an-analysis-of-gothic-features-as-a-success-element-in-jane-eyre论文-定稿-学位论文.doc

An Analysis of Gothic Features as a Success Element in Jane Eyre Chapter1 IntroductionCharlotte Brontes Jane Eyre is written in the first person, and told from the viewpoint of its main character, Jane Eyre. As part of her first-person narrative, Bronte uses one of the oldest conventions in English fiction: this novel is allegedly a memoir written by a real woman named Jane Eyre and edited by Currer Bell (Charlotte Brontes pseudonym). (Indeed, the full title of the book is Jane Eyre: an Autobiography. As part of this convention, the narrator occasionally addresses the reader directly with the word reader.) Jane Eyre was published in the middle of the nineteenth century. Charlotte was greatly influenced by the gothic novels that were in fashion before the time of Jane Eyre. The gothic novel was popularized in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and was defined by its use of suspense, supernatural elements and desolated locations to generate a gloomy or chilling mood. The protagonist of the novel would generally be female and often face distressing or morbid circumstance.1.1 Gothic background of Bronte sisters real lifeCharlotte Bronte was born in 1816, as the third child in a curate family of Haworth in West Yorkshire on the moor. The harsh weather on the wild moor is always full of violent wind, thrilling rain and snow, which is the prototype of the settings in Jane Eyre. While growing up in the lonely stone house on the moor, the six childrens (5 sisters and 1 brother) only communicators were their father, aunt and the books. The family members (their mother and all the 5 children), were all died of the familial diseasepulmonary tuberculosis (in Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights it is called “consumption”), except that Charlotte died of septicemia. Though the family was pervaded with the doomed disease, the children never stopped their enthusiasm in reading and writing. In 1824, Charlotte with her sisters was sent by her wealthy godmother to the Cowan Bridge in Lancashire, which she described it as the Lowood School in Jane Eyre. When she was fourteen, she was sent to the Roe Head School to be trained as a governess. Thats where the figure Jane Eyre comes from. To have a deep research of this novel, critics regard it as an autobiography of Charlotte. Virginia Woolf said in her A Room of Ones Own: She (Charlotte) remembered that she had been starved of her proper due of experienceshe had been made to stagnate in a parsonage mending stockings when she wanted to wander free over the world. Her imagination swerved from indignation and we feel it swerve.1.2 The critics on Jane EyreSince the first edition appeared, Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre has captured both readers and reviewers. The critics are too immense to count.W.M Thackeray gave the highest praise to this novel and its writer: “I wish you had not sent me Jane Eyre. It interested me so much that I have lost(or won if you like ) a whole day in reading it at the busiest periodWho the author can be I cant guessif a woman she knows her language better than most ladies do, or has had a classical education.”(The letters and private papers of William Makepeace Thackeray, ed. Gordon Ray, Harvard, 1945)“The influence of Jane Eyre, both social and literary, also bespeaks its importance in its own timeIt started a vogue for plain heroines and ugly masterful heroes; on the higher”（ Kathleen Tillotson, Novels of the Eighteen-Forties, Oxford, 1954）George Saintsbury comment on the novel was: “a romance derived partly from the study of nature and partly from the working out of the passionate thoughts and feelings of the individual.” (“The Position of the Bronts in the History of the English Novel,” Bront Society Transactions, 1899)“ in various ways Charlotte manages to make the patently Gothic more than a stereotypeshe instinctively finds new ways to achieve the ends served by old Gothicthe discovery and release of new patterns of feeling, the intensification of feeling.” (Robert Heilman, “Charlotte Brontes New Gothic,” in From Jane Austen to Joseph Conrad, Ed. Robert Rathburn and Martin Stainmann, Minnesota, 1958)1.3 The main content and the research purpose of this thesisCritics expressed opinions on Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre in various aspects and many researches are also made on this novel, for an instance, analysis of feminism and Jane Eyres experience and character. Gothic feature is also among the top choice of analysis and researches. However, few critics have acquired that Charlottes innovational skills of arranging the gothic elements in this novel. This thesis is going to analyze the unconventional gothic features as a key factor of its success, so as to help readers have a new notion of this novel. And a brief introduction of the gothic and Charlottes background will be provided to keep readers closer to the writer. Chapter 2 Gothic and gothic novelThe word “Goth” is originated from the name of a tribe in North Europe that lasted until 7th century. This tribe was so brutal and bloodthirsty that their ages are called the Dark Ages. Since the Renaissance, the word “Goth” has been the token of barbarism, mystery, terror, dark ages, and so on. As a genre, Gothic novel (sometimes referred to as Gothic horror) is generally believed to have been invented by the English author Horace Walpole, with his 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto. Some of the characteristics of a Gothic novel are overblown language, bizarre characters, melodramatic incidents, plots that contain elements of the fantastic, a mood of mystery, and unexpected happenings occurring usually at night, and an innocentheroine threatened by unspeakable horror. Also, the hero of the novel is oftentimes a romantically attractive character who has led an unconventional life, but who harbors a tragic flaw. The heros past separates him from accepted society and torments his present existence. Chapter 3 An Analysis of gothic featuresAlthough not usually considered a true Gothic novel, Jane Eyre shows many prominent elements of the genre of gothic novel. Although Bronte has made him more rounded, and imbued his actions withsignificantly highermoral significance than is traditional, Mr. Rochester might fit the type of the Gothic hero, and while Thornfield Hall is in reality a comfortable dwelling, it has Gothiccharacteristics in the presence of the hidden Bertha and Grace Poole. Some plot elements which might be considered Gothic,include Berthas vicious attacks, the dramatic interruption of Rochesters and Janes wedding, Janes flight across the countryside, her encounter with St. John, the destruction of Thornfield, and the mysterious inner communication by which Jane realizes that Rochester really needs her and her romantic love.3.1 Gothic characterCharacter is a very important element in a novel. The stock characters of gothic novel normally include tyrants, villains, bandits, maniac, Byronic heroes, persecuted maidens, femme fatales, mad women, magicians, vampires and so on. In gothic novels, a villain hero is usually appeared as the hero character. Such a character has a strong frame, a pair of observing eyes that can penetrate anything. He is proud, moody, cynical, with defiance on his brow and misery in his heart, yet capable of deep and strong affection. Under Charlottes pen, the villain hero-Rochester has his nature, in Jane Eyres words, of “peculiarities of temper, changeful and abrupt”. And in the novel Jane Eyre, a villain hero and a villain heroine performed on the same staged. 3.1.1 Villain hero-Rochesters physical appearanceMany novel writers can successfully communicate with the readers by shaping a character as a communicating media. Charlotte Bronte has successfully figured such a villain hero, Rochester, in Jane Eyre to rouse the readers interest. As the chief actress Jane Eyre said： I know my traveler with his broad and jetty eyebrows; his square forehead, made squarer by the horizontal sweep of his black hair. I recognized his decisive nose, more remarkable for character than beauty; his full nostrils, denoting, I thought, choler; his grim mouth, chin, and jawyes, all three were very grim, and no mistake. His shape, now divested of cloak, I perceived harmonized in squareness with his physiognomy. （volume I, chapter 13）Such rough physical appearance absolutely belongs to a standard villain hero. He is not romantically handsome because his outline is not neatly beautiful but square; hes a creature like the structure of a gothic church. From hair to teeth, his stubborn looking is as unearthly as the monster-like sculpture on the church roof. He appeared not handsome at the beginning of this novel, yet he performed a romantic love in end of the story. Thats the unexpected result that Charlotte has put in front of her readers.3.1.2 Villain hero-Rochesters behaviorsAppearance is far form showing the inner part of a person. In Jane Eyre, the behaviors are much more potent to output his villain personality. At the first time Jane Eyre was introduced by Mrs. Fairfax, Rochester never lifted his head and bowed, keeping his eyes on the dog and Adle: Let Miss Eyre be seated, what the deuce is it to me whether Miss Eyre be there or not? At this moment I am not disposed to accost her.（volume I, chapter 13）.As a host Rochesters tone is odd, no wonder that Jane Eyre thought his tone “impatient yet formal”. An ordinary person wont treat his guest so impolitely in such an occasion. Though Jane Eyre was not in the guest group but just a paid governess of the family, she still didnt deserve such a treat which was a contrary to Rochesters civilization. Not enough, in chapter 13, Rochester has a customary habit of speaking in a command tone. A directly using of verbs gives readers a suspect: how can such noble men with such a rude manner? Thats Charlottes skill of putting suspense before the mystery being unveiled. Like many other villain heroes, Rochester is a dishonorably plotter. After the first fire, Rochester had a party at Thornfield during which he found out that Jane had affection on him, he began his conspiracies. First he pretended to be a gipsy to test Janes love and then secretly sent away Mr. Mason, the man who was bitten by the mad woman Bertha mason, to hide the fact of his previous marriage with this mad woman. The night before the wedding ceremony, Jane saw Bertha rent her wedding veil into two parts and told Rochester about her terror night. Rochester tried to hide the truth by cheating: It was half dream, half realitymust have beenGrace Poolewere figments of imagination; results of nightmare.when we have been married a year and a day, I will tell you. (Volume II chapter 10) Not until the solicitor who named Briggs exposed the legal marriage certificate between Rochester and Bertha, did Rochester tell the truth to Jane. Though his love for Jane was sincere, he had betrayed Jane because he was morally evil and legally wrong to contempt the false marriage.3.1.3 Villain heroineBertha Mason The mad woman Bertha Mason in the third floor of Thornfield, who made shrill and chill laughs and set three fires, appeared as another important character in this novel. Charlotte expressed this figure as a mad woman with secret to foreshadow the bankrupt of the marriage between Jane and Rochester. This villain heroine shared something common with her husband in physical appearance: she is almost equaling Rochester and as athletic as him. She has a “purple face”, a pair of rolling “red eyes”, and “a quantity of dark, grizzled hair”. But being a insanity she is spiritually dehumanized like Jane described her: whether beast or human being, wild as a mane, the closed hyena, maniac, and lunatic; it grovelled, it snatched and growled like some strange wild animal, gazed wildly at her visitors. (Volume II, chapter11) Here the emergence of Bertha is a contrastive reflection of the image for both Rochester and Jane Eyre. In one aspect, Charlotte took this opportunity to tell readers that Rochesters personality was under the influence of this beast-behavior woman, so it may seek sympathy from readers on the heros side. But in another aspect, Rochester betrayed Jane Eyre by concealing the fact of his previous legal wife, which may trigger readers to criticize this villain. As to Jane Eyre and Bertha, they formed a striking contrast before readers: the former civilized creature with tender love, the latter is dehumanized like beast. Under such a sharp comparison, the theme of beauty and evil has been exposed.3.2 Innovational gothic plots A good story teller must have a good skill of arranging the plots. Charlotte was such a talent narrator of her own story because she creatively designed many wonderful and attractive plots, which increased more romance to this novel and have placed an open for a final release from the gothic feelings. 3.2.1 Alternating the plots between laughter and tearsNo matter realistic or romantic, a wonderful gothic novel requires writers to carefully conceive the plots. Charlotte was a skillful fiction maker in her novel Jane Eyre. Readers can have a brief narration of the romantic love between Jane Eyre and Rochester: Jane was a poor governess while Rochester was the noble host of Thornfield. After the secret mad woman uncovered, Rochester was disclosed actually a moral evil and law breaker; meanwhile, Jane became the victim and despairingly left him. After the fire accident, Rochester became helplessly blind and cripple, lost his wealth and lived lonely in the manor-house at Ferndean; at the same time, Jane was pursued by Saint John at Moor House and became the successor of her uncle. They seemed to be doomed to be separated all the time; however, Charlotte tied the two together at last. Thats not unreasonable for Charlotte to do so. In fact, these two peoples fate has been put together at the beginning of the story: Jane is quite ordinary and Rochester is not handsome. Jane left for Lowood School to pursuing her independence and liberty while Rochester is escaping from his false marriage to pursuit his own true love. Both of them are seeking for a breath of a fresh air of new life and at last, they combined together. Look into to the whole story, Charlotte is good at alternating laughter parts and tearing parts to make the love process goes in a zigzag line.3.2.2 Avoiding of traditional skills of gothic featuresIn many other gothic novels, take Wuthering Heights for example, the writer arranged abundant plots like violence, murder or revenge, which makes readers feel hysterically dark, terrified and eerie. Charlotte also used these plots, but unlike other gothic novel, plots in Jane Eyre are always trying to evade the traditional gothic feature. Jane Eyre produced a bright and easy atmo