to Bertha’s death she is described as being evil, and just before she dies, she has committed a great act of spite.
