Gothic Romance

Gothic Romance

Gothic romance is from the 1800s onwards. Think of stories with old, spooky places like castles, often during bad weather. These settings aren't just for show; they usually have hidden secrets and make the characters feel trapped. The wild outdoors, like big empty fields and dark woods, also play a part, often mirroring the characters' strong feelings.

"Romance" here isn't just about sweet love stories. It's more about big emotions, what one person feels, and often involves something mysterious or exciting. The love in these stories isn't easy. There are often dangers, problems (both from people and maybe ghosts!), and lots of feelings involved. The person someone loves might be mysterious, have a sad past, or even seem a bit dangerous. Getting together is usually a bumpy ride.

There are a few things you'll often find in Gothic romance. There's usually a sense of mystery and things aren't always clear. Sometimes there might be ghosts or strange happenings. The stories often happen in lonely, closed-off places. You might also see a certain type of male character – a "Byronic hero" – who is often good-looking but also a bit sad and has a dark history. The main female character is often innocent but finds herself in trouble. Expect lots of strong feelings like love, fear, and sadness. These stories often look into what the characters are thinking and feeling inside.

Jane Eyre is a good example of this. Thornfield Hall, where much of the story happens, is a classic spooky building in the middle of nowhere. There are secrets about Mr Rochester and strange things that happen, which keeps you guessing. Mr Rochester himself is a bit of a Byronic hero. Jane often finds herself in difficult and scary situations. The book is full of intense feelings.

Gothic romance stories from this time are usually exciting and full of mystery, often with a bit of the supernatural. They look at big feelings and what people are going through, all set in these dramatic, old places. They were a popular way to escape into thrilling and emotional worlds.

Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre, published in 1847, tells the story of its eponymous protagonist, a young woman navigating a challenging life in 19th-century England. From her difficult childhood as an orphan under the care of her cruel aunt, Mrs Reed, and her subsequent harsh experiences at Lowood School, Jane's early years are marked by hardship and a yearning for independence and belonging. These formative experiences shape her strong will and her desire for self-respect.

As an adult, Jane becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall, the imposing estate of the enigmatic Mr Rochester. Here, the novel takes on a distinctly Gothic flavour. The isolated setting, the brooding atmosphere of the house, and the mysterious occurrences within its walls create a sense of unease and foreshadow hidden secrets. Jane and Mr Rochester develop a complex and passionate relationship, one marked by intellectual connection and a powerful mutual attraction that transcends social barriers. However, their burgeoning love is threatened by the revelation of Rochester's dark secret – his insane wife, Bertha, confined to the attic.

Faced with this devastating truth and her own strong moral compass, Jane makes the difficult decision to leave Thornfield. Her journey then leads her through a period of poverty and self-discovery, including a brief and stifling proposal of marriage from her pious cousin, St John Rivers. Ultimately, fate and her enduring love for Rochester draw her back to a changed Thornfield, where she finds him injured but free from his past burden.

Jane Eyre is a novel that blends elements of Gothic romance with social commentary and the Bildungsroman tradition. It explores themes of social class, gender inequality, and the importance of female independence and self-determination. Jane's journey is one of personal growth, as she learns to assert her own identity, find her voice, and ultimately achieve a love based on equality and mutual respect. Her resilience and moral integrity in the face of adversity make her a compelling and enduring literary heroine.

Excerpt and analysis

Excerpt from chapter 11

Let's explore an excerpt from Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre that particularly embodies the Gothic elements prevalent in the novel. A fitting passage is Jane's first distinct encounter with the mysterious laughter at Thornfield Hall, found in Chapter 11:

It was a curious laugh; distinct, formal, mirthless. I stopped: the sound ceased, only for an instant; it began again, louder: for at first, though distinct, it was very low. It passed off in a clamorous peal that seemed to wake an echo in every lonely1 gallery; though it mounted to the floors above, and penetrated the floors below. [...] It was a demonic laugh – low, suppressed, and deep – uttered, as it seemed, at the very key-hole of my chamber door.

Analysis

This passage is steeped in Gothic conventions, primarily through its generation of an atmosphere of mystery and creeping dread. The laugh itself is the central Gothic device here. Brontë’s description – "curious," "distinct, formal, mirthless" – immediately strips it of any warmth or humanity. It is not a sound of joy but something unsettling and out of place. Its formality is particularly eerie, suggesting a deliberate, perhaps even intelligent, yet alien presence.

The acoustic quality and pervasiveness of the laugh are crucial to its Gothic effect. It is not a contained sound but one that "mounted to the floors above, and penetrated the floors below," implying that the source of unease is not localised but rather permeates the very fabric of Thornfield Hall. The old, sprawling manor, with its "lonely gallery," becomes a resonant chamber for this disturbing sound, transforming the domestic space into a site of potential horror. The detail of the laugh seeming to be "uttered, as it seemed, at the very key-hole of my chamber door" brings the unknown threat to an intimate and invasive proximity to Jane, heightening her (and the reader's) sense of vulnerability.

Furthermore, Jane's internal characterisation of the sound escalates its Gothic nature. Initially "curious," it evolves in her perception to "a demonic laugh." This explicit labelling moves the phenomenon from the merely strange to the potentially supernatural or malevolent. It reflects the Gothic trope of a protagonist trying to rationalise or comprehend an experience that verges on the terrifyingly inexplicable. The "low, suppressed, and deep" qualities attributed to this "demonic" utterance suggest something hidden, powerful, and primal, a common feature of Gothic antagonists or entities.

This auditory intrusion functions as a classic Gothic technique to build suspense and foreshadow dark secrets. It is an early indication that Thornfield Hall is not the straightforward place of employment Jane might have hoped for. The unexplained laugh, attributed by Mrs Fairfax with suspicious haste to Grace Poole, becomes a recurring motif of the hidden turmoil within the house, directly leading to the central mystery of Bertha Mason. The sound itself, disembodied and deeply unsettling, perfectly encapsulates the Gothic concern with hidden sins, repressed truths, and the eruption of the irrational into the seemingly ordered world.

Discussion

Gothic romance often has secrets and things that aren't explained. Why do you think these writers leave some things mysterious? What effect does it have on the reader?

Activity: Creating a Jane Eyre Character Map

This activity will help you understand the relationships between the key people in Jane Eyre's life and how they influence her journey.

Instructions:

1. Central Figure: In the middle of a large piece of paper or a digital document, write "Jane Eyre" and draw a circle around it. This is your central point.

2. Identify Key Characters: Think about the most important people Jane interacts with throughout the novel. These might include Mrs Reed, Mr Brocklehurst, Miss Temple, Mr Rochester, Bertha Mason, and St John Rivers. There are others too, so consider who has a significant impact on Jane's development and decisions.

3. Draw Lines and Labels: For each key character you identify, draw a line connecting them to the central "Jane Eyre" circle.

4. Describe the Relationship: Along each line, write a few words or a short phrase that describes Jane's relationship with that character. Consider things like:

   • What is their connection (e.g., aunt, employer, friend, love interest)?

   • How does this person treat Jane?

   • What does Jane learn or experience through her interactions with them?

   • What kind of influence do they have on her?

5. Use Symbols or Colours (Optional): You can use different colours for the lines to represent different types of relationships (e.g., red for conflict, blue for positive influence). You could also use symbols to quickly show key aspects of the relationship (e.g., a broken heart for romantic difficulties, a question mark for mystery).

Remember there isn't one single "right" answer. The goal is to engage with the novel in a creative way and deepen your understanding of Jane Eyre and the people and events that shape her life. 

Further reading

Austen, Jane. Northanger Abbey. W. W. Norton & Company, 2004.

Austen's novel, though published posthumously in 1817, was written earlier, around 1798-1799, at the height of the Gothic Romance craze. It serves as both an homage to and a satire of the genre. The protagonist, Catherine Morland, is an avid reader of Gothic novels and initially interprets the world around her through their conventions. Austen expertly uses Gothic tropes—a mysterious abbey, a brooding patriarch, and hidden secrets—only to subvert them with rational explanations. This work is invaluable for understanding the contemporary reception and social impact of Gothic fiction, illustrating how it permeated the imaginations of readers, particularly young women. The critical material often accompanying such editions provides useful contextual essays and contemporary reviews that illuminate the novel's relationship with the Gothic.

Beckford, William. Vathek. Oxford University Press, 2013.

Originally published in French in 1786 and then in English, Vathek stands as a unique contribution to the Gothic Romance, blending elements of the Arabian Nights with Gothic horror and a Faustian narrative. The Caliph Vathek, driven by insatiable desires and ambition, makes a pact with dark powers, leading to a terrifying descent into the halls of Eblis. Beckford’s work is significant for its orientalist setting, its unrestrained depiction of sensuality and cruelty, and its exploration of damnation. Scholarly editions typically provide an introduction and notes that contextualise the novel within Beckford's eccentric life and the broader literary trends of the late eighteenth century, including the fascination with the exotic and the transgressive.

Lewis, Matthew Gregory. The Monk. Oxford University Press, 2008.

Published in 1796, The Monk is one of the most sensational and controversial Gothic novels of its time. Lewis’s lurid tale of Ambrosio, a respected Spanish monk who succumbs to diabolical temptation, is replete with graphic scenes of sexual desire, violence, incest, and supernatural horror. The novel pushed the boundaries of what was considered acceptable in fiction and drew considerable criticism for its perceived immorality and anti-Catholic sentiment. It is a key text for understanding the darker, more visceral side of the Gothic, and its influence on later horror literature is undeniable. Editions often offer a comprehensive introduction that discusses the novel's scandalous reception and its complex thematic concerns, such as religious hypocrisy and the nature of evil.

Radcliffe, Ann. The Mysteries of Udolpho. Oxford University Press, 2008.

Radcliffe's 1794 novel is often considered the archetypal Gothic Romance and was immensely popular in its day. It follows the fortunes of the orphaned Emily St. Aubert, who is imprisoned in the gloomy castle of Udolpho by her cruel guardian, Montoni. Radcliffe is renowned for her use of the "explained supernatural," where seemingly paranormal events are ultimately revealed to have rational causes. Her vivid descriptions of sublime landscapes, her focus on the terror and sensibility of her heroine, and her intricate plotting were highly influential. The Mysteries of Udolpho is essential for understanding the development of the female Gothic and the genre's emphasis on suspense and psychological fear. Standard editions include insightful introductions and notes that explore Radcliffe's literary techniques and her place in Gothic literature.

Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. Oxford University Press, 2008.

While often categorised as early science fiction, Frankenstein, first published in 1818, is deeply rooted in the Gothic tradition. It employs common Gothic elements such as ominous settings, a sense of dread, and the transgression of natural boundaries. Victor Frankenstein's ambition to usurp the role of Creator and the subsequent horrors that his creation unleashes explore profound themes of scientific hubris, alienation, and the nature of humanity. Shelley's novel marks a significant evolution of the Gothic, shifting from external sources of terror to the internal and psychological, and engaging with contemporary scientific and philosophical debates. Critical editions provide valuable contextual material, including textual variants from different editions, and thorough introductions.

Walpole, Horace. The Castle of Otranto. Oxford University Press, 2008.

First published in 1764, The Castle of Otranto is widely regarded as the first Gothic novel. Walpole initially presented it as a translation of an old Italian manuscript, a common Gothic trope used to lend an air of antiquity and mystery. The novel features a cursed aristocratic family, a decaying medieval castle, supernatural occurrences (including a giant helmet and a bleeding statue), a usurping tyrant, and a threatened heroine. Its plot is driven by prophecy and familial guilt. While perhaps less sophisticated than later Gothic works, its innovative combination of medieval romance and a new emphasis on terror and the supernatural laid the groundwork for the entire genre. Introductions and notes in scholarly editions help to situate the novel within its historical and literary context, highlighting its groundbreaking nature.