Fantastical Ideas and Gothic Tendencies in Jane Eyre Essay

Fantastical Ideas and Gothic Tendencies in Jane Eyre The novel, Jane Eyre, is infused with fantastical ideas and gothic tendencies. The novel is an example of Bildungsroman heroine with the title character Jane maturing from childhood. We see her spiritual, psychological and social development. Through this development Bronte manages to join both fantastic elements with a more realistic structure by weaving in references to fairy tales, dreams, mythic imagery and plot twists. Fantasy is used by Bronte to inform the reader of any emotional subtexts in the novel. Janes dreams are a good indication of her feelings and provide the reader with a window into her emotions. This use of fantasy plays a major role and it helps Janes†¦show more content†¦The sight of the rider on the horse broke the spell at once and Jane comes face to face with her employer. Indeed the most frequent references of a fantastical and supernatural nature are made by Rochester concerning her state of being. The comments are all directed toward Jane while she is still Adeles governess or Rochesters bride-to-be. There is an obvious change in imagery by Rochester after he has fallen from the fairies and elves to a bird. Bronte uses the supernatural to enable Rochester to justify his feelings for Jane when he cannot have her. When Jane returns to him as an independent woman he sees her as a natural, earthy being. After meeting her, Rochester gives his views on Janes origins. He asks if she was waiting for the men in green. This underlines his belief that she is from another world. He explains to her how he felt the first night he met her and that he thought she was magical and mystical. As he leant on Janes shoulder, something new, a fresh sap and sense, stole into [his] frame. He would not have been able to let her go, but for the fact that he found out this elf lived at Thornfield. Rochester knows that falling in love with his governess would be frowned upon in his society. Thus falling in love with a fairy or changeling, is acceptable and he does not have to worry what others might say. Jane is everything that Rochester could want in a woman, but due