Gothic Elements in the Victorian Novel
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The Meaning of Mystery and Suspense in Jane Eyre
1 Introduction
Undoubtedly, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre was one of the most successful and influential novels published during the era of Victorian England, which lasted from 1837 until 1901 , and even today, Jane Eyre is regarded as one of the most important masterpieces in the history of world literature. Although Brontë’s novel primarily fulfills features of the romance novel – certainly a very popular and widespread genre among Victorian writers - Jane Eyre can be accounted a hybrid of three literary genres, which not only shares romantic elements, but also characteristics of the Bildungsroman and the Gothic novel.
However, Brontë’s novel basically follows “two traditional plot lines” (Heller 1993: 49) of Victorian women writing. On the one hand, Jane Eyre comprises a love story between a man and a women, represented by the relationship between Jane and Rochester, which clearly corresponds to romance elements, whereas, on the other hand, the story of Jane’s personal and psychological development, which is expressed by her different encounters with the external world over a large range of time, corresponds to the female Bildungsroman.
Nevertheless, in Jane Eyre, both plots are strongly interrelated with each other, what makes each plot rather complex and difficult to analyse (cf. Heller 1993: 49). Moreover, Charlotte Brontë repeatedly utilised several mysterious and horrific incidents - which are clear indicators for a Gothic influence - throughout the whole novel. The question may be raised, how and for what purpose did Brontë implant Gothic elements in her novel, although the period of ‘classic’ Gothic writing had already come to an end in the early 19th century. Was it just for the cause of catching the reader’s attention and making the story more interesting to read, or was there even more behind it?
In order to find a suitable answer to that question, this essay will first point out a couple of striking and important scenes which represent typical Gothic features in Jane Eyre, and then, it will try to analyse the causes for the application of these Gothic elements and their effect on the novel’s message which is aimed to be delivered.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Gothic Elements in Jane Eyre
- 2.1 'Classic' Gothic vs. Victorian Gothic
- 2.2 Important scenes and images representing Gothic elements in Jane Eyre
- 2.3 Reasons and causes for the application of Gothic elements in Jane Eyre
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay aims to analyze the function and impact of Gothic elements within Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. It explores how Brontë utilizes Gothic conventions, despite the genre's decline, to enhance the narrative and convey a deeper message about Victorian society.
- The contrast between 'classic' Gothic and Victorian Gothic conventions in Jane Eyre.
- Analysis of key Gothic scenes and their contribution to the overall narrative.
- Exploration of the social and psychological tensions reflected through Gothic imagery.
- Examination of how Gothic elements illuminate the themes of female oppression and the struggle for independence in Victorian England.
- The interplay between romance, bildungsroman, and Gothic elements in shaping Jane's character arc.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes Jane Eyre's significance as a Victorian novel and highlights its hybrid nature, blending romance, bildungsroman, and Gothic elements. It poses the central question of the essay: why and how does Brontë incorporate Gothic elements, considering the genre's waning popularity? The chapter sets the stage for analyzing the interplay of these genres and their contribution to the novel's overarching themes.
2 Gothic Elements in Jane Eyre: This chapter delves into the specific Gothic elements present in Jane Eyre. It begins by differentiating between 'classic' Gothic and Victorian Gothic, emphasizing how Brontë utilizes the latter to connect with a contemporary audience. The chapter then examines key scenes, such as Jane's confinement in the red room at Gateshead and the mysterious events at Thornfield Hall, illustrating how these scenes function to create suspense, symbolize Jane's oppression, and foreshadow later developments. It links these Gothic elements to the overarching themes of social injustice and Jane's fight for personal freedom, arguing that the Gothic atmosphere amplifies the severity of these themes within the Victorian context.
Keywords
Gothic literature, Victorian novel, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë, Gothic elements, Victorian Gothic, female Gothic, social critique, oppression, female empowerment, bildungsroman, romance, suspense, mystery, psychological realism.
Jane Eyre: A Study of Gothic Elements - FAQ
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of an essay analyzing the use of Gothic elements in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. It includes a table of contents, objectives, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
The essay explores the contrast between "classic" Gothic and Victorian Gothic conventions in Jane Eyre, analyzes key Gothic scenes and their narrative contribution, examines social and psychological tensions reflected through Gothic imagery, investigates how Gothic elements illuminate themes of female oppression and the struggle for independence, and analyzes the interplay between romance, bildungsroman, and Gothic elements in shaping Jane's character arc.
What are the main chapters covered in the essay?
The essay contains an introduction that establishes Jane Eyre's significance as a Victorian novel and its hybrid nature. The main chapter delves into the specific Gothic elements in Jane Eyre, differentiating between "classic" and Victorian Gothic, examining key scenes (like Jane's confinement in the red room and events at Thornfield Hall), and linking these elements to themes of social injustice and Jane's fight for freedom.
What specific Gothic elements are analyzed in the essay?
The essay analyzes the use of various Gothic elements within Jane Eyre to understand their function and impact on the narrative and thematic development. Specific scenes and imagery are examined to illustrate how Brontë employs these elements to convey a deeper message about Victorian society and the experiences of women during that period.
What is the significance of the "classic" Gothic versus Victorian Gothic distinction?
The essay distinguishes between "classic" and Victorian Gothic conventions to highlight how Brontë adapts and utilizes the latter to resonate with a contemporary Victorian audience. This distinction is crucial for understanding the specific ways in which Brontë employs Gothic tropes to address the social and psychological realities of her time.
What is the overall argument of the essay?
The essay argues that Charlotte Brontë uses Gothic elements, even amidst the genre's decline, to enhance the narrative of Jane Eyre and to convey a powerful message about Victorian society, particularly focusing on themes of female oppression and the struggle for independence. The Gothic atmosphere amplifies the severity of these themes within the Victorian context.
What are the keywords associated with this essay?
Key words associated with the essay include: Gothic literature, Victorian novel, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë, Gothic elements, Victorian Gothic, female Gothic, social critique, oppression, female empowerment, bildungsroman, romance, suspense, mystery, and psychological realism.
- Quote paper
- Thomas Schachtebeck (Author), 2006, The Meaning of Mystery and Suspense in "Jane Eyre", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/165045
