Gothic Features in Jane Eyre:
Chapters 11-20
In this portion of the novel, Jane embarks on a new phase of her life at a place called Thornfield Hall,
where she will serve as a governess. At Thornfield, the novel takes on a more gothic feeling. Gothic novels
take place in gloomy or eerie settings, such as old castles or dark mansions, and emphasize horror, mystery,
and the supernatural. Gothic novels, read mainly for entertainment, were especially popular in England in the early 1800s.
This gothic element is what I call “The Metonymy of Gloom.” Metonymy is a kind of metaphor, in which something (like rain) is used to stand for something else (like sorrow). For example, in the book of Genesis 3:19, it refers to Adam by saying that “by the sweat of your brow, you will eat your food.” Sweat represents the hard abor that Adam will have to endure to produce the food that will sustain his life. The sweat on his brow is a vivid picture of how hard he is working to attain his goal. Another example is how the film industry favors metonymy as a quick shorthand, so we often notice that it is raining in funeral scenes.
While Jane Eyre is not a gothic novel, it does contain gothic features. Even in earlier chapters, there is a reference to the supernatural, when Jane, in the red-room, thinks she sees a ghost. As you read Chapters 11–20, look for gothic features. The reverse
page has a list of possibilities, but don’t limit yourself!