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  • Essay / The Building of Suspense in Bronte's Novel Jane Eyre

    The mystery and suspense in Bronte's novel Jane Eyre provide a crucial element to the reader's interpretation of the novel, allowing Bronte to subtly aid the reader to sense future events. Bronte successfully creates mystery and suspense in her novel through the use of both plot features and narrative techniques. The features of Bronte's plot that allow him to create mystery and suspense are the esoteric nature of Grace Poole, the fortune teller's visit to Thornfield, the fire in Rochester's bedroom, and the subsequent mystery of what is in the attic. Brontë's narrative techniques use literary symbolism and dreams, both used to convey a gothic and supernatural setting. Through the use of these literary devices, Jane Eyre becomes both cabalistic and prophetic. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Bronte's character, Grace Poole, is surrounded by a murky mist from the reader's first introduction, an effective device used to create a mysterious atmosphere in the novel. Jane first learns of the occultist Grace Poole when she hears her laughing after Mrs. Fairfax shows her the attic. Brontë first creates a mood of mystery through the initial description of the setting. The attic is described by Jane as being "black as a safe" (Chapter 11, page 122) and the main passage as "narrow, low, and dark" (Chapter 11, page 122). Jane observes that all the doors are closed, allowing the reader to interpret Thornfield's third story as inaccessible and isolated, perhaps intentionally trying to hide something, very comparable to "Bluebeard's Castle" (chapter 11, page 122) in which behind the locked castle doors were hidden the deadly secret of the castle. The laughter Jane hears is described by Jane as “a curious laugh; distinct, formal, joyless” (chapter 11, page 122). The peculiarity of laughter, which is neither joyous nor delighted, perplexes Jane as well as the reader, suggesting that the origin of laughter is not typical. Jane's curiosity leads her to ask Mrs. Fairfax the origin of the laughter. Mrs. Fairfax's vague response does not satisfy Jane, even less after hearing the laughter once again, "a tragic laugh, as supernatural as any I have ever heard" (Chapter 11, page 123). The fact that another curious remark made by Jane is again vaguely answered, after which the subject of the conversation is soon changed, only adds to the suspense of the incident. Following the fire in Rochester's room, Jane observes Grace Poole the next day in the room. The circumstances in which this occurs are largely ordinary. It is morning and Grace is dressed in her usual attire, her expression showing "none of the paleness or despair that one would expect to see on the face of a woman who had attempted to kill." (chapter 16, page 176). Its extreme ordinariness prompts the reader to think beyond its outward appearance while simultaneously adding to the suspense of the situation. Bronte again uses Grace Poole's seemingly obvious normalcy in contrast to previous mysterious descriptions of her to further develop the suspense surrounding her character as Jane tells Rochester of her dream of the unknown figure in her closet tearing her wedding veil. Jane's fear is momentarily assuaged by Rochester's "solving the mystery" (chapter 25, page 319) in a way that does not at all satisfy the reader's curiosity indue to Jane's vivid description of the event and her horrible fear. Bronte uses Grace Poole to create an atmosphere of mystery and suspense through vivid descriptions of the ghostly atmosphere that emerges whenever she is present as well as a contrasting ordinariness that further compels the reader to see Grace Poole at the light of an "enigmatic character" (chapter 16, page 178). The use of a fortune teller in Brontë's Thornfield allows him to add mystery and suspense through the mystical and strange nature of fortune tellers of this era. Brontë first creates a suspenseful atmosphere through Jane's remark; "and the Sybil - if Sybil she was" (chapter 19, page 221), which suggests to the reader that her character may be questionable and that she may not be who she seems at first. first glance. The reader is eager to hear the fate of our heroine through Jane's apathetic indifference as to whether she is being read or not; "I don't care, mom; but you can have fun" (chapter 19, page 221). Perhaps the most mysterious and suspenseful element of the plot is the fortune teller's precise and precise account of Jane's predicament; "You are cold, because you are alone: ​​no contact extinguishes the fire that is within you. You are sick, because the best of feelings, the highest and the sweetest given to man, is keep away from you. You are stupid, because, despite all your suffering, you will not beckon him to come near, nor will you take a step to meet him where he is waiting for you (chapter 19, page 222). This description of Jane's situation both forces the reader to trust the source, which is fairly accurate, while also creating suspense about what will happen to Jane and Rochester, including Rochester. the reader is well aware that this is what the fortune teller is referring to. When she mentions the enigmatic Grace Poole, Jane and the reader are surprised. The reader is once again drawn into the absurdity of the situation. thanks to the fortune teller's astonishing knowledge of Jane's habits, and even more so by her subtle but perceptible quest for certain secrets. sort of information, neither the reader nor Jane knowing exactly what she wants to hear, but it adds to the suspense in our desire to know. When the subject of Mr. Rochester comes up, it seems the fortune teller has struck a chord. But it is with his revelation of his upcoming marriage that interests the reader more. A climax of suspense and mystery is reached when Rochester emerges from his disguise. While it could be said that the disclosure of his identity somewhat solved the mystery, it is even more accurate to say that this revelation only added to the mystery, with his purpose yet to be discovered. Rochester's apparent disturbance at the knowledge of Mason's residence in Thornfield provokes the reader's attention, creating suspense as to his purpose and the events to come. Brontë leaves the reader uncomfortable with Jane's final comment; “cheerful tones put me at ease” (chapter 19, page 230). The reader is well aware that this will not be a peaceful night's sleep. Bronte successfully created tension and suspense regarding the impending tragic events. The fire in Rochester's bedroom not only creates a sense of mystery regarding Thornfield, but also alerts the reader to the enigma of what is in the attic. Before the fire, Brontë establishes a supernatural and ghostly setting; “the night was sadly dark; my morale was depressed” (chapter 15, page 167). The silence of the "vague, peculiar and mournful murmur" (chapter 15, page 167) and Jane's anxious heart create a tense and full of atmosphere.suspense. Bronte creates a setting that very much resembles a sort of horror story through Jane's descriptions; “the door to my room was touched; as if fingers had groped the panels along the dark outer gallery” (Chapter 15, page 167). Jane's frequent reassurance is very effective in adding to the tension of the situation; "The idea [that the sound may be Pilot] has calmed me somewhat: I lie down. The silence composes the nerves" (chapter 15, page 167) which is finally followed by another frightening noise, even more frightening than the previous one; a dream had barely come near my ear, when it fled frightened, frightened by a rather chilling incident" (chapter 15, page 168). Jane's response to the laughter that sounded at her bedroom door disturbs the reader; "my first movement was to get up and tighten the bolt" (chapter 15, page 168) Jane's continual reference to the origin of the laughter as "something" and not as "someone" alerts. the reader on the nature of this origin. Brontë again establishes suspenseful tension this time through Jane's preoccupation with fire and her momentary disregard for laughter which the reader is eager to learn more about once there. With the fire extinguished, Rochester decides to "pay a visit to the third floor" (chapter 15, page 170). the atmosphere in which Jane sits becomes quiet, no noise is heard, and the night becomes cold. Rochester returns, in an equally calm state, making the reader uncomfortable. Rochester's inability to say more about the fire adds to the suspense, his vague answers providing no satisfaction. As the suspense of impending danger fades, a new suspense builds, that of Jane's unresolved feelings for Rochester and their consequences. Bronte's use of literary symbolism is a very effective means by which she is able to subtly warn and inform her readers of impending events. in order to establish a certain degree of suspense in the novel. After Jane accepts Rochester's marriage proposal, Jane tells her readers that the large horse chestnut tree at the bottom of the orchard had been struck by the light in the middle of the night, half having been split; “I faced the wreck of the chestnut tree; it stood black and torn: the trunk, split in the center, gaped horribly” (chapter 25, page 309), a clear reference to the separation of Jane and Rochester. In Ferndean on the unit of Jane and Rochester, Rochester refers to itself as: ; "no better than the old light that struck a chestnut tree in Thornfield's orchard" (chapter 37, page 493) however Jane assures him that "plants will grow around your roots" (chapter 37, page 493), this being a clear providential warning of their future children. Another source of suspense for the reader is Bessie's ballad to Gateshead in which "a poor orphaned child" (Chapter 3, page 29) is described wandering across the moors thinking "of hard heart" (Chapter 3, page 29 ) men. This is a direct prophecy of Jane's wanderings after leaving Rochester before her arrival at Moor House. The ballad describes the presence of God who is with the orphaned child, just as Jane remembered God during her wanderings and struggle for survival. Just before his planned marriage to Jane, Rochester plays a love song for Jane in which there are many symbols and prophecies. The song describes a man whose lover "separation was my pain" (chapter 24, page 304), alluding to Jane's upcoming escape from Thornfield. The man pressed against her "As blind as eagerly", a subtle but obvious reference later..