Friday, September 11, 2009

Jane Eyre 11-16

How is the way Charlotte Bronte introduces Rochester significant?
How is the way Charlotte Bronte introduces Grace Poole significant?

Respond to one prompt in class (timed AP-style passage analysis essay) on Friday, September 11, 2009. Due 9/11/09 2:07.

Respond to the other prompt at home. Post below 9/14/09 11:59.

Focus on how the choices Bronte makes and the techniques Bronte uses, while introducing these characters, are significant. This is a low-stakes assignment we are practicing this sort of AP-style writing while also learning about literary techniques and author's purpose.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sarah Al-Edwan.


Grace Poole’s introduction is significant because it reveals the eerie and mysteriousness of her nature and the way in witch Jane and others perceive her. At first Jane is startled by Grace’s ghostly laugh until Mrs. Fairfax reveals that it is just a servant who is “not all together.” Grace makes another appearance the night of the fire in Mr. Rochester’s room. Jane awakes with a feeling of a threat only to hear grace’s unmistakable laugh. This shows that Jane feels threatened by grace, and when she witnesses the fire this only confirms her fears. The next day before Jane confronts Grace about the fire, she points out that Grace is sitting taciturn looking, completely uncommunicative. Bronte wants us to think of Grace as separate from every one else, as a part of something else, possibly a façade. When Jane questions her about the fire she is unable to get a confession. The event of the fire, and Jane’s suspicion as part of Grace Poole’s introduction are significant because they set up the way we as readers perceive Grace through characterization.

nFrye said...

Nancy F.

When Charlotte Bronte introduces her characters in the novel Jane Eyre, the introduction of a new person is important, but the way in which the character is introduced has its own significance as far as the development of the story goes. Mr. Rochester is introduced as a person with physical description and a personality, but a hint of his mysterious side is played up even before Jane sees him. Bronte also uses the introduction of Mr. Rochester to set the stage for later inner emotional conflicts and compatibilities that Jane has with him as. In this way, Bronte adds depth of plot and character to the novel.
As with other characters in Jane Eyre, Bronte gives an impression of Mr. Rochester even before he is physically seen. As Jane sits and waits by the road, she hears sounds that make her think of childhood stories of the "Gytrash," a mythical monster. As the sound of Mr. Rochester's horse approaches, she grows more nervous as she remembers the tales of her youth. In this way, Bronte calls attention to Mr. Rochester's mysterious side, shrouding him in a sort of fairytale surrealism. Already, Bronte creates curiosity and interest for Jane in her employer.
Bronte adds further depth to Mr. Rochester when he and Jane are finally introduced personally. When Rochester's horse falls and he asks for help from Jane, a bond begins to form. As Jane notes in her "autobiography", she feels no fear in going immediately to his aid, a sign of the compatibility between the two. Even though Jane had had little contact with men, she was not intimidated by Mr. Rochester, and felt sure in herself as she helped him. Because Jane and Rochester worked as a team and were able to communicate, Bronte gives a hint as to how well their two personalities meshed.
As Bronte introduces Mr. Rochester to the novel, it is possible to not only picture a character, but also to see some depth in both him and the story. Hints are given as to the mysteriousness of his nature as well as his compatibility with Jane. Bronte was even able to tie the two together by lacing Jane's childhood stories with Mr. Rochester's mysterious side, making him even more intriguing and attractive to Jane. In this way, not only is the introduction of Mr. Rochester significant, but the way in which it is done carries its own importance as well.

nFrye said...

I did my essay in under 40 minutes. I figured I could use the practice.

Andrew Ryan said...

Andrew R.

The way Charlotte Brontë introduces the character Grace Poole in her novel Jane Eyre is intriguing because Jane tends to hear Grace’s frightful laugh before ever laying eyes on her which leads the reader to believe she is mysterious. By introducing her like this, Grace Poole appears not only as a mysterious character but one that seems to have evil intentions. Jane often will hear Grace’s chilling laugh exude through Thornfields’ walls which makes Grace Poole appear as an apparition. Grace Poole’s character keeps Jane on edge while staying at Thornfield.
When Jane wakes up to the sound of Grace’s eerie laugh followed by the smell of smoke emanating from Rochester’s room, she is shocked to find that Mr. Rochester’s room has caught aflame. Grace Poole’s laugh tends to foreshadow frightful events that have yet to happen. Jane is baffled when Jane spots Grace in Rochester’s room who tells her that she has no knowledge of the event since she was asleep. Jane is astonished at first by the encounter because when Grace turns towards Jane, Jane notices after studying her face that there was “no increase or failure of color betrayed emotion, consciousness or guilt, or fear of detection.” Jane is so confused that she begins to second-guess if she really heard Grace’s laugh that night. Grace Poole intentionally or not causes Jane to become extremely paranoid of her. When Grace asks if Jane “Then you are not in the habit of bolting your door every night before you get into bed?” Jane becomes on-edge thinking that Grace is planning on killing her.
Grace Poole is significant in the novel Jane Eyre because she initiates Jane into becoming a highly paranoid character. Jane begins to ponder why Mr. Rochester after hearing from Jane that Grace Poole might have tried to kill him, would keep her as a servant in the house. This leads Jane to some follow-up thoughts of whether or not Mr. Rochester admired Grace when she was younger and for that refuses to fire her. When Jane begins to study Grace she realizes that she spends most of her time alone away from the other servants which Jane finds odd. Even though Jane is uncertain on Grace’s and Rochester’s relationship, she does know that Grace is a suspicious character who probably shouldn’t be trusted and this is what Charlotte Brontë is trying to get across. As Jane investigates this matter she unintentionally gets closer to Rochester and from this investigation her love towards him becomes stronger than it once was. Grace Poole is such a mysterious character because it is not known whether or not she intended to have Jane investigate the fire so she would get closer to Rochester. Grace Poole is significant in the novel Jane because Charlotte Brontë uses her to indirectly get Jane closer to Rochester and her laugh is used to foreshadow troublesome events down the road.

Megan Keegan said...

Mr. Rochester is introduced to the novel to serve as a learning experience for Jane. Before meeting him, she had never been exposed to a kind hearted male. The only other experience she had dealing with the male sex was John who beat her as a child, and Mr. Brocklehurst who was always strict and cruel.
The way that Mr. Rochester enters the story is quite ironic because he pretends to not be himself. Jane had no prior knowledge of his appearance so she was fooled quite easily. He asks her where she comes from and when she replies that she lives at Mr. Rochester’s he asks her if she knows him. She says she does not, but he continues to hide his true identity from her. Throughout the novel, there are many things that Jane doesn’t know about Mr. Rochester. How he is first introduced to her is both amusing and subtly indicates what is to come.
When Rochester falls off his horse and Jane has to help him, there is a bit of foreshadowing. After this event it seems like Rochester is helping Jane more than she is helping him because he is teaching her to be who she really is and hold her own. At the same time however, Jane helps Mr. Rochester grow up and learn what he really wants out of life.
The initial interaction between Jane and Mr. Rochester shows how much she is attracted to his nature. She says “I had hardly ever seen a handsome youth; never in my life spoken to one. I had a theoretical reverence and homage for beauty, elegance, gallantry, fascination; but had I met those qualities incarnate in masculine shape…” Because Jane was never surrounded by men in her childhood, she is fascinated by Mr. Rochester. In the rest of the book, she shows her that not all men are evil and from that lesson she grows into a more understanding person. The introduction of Mr. Rochester shows us how future interactions with Jane will be.

Anonymous said...

Terri M.

The way peers talk about one another influences the way they feel about each other. First impressions are powerful. Introductions can leave long- lasting impressions. The way an author introduces the protagonist to other characters is important because is reveals how the protagonist processes and responds to given information; this is influential to the reader because one can learn from the experiences of the protagonist.
In Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, there are many important characters brought into Jane’s life. The way characters are introduced to her influences the way she perceives them. This is also true in our lives; the way we interact with people we meet is influenced by how we first meet them. This impression shapes the way we feel about one another. Once Jane moves to Thornfield there is an underlying theme of mystery in the way characters are introduced. Jane is always eager to find out more about those around her. This element of mystery is used by Bronte to tell us more about Jane’s personality. Jane is not fearful, but inquisitive.
The introductions to the characters at Thornfield are not clear-cut for Jane or the reader. For instance, Jane assumes that Mrs. Fairfax is the owner of the home for the first day that she is there because Mrs. Fairfax is friendly and warm. It is by chance that she learns of Mr. Rochester’s mere existence. Another mysterious character that Jane encounters is Grace Poole. Jane hears laughter and questions Mrs. Fairfax about it. Mrs. Fairfax tells Jane the name of who it is, what her position is and tells the one laughing to quiet down. This introduction intrigues Jane she replies, “I really did not expect any Grace to answer, for the laugh was as tragic as preternatural a laugh as any I ever heard….but that neither scene nor
season favored fear, I should have been superstitiously afraid.
However, the event showed me I was a fool for entertaining a sense
even of surprise.”(Continues on the page before the chapter ends) Jane describes the laugh in detail and is interested in the source and although Mrs. Fairfax is vague, Jane still probes for information and ponders the incident. This is how Bronte shows the readers that Jane is curious. The dark setting, sad laughter and rushed introduction to Grace Poole gives her a limited first impression. This shapes how Jane responds to Grace. Bronte introduces Grace this way because it shows us Jane judge’s people by first impressions, as we all do.

Meredith S said...

Meredith S.
Brontë introduces the character Grace Pool into Jane Eyre with the intention of adding mystery into Jane’s life. Jane’s transition into her new life at Thornfield goes relatively smoothly. She feels comfortable at Thornfield and begins to find her place their quickly. The purpose of Grace Pool’s first appearance in the novel is to offset Jane’s comfort and create some disturbance in regards to her feelings about her new environment. Grace Pool also serves as a set up for the later occurrence of Jane meeting Mr. Rochester for the first time.
Jane’s first impression of Grace Pool is not her physical appearance, but rather her eerie laugh. Jane immediately feels that the laugh seems entirely out of place against the order and pleasant atmosphere she has experienced at Thornfield. Jane describes the laugh as being both “tragic” and “mirthless.” The menacing tone of Grace’s laugh creates many questions about her character which remain with Jane long after Mrs. Fairfax officially introduces them. The way in which the laugh invokes such a startling fear in Jane shows that she is still insecure about her place at Thornfield. Jane’s first impression of Grace creates an unsettling disturbance in Jane’s mind to insure that there is mystery present in Jane’s new environment to prevent her from being completely comfortable.
Grace Pool’s introduction also prepares Jane for her first meeting with Rochester. The ominous feeling that Jane picks up on when she meets Grace is similar to the feeling which she describes later when she notices Rochester approaching on horseback. In this way, the apprehensive mood that Grace raised in Jane returns to illustrate her uncertain place in the situation. Jane makes a few attempts to start conversation with Grace Pool after she meets her, but Grace refuses to indulge her. This mirrors how Jane later tries to uncover aspects of Rochester’s personality which he does not immediately reveal, but he dodges her attempts. Grace Pool’s introduction contributes an element of mystery to Jane’s life and makes her question her standpoint at Thornfield, both with Rochester and the general environment.

Katina T said...

Katina T.

Bronte brought Rochester into the novel through a moment of surprise. Rochester and Jane Eyre first met by chance. The author did this on purpose because she wanted to portray Jane’s and Rochester’s relationship as something that would be unexpected during the time period. They met when Rochester’s horse slipped on a patch of ice, causing him to fall and Jane helped him back to his feet. Jane doesn’t know that this is the man who she’s been working for. It is only until later on in the novel that it is revealed that the man she helped was Rochester. Bronte introduces Rochester in this way to foreshadow how it is unusual for a man with a higher class status to associate himself with a lower class woman. Although Jane is in a lower class than Rochester, she does not fear him as most people would. Rochester is described as cold and quick to make a command. Surprisingly, Rochester’s roughness puts Jane at ease. Jane and Rochester are on different levels of the social pyramid, yet they are extremely compatible when they’re together. Jane needed to meet someone different in order to grow as a person, and this is why Bronte brought Rochester into the story. Rochester claims to have seen so much of the world while Jane has been anchored to her charity school. Rochester brings a variety of color into Jane’s black and white world. Jane does this for Rochester as well. Rochester finds that the other people who live in his house can not keep a good conversation going, while Jane intrigues him. Jane left her old school to make a change in her life. She goes on to say “The incident had occurred and was gone for me: it was an incident of no moment, no romance, no interest, in a sense, yet it marked with change one single hour of a monotonous life. (pg.118)” Rochester was a necessary character that had to appear in order for Jane to move on to the next chapter of her life.

Francesco P said...

True to reality, the manner in which individuals are introduced to us remains a significant aspect on our perception of them later on in our acquaintance. Knowing this, Charlotte Bronte’s introduction of Grace Poole is meant to unveil an unfamiliar enigmatic aspect, which Jane as of yet has not encountered. The implied eerie, and apathetic laughter produced by Grace should expectedly frighten Jane who is not of yet experienced in the lunacy people may carry. Jane even states that she “should have been superstitiously afraid” but given the circumstances she felt nothing of the sort. This factor implies that Jane at this point in her life is not innately inclined to reject unfamiliar situations, such as the ghostly wail inside of a foreign manor. As it is customary for Jane, she analyzes Grace Poole’s physical appearance upon her first encounter. Upon laying her discerning eyes on Grace, she realizes the notion she had previously considered entertaining on Grace, was unnecessary and false for Grace did not appear to resemble anything close to an apparition. In fact she swiftly accepts Grace’s disposition, and continues on with Mrs. Fairfax’s discussion as it leads to the subject of Adèle. As the reader, we are left to assume that there will inevitably be other circumstances where Jane’s stance upon unknown, and peculiar situations will be explored. Bronte maintains that Jane is a highly alert and rational individual, and will scarcely allow illogical mindsets to consume her consciousness. She remains consistent and in control, perceives her surroundings and confirms or rejects her conceptions in a given circumstance.
Through Grace Poole’s introduction we receive a foreshadowing on how she will react in other such situations. We see that Bronte is trying to reveal an open-minded aspect of Jane, which also reflects her later initial encounter with Mr. Rochester.

Brianna Aloisio said...

The first impression Jane was given of Mr. Rochester was in relation to her. Bronte introduced this character to make us as the readers have sympathy and be intrigued by him. He is described as being peculiar and no one really understanding him, with no family left and also mysterious and introverted. This is how Jane is. Bronte talked about Rochester before we met him so we could have that thought in the back of our heads as something familiar, something that we had heard about before. This makes us like Rochester more before even meeting him because he is like our protagonist that we so closely are involved with as readers.
When Jane and Rochester do meet, Bronte explains how Jane already identifies herself with Rochester. As he is gallantly riding by her, her mind goes back to childhood memories. These memories are of Bessie who is the only warm and happy memory Jane has of childhood. The ‘gytrash’ she is referring to Rochester’s horse and dog as, is a symbol of Jane being affixed on Rochester and the mysterious haunting that he could potentially bestow. Rochester is already a connection to something Jane never had--a real family. He is like her in his appearance, in his independence and in his pain.
Bronte introduces Rochester for this reason not only so we already associate him and Jane as being similar and a good match but to later interest us in his peculiarity. As Jane falls in love with him later, he is not a kind warm hearted man like most fairy-tale men are, he is pained and confusing. Rochester’s mood is never predicable and his behaviors do not match up to his descriptions. This rollercoaster ride of his developing character makes us as readers keep reading. We are rooting for Rochester and Jane because we already heard their sad stories and want them to have a happy ending. Jane needs a family and Rochester needs to heal his wounds.

Molly A said...

Molly A.

The significance in the manner that Charlotte Bronte chooses to introduce Grace Poole, lies within the foreshadowing and mystery that is provided in the first few lines of the introduction. “The laugh was repeated in its low, syllabic tone, and terminated in an odd murmur… I really did not expect Grace to answer: for the laugh was as tragic, as preternatural a laugh as any I ever heard; and, but it was high noon, and that no circumstance of ghostliness accompanied the curious cachinnation; but that neither scene nor season favored fear, I should have been superstitiously afraid.” (pg. 110) There is an overwhelming sense of discomfort, and uneasiness for Jane, from the moment she hears the voice that may or may not be the stranger, Grace Poole’s.
The depiction that Charlotte Bronte provides, regarding Jane’s feelings towards Grace, could not be more clearly or concisely conveyed. “..Any apparition less romantic or less ghostly could scarcely be conceived” (pg. 110), she recalls on seeing Grace Poole for the first time. The peculiar character, that began to seem so curiously significant, soon drifted farther away from the reader’s mind when she failed to make more perplexing appearances. Low and behold, lacking the redemption that a protagonist character would have worked hard to achieve, Grace returns in an even more discomforting style.
“This was a demoniac laugh—low, suppressed, and deep—uttered, as it seemed, at the very key-hole of my chamber door… ‘Was that Grace Poole? and is she possessed with a devil?’ thought I. Impossible now to remain longer by myself” (pg. 151) It is surprising in itself that Jane’s first reaction is to assume that the “demoniac laugh” is Grace Poole, rather than someone, perhaps, intruding at Gateshead. However, Grace’s way of returning to the plot is delivered in great proportion to the original foreshadowing clues. Bronte sets up Grace’s development perfectly; she allows the reader to know that, not only is Grace Poole isolating herself, or being isolated by something else, but Bronte encourages readers to find clues that tell them why.
Also strikingly odd, is the calm and collected reaction that Mr. Rochester has when he is told that Grace is to blame for the incident. “He listened very gravely; his face, as I went on, expressed more concern than astonishment; he did not immediately speak when I had concluded.”(pg. 152) However, in an even eerier fashion, Mr. Rochester then says, “Remain where you are till I return; be as still as a mouse. I must pay a visit to the third story. Don't move, remember, or call any one.” (pg. 153) It becomes clear, then, that he is going to speak to Grace in a calm and rational way. It seems ridiculous to be able to associate with someone after they had tried to burn you alive. This clue, in addition to many others given over the course of Grace’s presence, makes it extremely obvious that there is something going on beyond the reader’s understanding; something more complex behind who Grace is and what isolates her to the extent it does.
There is a great significance in the way Grace is introduced. From the very beginning, Charlotte Bronte is providing the reader with clues. Every time Grace is encountered, or mentioned, there is some subtle, suggestive hint. By the time we deal with her at the end of the fire, the clues have become so common and varied, that the reader is forced to make a literary assumption. This was Charlotte Bronte’s way of leaving quiet hints, symbols, and patterns around each corner, beginning at the first impression, and continuing through the existence of a character. By doing this, Grace Poole is always mysterious, and there is always much more about her to discover.

amycarpenter57 said...

Amy Carpenter
Meeting Mr. Rochester

The way Charlotte Bronte introduces Mr. Rochester into Jane Eyre is an example of one misdirection after another. First, Bronte uses the setting to her advantage, not just the fact that it’s cold and snowy out but she specifically describes the lane Jane is in during her encounter. It is still and bare and the moon is just rising. The pale moon casts and shadowy feeling throughout the description, as Bronte is setting up the readers, and Jane, for what happens next.

At first, Jane thinks it is a “gytrash”, a mythological beast. Although both she and the reader know that this is impossible we understand her sudden fear because of the setting she is in. The amount of time Bronte spends on describing Jane’s thoughts about gytrashes slightly misdirects us from the fact that there actually is someone coming down the road, a very important point. When even we have to concede that it is a man on a horse (by Jane’s explanation that a human cannot ride a gytrash), something strange happens. The horse and rider fall. This is not only misdirection (the ensuing interaction between Mr. Rochester and Jane actually distracts us from wondering who it is), but a perfect example of a “meet cute”. This is significant because Bronte just as easily could have written a meeting between Mr. Rochester and Jane at Thornfeild when he arrives but instead she places Mr. Rochester in a vulnerable position with Jane having to help him.

Between the original mistaking of Mr. Rochester for a mythological creature and the two’s very first meeting centering around his injury, Bronte sets Mr. Rochester up as a very complex character. Because of how their first meeting went we get the feeling that the rest of Jane and Mr. Rochester’s relationship isn’t going to static and boring either.

Nick B said...

Charlotte Bronte introduces Grace Poole in an unclear, indirect way in order to immediately set an impression of deception and untruth in the readers mind. The flitting laughter Jane hears upstairs is the first indication of any life above her. This absence of previous explanation, information, or warning is intrinsically suspicious. The way Bronte describes the encounter is clearly intended to place doubt in readers’ minds as to truth that it was simply Grace Poole laughing with the servants, but more-so to cast light upon Jane’s personality which, despite eight years of shelter, still has her childhood-bred qualities of distrust.
The initial “introduction” of Grace Poole is hardly more than a brief physical description and doubtful observation of a laugh. The deeper look at her character comes after Jane saves Mr. Rochester from the arson his bed was subjected to, presumably at the hands of Grace Poole. Jane and Grace have something of a battle of wits the next day, with Jane trying to prove Grace’s guilt, and Grace trying to discover the extent of Jane’s knowledge of the true events of the night. This first real look at Grace shows her to be composed, adept at dodging questions, and confident enough in her position and power as to not be afraid of Jane’s inquiries. This complete lack of remorse or guilt indicates that the situation is not as Jane had suspected it to be. Seen from a hypothetical, unbiased point of view (one where I hadn’t read Wide Sargasso Sea already and met Antoinette and her aide Grace Poole) this inference would make it seem that perhaps Grace Poole is simply a strange cover for an even stranger truth.
A side of Jane comes out when she is talking to Grace that Bronte hadn’t displayed previously. She is very determined to confirm her beliefs, though their truth is never in question in her mind, she just needs Grace, the perpetrator, to admit her wrong. This desire to weasel out the evil is strange coming from Jane, who till that point is made out to be very accepting of other people without judging them for their faults or mistakes. The ensuing deduction is that she cares more because the thought “mistake” of Grace’s was an attempt on Mr. Rochester’s life. This in turn leads us to believe that Jane is at least beginning to feel warmth and protectiveness for Rochester, if not feelings more akin to love. Even that stretch is, however, supported later in Chapter 16 when, after hearing about Rochester’s previous dealings with the beautiful Miss Ingram, she chastises herself for entertaining fantasies that he showed her unique kindness and might even want her hand in marriage.
The introduction of Grace Poole even, indirectly, gives new depth to Mr. Rochester’s character. His strange reactions to the fire and subsequent flood are contrary to his latter calm and lack of vengeful action towards Grace. Even right after going upstairs to find out the truth of the fire he is much more sedated than when he goes up, indicating that rather than attack somebody for trying to murder him, he simply asked why they did. This supports the thought that Antoinette is really locked up in his attic, and aided by Grace Poole. The fact that even after she tries to burn him to death, and almost succeeds, he still bears her little surface ill-will, or at least does not act upon any hidden hatred, shows that his harsh exterior can give way to a gentler, understanding interior. This is also supported by his ability to display affection, and maybe more, towards Jane so soon after an attempt on his life.

Nick B said...

The introduction of Grace Poole, both briefly at first, and deeper later in the book, serves to expand the breadth of several characters’ personalities in many dimensions. It, of course, introduces Grace Poole, but also implicates a deeper meaning to her existence in the house. Jane’s developing feelings towards Mr. Rochester are revealed by her protective feelings for him; as well as her determination to make other’s repent, a new trait but one which surely existed in dormancy since her days under the Christian influence of Lowood. Rochester’s more tender side is revealed by his ability to forgive an attempt on his life, as well as his display of affection for Jane after an anger-inciting experience. Charlotte Bronte introduced Grace Poole in a specific way, twice actually, in order to give deeper meaning to her existence, while serving the double purpose of also adding depth to existing characters.

fenkor said...

Hidenori O.

Grace Poole

Charlotte Bronte introduces the servant, Grace Poole as an unusual character whom a story with a weird master of the house might have in order for us to focus on the past that relates to the present. Each setting sets a certain mood for each scene and gets the reader to infer why each one had been used.

Jane Eyre hears about the master of the house, Mr. Rochester as a peculiar man from Mrs. Fairfax straight before starting a conversation about ghosts. This is in a room full of furniture hundreds of years old where Mrs. Fairfax reveals that the Rochesters have been a violent lot in the past. This makes the reader wonder if the Rochester family members still haven’t changed and continue to be violent in secret. There could even be people who may know too much and an eye must be kept on them at all times so that the past won’t interfere. Straight after this in a dim and narrow passage laughter that sounds like it filled every room in the house is heard. Jane describes this laughter as being mirthless, almost like that of a ghost that had come for revenge. But, when Mrs. Fairfax calls out for the owner of the laugh, Grace Poole she comes out normally and appears very plain and ordinary.

The difference between the laughter and the plain appearance focuses the attention on what is hidden beneath the surface. With the unusual setting, the reader knows that something hidden had definitely happened in the past.

B Shay said...

Ms Charlotte Bronte has gone overboard with how mysterious an entrance Grace Poole has made into the book. After being haunted by ghosts in the Red Room, and the possible thought of a gytrash following her home. Jane is now faced with a new mysterious figure in the house. When Grace is first introduced in the attic, Jane thinks that the laughing is coming from ghosts. Since her past experiences, and the creepy nature of the attic in general, that was an understandable thought for Jane to have. But now the only memory of the servant is her ghostly laughs in a creepy attic, not a very good first impression of someone.

Later in the story in the middle of the night Jane is once again exposed to creepy laughter outside her room, and on the night of night of a fire, Jane has to make some hard assumptions. Knowing that with the supernatural usually comes evil; she has to start keeping an eye on Grace. The worst thing that Jane would want is evil act going on under her master’s nose. But does the master know about this? He certainly went to go visit Grace for a long time after the fire.

Now Jane is left with so many questions about Grace, is she supernatural? Is she a murderer? If so, why? This all comes to play when the two meet to talk later the next day. Jane is left with this defect in her normal person evaluation. She is not able to have a normal conversation with Grace, so she must test her instead to see if she is who she really is. To Jane’s disappointment though, she ends up being a test subject herself, and leaves more curious.

If it wasn’t for this mysterious supernatural aura that Grace has about her, things might have moved more smoothly. But since she does, these occurrences will likely occur again. It is not just Grace that is causing it, it’s they’re relationship, no one else seems to have a problem with Grace. Hopefully this tension and suspense will escalate, as we get further into the book.

So overall why is her introduction so significant in the book? Because it supports the supernatural fundamentals and bring some needed tension into the text.