Gothic theme in the novel Jane Eyre - Essay Example

The novel Jane Eyre encompasses various gothic conventions from the early chapters itself. One of the key gothic elements, which exert key influences throughout the novel, is the red room. The room, as the name implies, is dark red in color similar to the dark blood. It is the room, where Jane’s uncle, Mr. Reed has died and his ghost is said to be haunting it, and so strange noises are always heard. “Mr. Reed had been dead nine years; it was in this chamber, he breathed his last” (Bronte 17).

When young Jane is locked into that room by her aunt as a form of punishment, she gets frightened to the hilt. All the elements, including red room, distorting mirror, ghosts, strange noises, rain outside and wind blowing, form part of a gothic setting. The red room and the solitary confinement of Jane in it foreshadows many situations throughout the novel, where Jane is again confined but mainly ‘mentally’ because of social ostracization and financial entrapment, and how she has to struggle to get her freedom and even her sense of belonging.

Gothic conventions can also be seen during the description of the house at Thornfield. Although the house is not haunted, the way it is described by the author evokes fear. “The staircase window was high and latticed…. into which the bedroom doors opened looked as if they belonged to a church rather than a house. A very chill and vault- like air pervaded the stairs and gallery, suggesting cheerless ideas of space and solitude.” (Bronte 116). The house is the site of all mysterious activities that lends the gothic theme to the novel.

The mysterious atmosphere in the house is further intensified when Jane sights a tall figure of woman moving in the house. “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.” (Bronte 326). It is the mystery about that unknown woman that brings forth the horror, and thereby the gothic theme in the plot. That unknown woman is Bertha, the mad wife of Rochester, who also plays a significant part in providing the Gothic effect in the novel.

The character of Edward Rochester also adds to the Gothic element. He is depicted both as the virtuous as well as the villainous character in the novel. When Jane first sees him riding a horse, he is portrayed as a mystifying character. “The man, the human being, broke the spell at once…though they might tenant the dumb carcasses of beasts, could scarce covet shelter in the commonplace human form”. (Bronte 133). He appears before Jane suddenly, and he immediately disappears without revealing anything about himself to Jane.

Gothic element is also reflected in the lightning strike on the Chestnut tree. Sitting under that tree only, Jane and Rochester have a talk and during that conversation, Rochester proposes to Jane and their marriage plan is initiated. However, just before the marriage, lightning strikes the tree splitting it into two. This could be implied as a premonition of their impending separation as well as other disasters. As the marriage did not take place because of the revealing of Bertha and Jane’s running away from the Thornfield, the gothic element of the tree