Mysticism

By: Daniel Wu, Sharon Yang, Swetha Ramamurthy, Natasha Mehta, Roxana Bagheri, Gabrielle Sutton

Questions

What do the mystic elements in this novel symbolize?

What is Gytrash meant to warn travellers of? What incident portrays the supernatural link

between Jane and Rochester’s minds? The red room is a symbolic representation of

what? Jane realizes that she should marry for love after

what event?

Prompt

Discuss the mysticism in Jane Eyre such as “Bewitching,” “Fairies” Gypsy reading of cards, dreams, premonitions, visions, etc. What is the point in these symbols, antidotes in the novel?

The prompt asks what effect do the supernatural and mystical apparitions have on

the novel.

How Does This Relate to Jane Eyre?

The prompt relates to Jane Eyre because the presence of mystic elements create suspense and mystery amidst classic Romantic themes of love and equality, often symbolizing internal conflicts, guarded secrets, and warped perception of characters throughout the novel.

1 2

34 5

8 6

7

Ex 1

“As this horse approached, and as I watched for it to appear through the dusk, I remembered certain of Bessie’s tales, wherein figured a North-of-England spirit, called a “Gytrash”; which in the form of horse, mule, or large dog, haunted solitary ways, and sometimes came upon belated travellers, as this horse was now coming upon me” (Bronte 117).

Ex 1(Continued)

According to English folklore, a the supernatural Gytrash is meant to warn individuals of incoming death. Near the end of the novel, Mr. Rochester doesn’t die, but is impaired with his amputated hand and blindness, therefore, the Gytrash acts to warn Jane of Mr. Rochester’s future state.

Ex 2

‘“I dreamt another dream, sir: that Thornfield Hall was a dreary ruin, the retreat of bats and owls. I thought that of all the stately front nothing remained but a shell-like wall, very high and very fragile-looking”’ (Bronte 304).

Ex 2(Continued)

In the night prior to Jane’s wedding to Edward, Jane has a dream concerning the state of Thornfield. Her dream, which can be assumed to be a vision, foreshadows when Bertha lights Thornfield on fire, and it is destroyed. In some ways, the vision can be interpreted as a warning for Jane to leave Thornfield as danger is approaching.

Ex 3 “She had on a red

cloak and a black bonnet: or rather, a broad-brimmed gipsy hat, tied down with a striped table; she was bending over the fire, and seemed reading in a little black book, like a Prayer Book, by the light of the blaze” (Bronte 184).

Ex 3(Continued)

The gypsy tells Jane her “fortune”, portraying the supernatural link of minds that exists between Jane and Rochester which reoccurs with Jane hearing Rochester’s voice during his time of struggle.

Ex 4

“Shaking my hair from my eyes, I lifted my head and tried to look boldly round the dark room: at this moment a light gleamed on the wall. Was it, I asked myself, a ray from the moon penetrating some aperture in the blind? No; moonlight was still, and this stirred; while I gazed, it glided up to the ceiling and quivered over my head. I can now conjecture readily that this streak of light was, in all likelihood, a gleam from a lantern, carried by some one across the lawn: but then, prepared as my mind was for horror, shaken as my nerves were by agitation, I thought the swift-darting beam was a herald of some coming vision from another world” (Bronte 10-11) .

Ex 4(Continued)

The red room is a symbolic representation of Jane’s imprisonment. The red color of the room that matches the color of blood, the deathbed of Mr. Reed, and the sight of the ghost hint at the trauma that Jane has gone through.

Gateshead

“No; moonlight was still, and this stirred; while I gazed it glided up to the ceiling and quivered over my head. I can now…I thought the swift darting beam was a herald of some coming vision from another world. My heart beat thick, my head grew hot; a sound filled my ears , which I deemed the rushing of wings; something seemed near me; I was oppressed, suffocated: endurance broke down; I rushed to the door and shook the lock in desperate effort” (Bronte 12).

Significance of Gateshead

The red room displays Jane’s need to overcome her struggles. Jane desires to be freed from the room as she desires to be freed from adversity. The supernatural element in the room, the spirit of Mr. Reed, symbolizes the various characters throughout the novel that inflict trials upon Jane.

Lowood

“A kind of fairy in my absence had surely dropped the required suggestion on my pillow, for as I lay down it came quietly and naturally to my mind: “Those who want situations advertise: you must advertise in the -shire Herald.”” (Bronte 89).

Significance of Lowood

The fairy serves as a supernatural element to guide Jane to her path in going to Thornfield to be a governess and meet Mr. Rochester. As Mr. Rochester ultimately leads to Jane’s happiness, it can be interpreted that the fairy is a benevolent spirit aiding Jane to meet her divine purpose as a part of a family.

Thornfield

‘“Fearful and ghastly to me-oh, sir, I never saw a face like it! It was a discolored face-it was a savage face. I wish I could forget the roll of the red eyes and the fearful blackened inflation of the lineaments”’(Bronte 306).

Significance of Thornfield

Jane describes Bertha with supernatural characteristics to display the unnatural evil she possesses. Bertha inflicts evil indirectly upon Jane by acting as an impediment to her wedding to Rochester and then harming Rochester, her love.

Moorshead

“And it was the voice of a human being-a known , loved, wee-remembered voice-that of Edward Fairfax Rochester; and it was spoke in pain and woe, wildly, eerily, urgently” (Bronte 456).

Significance of Moorshead

Upon hearing Mr. Rochester’s voice, Jane’s love for Mr. Rochester is confirmed and she feels to be with him is a part of her fate. Rochester’s voice frees Jane from her trial involving St. John’s unwanted marriage proposal. Jane comes to the realization after hearing the voice that she should marry out of love rather than desire to be practical.

I KNOW YOU WANT ME

Works Cited

Bronte L̈, Charlotte, Fritz Eichenberg, and Bruce Rogers. Jane Eyre. New York: Random House, 1943. Print.

"Meme Generator | Homepage."memegenerator.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. <http://memegenerator.net/>.