The novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë can be identified as a Gothic novel, in the sense that the eponymous heroine encounters the five essential elements: Edward Rochester as the hero Byronic, Bertha Mason as an evil, imprisoned woman, supernatural elements and psychological scares, and a haunted mansion. All of these elements combine to create a strong gothic novel. Throughout the novel, Edward Rochester reveals himself to be a Byronic hero, through his tall, dark figure, his mysterious past, and his burning desire to love Jane. When first introduced, Rochester is described as having a dark, serious face: “He had a dark face, with severe features and a thick forehead” (Brontë 115). Her dark and mysterious traits are one of the reasons why throughout the novel Jane experiences many paranormal creatures such as ghosts. For example, at the beginning of the novel, Jane is placed in the Red Room as punishment for her actions against her cousin John Reed. While in the room, she sees the ghost of Mr. Reed, her previously deceased uncle, showing that Jane also experienced supernatural elements during her early years. Later in the novel, when she first arrives at Thornfield, Jane believes there is a ghost in the corridors after hearing haunting laughter: “It was a curious laugh; distinct, formal, joyless…the laughter was as tragic, as supernatural, as any I have ever heard” (Brontë 108-109). However, Jane's theory is quickly debunked when she is told that it is the laughter of another servant named Grace Poole. In addition to hearing and seeing ghosts, many characters in the novel can be compared to paranormal creatures. For example, Blanche Ingram's fair complexion and white clothing give her the appearance of a vampire: "The sisters were both dressed in impeccable white" (Brontë 175). These white garments also symbolize a vampire's pale skin and immortal life, as white was meant to be worn by younger, pure women. Blanche can also be compared to a vampire, as she "sucks the blood" of Rochester or uses him for her money. Thus, supernatural elements are identified when Jane believes she hears a ghost in Thornfield Hall, and when the characters themselves represent the paranormal.