Fantastical Ideas and Gothic Tendencies in Jane Eyre Essay -- Jane Eyr

Fantastical Ideas and Gothic Tendencies in Jane EyreThe novel, Jane Eyre, is infused with fantastical ideas and gothictendencies. The novel is an workout of Bildungsroman heroine with thetitle character Jane maturing from childhood. We see her spiritual,psychological and social development. Through this development Brontemanages to join both fantastic elements with a more realisticstructure by weaving in references to fairy tales, dreams, mythicimagery and mend twists. Fantasy is used by Bronte to in carcass thereader of any emotional subtexts in the novel.Janes dreams be a good indication of her feelings and provide thereader with a window into her emotions. This use of fantasy plays amajor role and it helps Janes character develop as a Bildungsromanheroine because it highlights her emotional and spiritual journey.The fantastic symbolism and imagery used throughout the novel are asimportant to the narrative as the plot because it allows the reader tounderstand many emotions and t rue characteristics of the protagonists.The novel is littered with faintly gothic references to folklore,ghosts and sprites. The core of the story lies in Janes descriptionsof what goes on in her mind and it is hither that we see Brontes mostimaginative and fantastic imagery.Jane imagines herself in a fairy tale. When she first encountersRochester, Jane writes, I remembered certain of Bessies tales,wherein figured a North-of-England spirit called Gytrash, which, inthe form of a horse, mule or large dog haunted solitary ways andsometimes came upon travellers as this horse was now coming upon me.Here, reality becomes kinky which reveals new truths about thecharacters and their surroundings.... ...out Jane, from fantasyto reality.Bronte uses fantasy with Janes character to underline the distinctionbetween childhood and adulthood. Jane tends to invert adult andchildrens values in the same way. The event that Jane is still findsfairy tales scary, infers that she possesses a fanciful, girlishnature. The imagery used when she meets Rochester for the first timegives the reader an insight into her immaturity. It is not until lateron that Jane sees Rochesters beastliness. A more mature adult knowsthat humans can be a lot worse in reality and more frightening thanany the Tempter in a fairy tale.The feature of fantasy is a creative ploy, which Bronte uses toenhance the thoughts and feelings of the main characters. The readeris given further insight and understanding of relationships with the wizardly and mystical imagery and vocabulary.