How Does Bronte Create Suspense In Jane Eyre

In chapter two of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, Bronte displays imagery and symbolism to create suspense for readers as they read later on in the novel. These techniques in use by Bronte gives the reader ideas of what is to come for Jane. Imagery is presented throughout chapter to describe Jane's empathy and knowledge in the red room. As Jane is being put in the red room she says “Oh! I saw a light, and I thought a ghost would come”(Bronte 21). The words “light” and “ghost” draw attention to Jane's fear that she isn't the only one that will be in the red room. Jane has an idea that it may be Mr. Reed, which is her uncle who passed away when Jane was at a young age. These lines show Jane's idea that she probably won't survive in the room and is in horror that there is a spirit or ghost leading up to her fainting. Although perhaps because of her young age, it also indicates her wild imagination and the belief of the supernatural. As Jane was being put into the red room Ms. Abbott says “ Say your prayer...something bad might be committed to come down the chimney and fetch you away”(Bronte 16). This provides fear to Jane and the …show more content…
One way symbolism was handled was through the red room. This is the room Jane is kept locked up because of her punishment.. The red room symbolizes death as it was where Jane's uncle passed away and it is where Jane had an awful experience with the supernatural. Jane believes she saw a spiritual figure while being put in the room, causing her to pass out. The red room also symbolizes blood because of its color, red. This is very dramatizing for a child who is only 10 years old, who is also left in the room all night to serve her punishment for harming John. It is as Jane was put in a nightmare fearing anything that happens in the red room. As a child as young as Jane, an incident like this can really traumatize someone, affecting their life later