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Essay / Mythological level and suspense in Jane Eyre
Supernatural elements and the events involving them are an important facet of the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Many mythological creatures are referenced and omens are used as symbols throughout the novel, making up some of the instances where the supernatural is involved. The supernatural air that is then given to the novel serves to compete with the religious emphasis, and also to create a sense of mystery and suspense throughout the book. There is also a slight connection between the basic tale of Cinderella and the journey that Jane takes from the beginning of her life to get to where she ends up. By looking through the mythological lens to examine Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, you can examine both the supernatural and its effects, as well as the parallels to the myths that exist in the book. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The Red Room and the alleged ghost sighting that Jane experiences there is an example of the supernatural in Jane Eyre. In the red room, Jane thinks she sees the ghost of her uncle returning because his last wishes were not respected, and she faints. Not only does this serve to affect the mood of the novel, but it also helps affect Jane's personality for most of the novel. The mood it creates is one of suspense and mystery, and this is the first time this mood has been introduced. This later comes up several times, notably at Thornfield Hall. The mood serves to give the reader the feeling that Jane feels: that something bad must be happening. The reader is left to wonder with Jane whether or not it is her uncle's ghost that she sees, although Bessie and Miss Abbot say it was only a gardener. Jane herself claims that the event had a lasting effect: “No serious or prolonged physical illness followed this Red Room incident: it only gave me nerves of shock; the reverberation of which I still feel today. Yes, Mrs. Reed, I owe you terrible mental suffering” (Brontë, 13). Seeing her uncle's ghost caused her severe anxiety when it came to supernatural events and also made her more easily influenced by omens that appeared in her dreams. Another example is the constant mention of fairies, elves and goblins, and more. These mentions usually come up in Jane's conversations with Mr. Rochester, or during Jane's walks alone around Thornfield Park. With Mr. Rochester, this usually comes in the form of Mr. Rochester accusing Jane of being some sort of mythological creature of the type mentioned above and of enchanting him in some way. Although these references are mostly made in jest, it gives us insight into how he views Jane. He sees how different she is from others, her passion and stubbornness/strength of will, and while most people would consider that a bad thing, it's not. He recognizes that it's his strength, even if it's not to his advantage, just in a way that also mocks it. That's more than most people would do, certainly more than St. John would do. Omens are another great part of Jane Eyre. Jane is exposed to these omens through her dreams. Sometimes they take the form of a crying and distressed child, sometimes the child is docile or even sick. Other times it's not even about a child, but a dream in which Thornfield Park is in ruins and Jane is turned away by Mr. Rochester. These dreams are a way of foreshadowing the future without revealing anything explicitly. Sometimes they inspire Jane to act,.