Jane Eyre Analysis Robert Leal Nandhitha Natarajan Tabby

Jane Eyre Analysis Robert Leal, Nandhitha Natarajan, Tabby Tran, Grace Garcia, Julie Zhu

Topic: Supernatural and Gothic Elements There are so many instances in the novel where Supernatural/Gothic elements can be found. For instance, Jane Eyre mentions fairies, imps, spirits, ghosts, vampires, demons, angels, etc. Why does Charlotte Bronte use these sorts of elements in her novel and why does she go to extreme lengths to make Rochester insult Jane by calling her an elf, spirit, fairy, etc? Why? What is his point? What is Charlotte’s point?

Literal Meaning of Prompt Throughout the novel, Charlotte Bronte incorporates many gothic/supernatural elements (such as the death of Mr. Reed in the red room, location and atmosphere of Gateshead, Lowood, Thornfield, and Moorhouse, the background stories of Rochester). It is noticeable that these elements are present, but why are gothic elements present in the Jane's life journey? Why are they present in her love story with Rochester? What exactly influenced Bronte to incorporate supernatural factors that helped explain her characters? What was she trying to show?

How Prompt Relates to the Novel The prompt relates to the novel since it questions the mysterious, supernatural, and horrific elements of Jane Eyre. Such as when: Jane saw herself as a ghost/fairy when she was a child Jane sees her uncle's ghost in the red room Jane mistook Mr. Rochester's horse as Gytrash Mr. Rochester often referred to Jane as an elf, witch, sorceress Bertha gave demonic laughs, crawled, and even bit Mason Jane had dreams of a baby before the coachman came to get her for Mrs. Reed Rochester spoke of their marriage (to Adele) by referring to Jane as a fairy that would take him to the moon Bertha attempts to and finally burns the house Jane follows a light to find Moor House Jane hears Mr. Rochester's voice at Moor House

Charlotte Bronte Time Period: In England, gothic horror was popular during the 18 th and 19 th centuries. Published in 1847, Charlotte Bronte incorporates these gothic and supernatural elements to create an atmosphere of mystery and suspense. There are many parallels between the struggles of Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre. Bronte's use of gothic/supernatural elements as she models Jane's life after her own further reveals the normality of gloom, desolate conditions, and darkness to Bronte's own life and childhood in such a dreary setting. Jane's eventual happiness despite the gothic suspense, fear, and terror additionally reflects Charlotte Bronte's longing for true love and happiness in her own personal life.

Examples From the Text "It was exactly one mask of Bessie's Gytrash—a lion like creature with long hair and a huge head: it passed me, however, quietly enough; not staying to look up, with strange pretercanine eyes, in my face, as I half expected it would. . . The man, the human being, broke the spell at once. Nothing ever rode the gytrash: it was always alone; and goblins, beasts, could scarce covet shelter in common place human form. No gytrash was this—only a traveler taking a short cut to Millcote" (103 -104).

Gytrash A Gytrash is defined as being a black dog that haunts lonely roads waiting for travelers to try and make them leave the path, therefore leaving them lost.

Analysis of Quote Jane explains the upcoming sound of a traveler as a Gytrash due to her fear from childhood stories told by Bessie. During this time period in Northern Europe, tales such as these, especially the tale of the Gytrash, were used primarily for warnings and cautions for children to avoid danger. Similarly, the stories were told to Jane to deter her from traveling alone. Ultimately, Charlotte Bronte portrayed the traveler (Mr. Rochester) as a creature in order to foreshadow the sinister qualities about him. Throughout the novel, Mr. Rochester is seen as a simple man, but also as mysterious and at times, indignant. Bronte's use of supernatural comparisons overall highlights the less obvious personality traits of a character.

Examples From the Text "In the name of all the elves in Christendom, is that Jane Eyre? ' He demanded 'What have you done with me witch, sorceress? Who is in the room besides you? Have you plotted to drown me? " (139).

Mr. Rochester

Analysis of Quote Rochester accuses Jane of being a witch and a sorceress due to that fact that he doesn't know Jane completely. Throughout the novel, Rochester generally describes Jane as mythical beings to tease her, but in this instance, he is filled with fear and disbelief. His true lack of knowledge regarding Jane's life and personality leads him to call her a witch. Bronte emphasizes such wicked roles as witch and sorceress to demonstrate Rochester's fear of being harmed by something he cannot control or completely understand. This fear likely stems from his previous, disastrous marriage and provides insight into Rochester's complex character.

Literary Devices 1. Dreams/Visions Represent the terrible truths that can hardly be comprehended by a conscious mind. Dream of infant, vision of her uncle's ghost 2. Signs/Omens Reveal the intervention of cosmic forces; spiritual/psychological conflict Jane and Rochester hearing each other's voices 3. Mood/Atmosphere The feeling created in a reader. Created with descriptive details/imagery Description of Lowood, Thornfield, Moor House, and other settings

Moments in Jane's Odyssey: Gateshead Most Pivotal: The Red Room, which serves as a place for punishment, cruelty, and isolation, portrays an important gothic aspect in Jane's life. Not only is she locked up for hours beyond closed walls, but she "encounters" the supernatural presence of her uncle's ghost. She fears that her uncle has come back to take revenge on Mrs. Reed for treating Jane horrifically and she ends up fainting in fear.

Moments in Jane's Odyssey: Lowood As Jane arrives to the Lowood Institution, she experiences the gothic elements present in Lowood's architecture. The loneliness, misery, and gloom add to Lowood's depressing atmosphere, which act as a gothic element as Jane feels trapped and imprisoned inside the high walls that bound the girls inside. The desolate and cold environment further contribute to the gothic gloom and darkness.

Moments in Jane's Odyssey: Thornfield Remembering Bessie's warning that dreams of children indicate trouble, Jane repeatedly dreams of an infant. After these dreams, Jane learns that John died and Mrs. Reed is ill. Most Significant: In Jane's "trance-like" dream, her mother "spoke to [Jane's] spirit, " telling her to flee temptation (304). Dreams/Vision: reveal gothic elements as the supernatural breaks into Jane's mind. The setting adds to gothic atmosphere and mood. Red room, dark night, moon and clouds

Moments in Jane's Odyssey: Moor House Arriving at the Moor House, gothic elements are present, especially demonstrated through the setting. With a dark, stormy marsh, the "rain fell fast, " and the wind "died moaning" while Jane is cold and numb (315).

Moments in Jane's Odyssey: Ferndean Mr. Rochester tells the tale of how he heard Jane's voice saying, "in spirit, I believe we must have met" (429). Jane's direct reference to supernatural elements: "needed not the deeper shade of the supernatural" (429). Sign/Omen: Seeming intervention of cosmic forces

Additional Prompt: Explained Select a character whose origins are unusual or mysterious. Then write an essay in which you analyze how these origins shape the character and that character's relationships, and how the origins contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole. Most characters in this novel (ex: Rochester, Grace Pool) emerge with mysterious backgrounds. Rochester's unusual past, for instance, enormously shapes his character and actions, as well as his relationship with Jane. The origins additionally contribute to the work as a whole in adding depth to Jane's relationship with Rochester, her experiences and personal growth, and the atmosphere of mystery and suspense created with gothic elements. Topics: Gothic style, Mystery

Works Cited Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. 3 rd ed. , Bantam Books, 1981. "Charlotte Bronte and Victorian Britain. ” Charlotte Bronte and Victorian Britain » Jane Eyre Study Guide from Crossref-It. info, Cross Reference Project , crossref-it. info/textguide/jane-eyre/9/1004. “Definition of 'Gytrash'. ” Gytrash Definition and Meaning, Collins English Dictionary, www. collinsdictionary. com/us/dictionary/english/gytra sh.