Jane Eyre is a book that certainly doesn't need its gothicism. Plenty of books have succeeded without it. Pride and Prejudice had no supernatural element, and you could argue that book had an even greater impact than Jane Eyre did. However, I think it's this perhaps-unnecessary gothic nature that makes the book so polarizing. It adds a certain element that differentiates Jane Eyre from other books of the era, and certainly other books with heavy romance. For lack of a better term, the gothic elements of Jane Eyre made it "edgy".
Given that such gothic elements were uncommon in romantic books of the time, Jane Eyre instantly had something that made it stick out. It's a bold and unique choice to incorporate some of these slightly darker elements into a book that was largely targeting women. I think these elements are what help make Jane Eyre a classic.
Even the film versions preserve the boldness of this aspect. The trailer that we watched in class for the 2011 version made it look somewhat like a horror film. When was the last time you saw a movie that was marketed as almost a romance/horror hybrid? I could be wrong, but I don't think any Nicholas Sparks movies have any dark and supernatural elements.
From the encounter in the red-room, to the moment where Jane thinks she can hear Rochester calling her from miles away, the gothic elements make Jane Eyre romantic, exciting, immersive, and adventurous. Both as a novel, and as a film.
Jane Eyre may not need the element of Gothicism, but I don’t think it would have been as widely received without it. Its gothic element is what really sets it apart from other romantic novels. I personal didn’t care for Pride and Prejudice. The problems faced by the Elizabeth and others were a walk in the park compared to the troubles weighing against Jane. Not to method that I couldn’t relate or sympathize with any of them. I totally agree that the gothic element in Jane Eyre is what gives it its edge.
ReplyDeleteI’ve always been drawn towards stories with a supernatural edge – vampires, ghosts, and monsters – but this falls short to most novels in the gothic/supernatural genre. All we have is a little girl who thought she might have seen a ghost. Hell, my 20 year old girlfriend blames a ghost every time the wind blows. Mysterious fires, which are later explained to be set by Bertha. A gloomy setting, and the hearing of Rochester’s voice from miles away. The hearing of Rochester’s voice could easily just symbolize her own personal feelings calling her to go back to Rochester. In my own opinion, I don’t believe that Jane Eyre crosses the boundary of disbelief. For me, the gothic element adds more realism to the story. The characters and setting are so unique. Plus it’s not just “all’s well that ends well” ride off into the story kind of ending. There’s actual hardships and character growth to boot.