In the following essay I will examine the term melodrama and its features. Accompanying I will give an account of the melodramatic components of the 19th century novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Both, melodrama and Jane Eyre, had their biggest impetus in the 19th century, thus have specific elements in common. Although Jane Eyre is not a drama to be played on stage it still concludes several melodramatic attributes, which will be specified after analyzing the term melodrama.
The term melo originates from the Greek word melos, meaning music, which together with the annex drama simply refers to a stage play accompanied with music. Jean Jacques Rousseau is said to have firstly used a method of linking words with music in Pygmalion of 1770. In early 19th century use, melodrama referred to a stage play with interspersing songs and actors supported by music. By the end of the century the term had almost exclusively narrowed down to a dramatic piece marked by sensations, appeals to the emotions and a happy ending. Nevertheless music remained and still remains a crucial element to emphasize and intensify characters and scenes presented on stage and nowadays particularly in films. This musical element can also be found in the novels primarily of the 19th century expressed in a specific literary style, Brooks describes as follows:
Table of Contents
- What do you understand by the term melodrama?
- Melodramatic components of Jane Eyre
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay examines the term "melodrama" and its features, applying this analysis to Charlotte Brontë's 19th-century novel Jane Eyre to identify its melodramatic components. The essay explores the historical context of melodrama's development and its relationship with 19th-century novels.
- Definition and historical evolution of melodrama
- Melodrama's key characteristics (e.g., music, sensationalism, moral polarities)
- The influence of the Gothic novel on melodrama
- Melodrama as a reflection of societal anxieties and desires for escape
- The presence of melodramatic elements in Jane Eyre
Chapter Summaries
What do you understand by the term melodrama?: This section provides a detailed examination of the term "melodrama," tracing its origins from its musical theatrical roots to its later association with sensationalism and emotional appeals. It discusses the evolution of the term throughout the 19th century, highlighting its shift from a musical stage play to a genre characterized by stark moral contrasts, exaggerated emotions, and a focus on visual spectacle over complex dialogue. The section emphasizes the stylistic elements, such as the use of metaphorical "musical patterning" in literature, that contribute to the melodramatic effect, drawing on the works of Brooks and Prendergast to support its analysis. It also touches upon the genre's relationship to the Gothic novel and its function as a form of escapism in response to the social anxieties of the Industrial Revolution.
Melodramatic components of Jane Eyre: This section analyzes the presence of melodramatic elements in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. It argues that the novel, despite not being a stage play, embodies several key melodramatic characteristics. The vulnerable and virtuous protagonist, Jane Eyre, an orphan facing various hardships, serves as a quintessential figure of "virtue in distress," designed to evoke empathy and emotional engagement from the reader. The character of Bertha Mason is identified as the novel's sensational element, her portrayal reflecting Gothic elements and representing a stark contrast to Jane's moral goodness. The essay posits that the novel's use of moral polarities, emotional appeals, and sensational elements aligns it with the melodramatic genre, demonstrating how literary works can incorporate and adapt theatrical conventions.
Keywords
Melodrama, 19th-century literature, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë, Gothic novel, sensationalism, emotion, morality, virtue, villain, visual spectacle, Industrial Revolution, escapism, moral polarities, musicality.
Jane Eyre: A Melodramatic Analysis - FAQ
What is the purpose of this essay?
This essay analyzes Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre to determine the extent to which it incorporates elements of melodrama. It examines the definition and historical context of melodrama, exploring its key characteristics and its relationship to the Gothic novel and broader societal anxieties of the 19th century.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
The essay explores the definition and historical evolution of melodrama, its key characteristics (including music, sensationalism, and moral polarities), the influence of the Gothic novel, melodrama as a reflection of societal anxieties and desires for escape, and the presence of melodramatic elements within Jane Eyre itself.
How does the essay define melodrama?
The essay traces the origins of "melodrama" from its musical theatrical roots to its later association with sensationalism and emotional appeals. It highlights the shift from a musical stage play to a genre characterized by stark moral contrasts, exaggerated emotions, and a focus on visual spectacle. The essay also discusses the use of metaphorical "musical patterning" in literature to create a melodramatic effect.
How does the essay connect melodrama to the Gothic novel?
The essay examines the relationship between melodrama and the Gothic novel, suggesting that they share certain characteristics and that melodrama can be seen as a form of escapism in response to the social anxieties of the Industrial Revolution.
What are the main arguments regarding Jane Eyre's melodramatic elements?
The essay argues that Jane Eyre, despite not being a stage play, exhibits several key melodramatic characteristics. Jane Eyre herself is presented as a quintessential "virtue in distress" figure, designed to evoke empathy. Bertha Mason is identified as the novel's sensational element, embodying a stark contrast to Jane's moral goodness. The essay concludes that the novel's use of moral polarities, emotional appeals, and sensational elements aligns it with the melodramatic genre.
What are the key characteristics of melodrama identified in the essay?
Key characteristics of melodrama highlighted include sensationalism, exaggerated emotions, stark moral polarities (virtue vs. villain), visual spectacle, and the use of "musical patterning" to create emotional impact. The essay emphasizes the genre's function as a form of escapism.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis of Jane Eyre?
Keywords include: Melodrama, 19th-century literature, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë, Gothic novel, sensationalism, emotion, morality, virtue, villain, visual spectacle, Industrial Revolution, escapism, moral polarities, and musicality.
What is included in the provided preview of the text?
The preview includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
- Citar trabajo
- Reni Ernst (Autor), 2006, What do you understand by the term melodrama? - Melodramatic components of Jane Eyre , Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/80938
