To what extent is Jane Eyre a ‘gothic fairytale Essay Example

her and her friend Helen Burns dies. Mrs. Reed's actions show her cruelty towards Jane.

Mr Brocklehurst's instruction to the teachers to closely monitor and judge Jane's actions and to inflict physical punishment in order to save her soul reveals the cruelty of those who hold this belief. Despite this, Miss Temple's declaration of Jane's innocence adds a fairytale-like quality to the story by implying that no lasting harm can befall the protagonist. However, this reference to fairytale is a rarity as in such stories, it is usually the villains who are punished and not the kind-hearted. Furthermore, the death of Jane's close friend contributes to the gothic aspect of the novel as it is a tragic event for the hero rather than the usual occurrence of an unpleasant character dying in a happy ending. Although Jane remains at Lowood for eight years, six as a pupil and two as a teacher, her departure marks the beginning of a whole new chapter in the book.

Jane was approached by Mrs Fairfax after posting an advertisement for work, who wanted her to care for a young girl. While on her way to the job, Jane helps a stranger whose horse slips on an icy causeway despite his gruff demeanor. The stranger is later revealed to be her actual employer, adding a fairytale-like element to the story. At Thornfield Hall where Jane works, eerie occurrences such as hearing a mirthless laugh supposedly from Grace Poole and an attempted murder of Jane's employer take place. The attacker was heard laughing the same mirthless laugh before attempting to burn him in his bed. Fortunately, Jane saves him from this harrowing ordeal.

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novel contains gothic elements, such as Jane's prophetic dreams about a child. While working at Thornfield Hall, she falls in love with Mr. Rochester, but is unsure if the feeling is mutual. Her happiness is disrupted when Mr. Rochester acts as though he will marry Blanche Ingram to make Jane jealous. This cements the fairytale aspect of the novel, with Jane infatuated with her employer and their eventual engagement seeming somewhat cruel given the circumstances.

The fairytale commences in a gothic house situated at the foot of a hill, which appears unwelcoming and chilly from the outside. However, inside the dwelling is filled with liveliness and bustle, allowing readers to form judgments about characters and acquire insights into their histories. Mr Rochester's harsh game he plays with Jane is indicative of a typical gothic fairytale. Even though Jane has reservations about Mr Rochester's upcoming marriage to the unfeeling Blanche Ingram, she becomes distraught upon hearing of it. She intuits that Ingram cannot win over Mr Rochester with her charm because he hasn't truly given his love to her.

During a visit from a gypsy woman who was foretelling the future of unmarried women in the house, Jane was expected to attend, as is typical in fairytales. When Jane went to hear the old woman's predictions, she appeared unconvinced and even warned the woman by saying "I have no faith". However, instead of predicting Jane's future, the woman attempted to persuade her into confessing her love for Mr Rochester. Even when Jane did not reveal her affection, the man threw off his disguise with a cry of "off, ye lendings" and asked about the conversation in the other

room. Such deception is often seen in fairytales, reminiscent of Snow White, where the queen disguised herself as a witch.

The novel takes on a fairytale-like twist with the discovery of the strange visitor to the Hall, causing Mr Rochester distress. However, he shows a change in character and seeks aid from Jane, whom he once grudgingly denied help. In true fairytale fashion, the hero and heroine have a unique bond before realizing their shared love. Later, Jane selflessly aids Mr Rochester without questioning the situation, reminiscent of fairytales where characters ignore warnings of danger to help others. The incident is gothic in nature as the unknown figure who injured Mr Mason adds an air of mystery. Soon after, Jane receives a visit from her old nurse's husband and is asked to visit her dying aunt.

Jane's fairytale-like story involves forgiving her sick aunt in a truly magical way. Upon returning, she finds her master happy and their wedding preparations complete. During an evening walk in the gardens, Jane encounters her master and confesses their love for each other, despite their age difference. They become engaged while the following chapters focus on wedding preparations. Despite some gothic elements of the novel, Jane insists on a simple ceremony without elaborate jewels.

During their wedding, the priest asks if there are any reasons why they may not be joined together. Mr Mason speaks up and reveals that Mr Rochester is already married to his sister, Bertha Mason. They go to see Bertha, who is a mad old woman on the third floor of the house. This gothic twist would not be found in a typical fairytale. Jane

is so upset by this news that she runs away from Mr Rochester and lives on the land for several days.

The scenario in which Jane Eyre is abandoned in the wilderness without company is gothic and unsettling. However, she is fortunately rescued by the Rivers family consisting of St John, Diana, and Mary, who are revealed to be her cousins, a familiar motif in fairytales.

After receiving news of her uncle John's death and inheriting his money, Jane shares it with her cousins. St John proposes to her and despite much consideration, Jane is about to accept. However, she hears a familiar voice calling her name and decides to search for her lost love, Mr Rochester. Upon returning to Thornfield Hall, she discovers that it has been destroyed and Mr Rochester is now blind with only one hand due to his wife's suicide. The unsettling turn of events adds a gothic element to the story. Jane later finds Mr Rochester at his other home, where they discuss their reunion. Remarkably, they recall hearing each other's voices even though they were miles apart, giving the novel a fairy-tale-like quality.

The gothic features present in Jane Eyre add to its fairytale-esque characteristics. Following the destruction of Thornfield Hall and Mr Rochester's resulting blindness, Jane locates him at his alternative residence in Ferndean. Despite his impairment, they wed and live joyfully ever after. As a result of an extraordinary turn of events, Mr Rochester regains his vision and is able to behold their new baby. This highlights how Jane Eyre encapsulates the heart of a gothic fairy tale.

Although the story falls under the gothic fairytale genre, there are certain

elements that do not conform to it based on my personal evaluation.