The Gothic as an Outlet for the Repression of the Society...

The Gothic as an Outlet for the Repression of the Society The gothic is shown as an outlet for the repression of the society in many ways. In Jane Eyre, immorality, women, madness and sexual desires/passions are being suppressed to ensure that they do not occur on the surface. However, the Gothic uses archetypal symbols, unexpressed passions, the double, madness, death, darkness and supernatural as an outlet for repression. Irrational and aberrant desires are shunned upon in any conservative society that functions on reason and logic. Therefore institutions like religion and moral codes are established, hitherto to modern days, to maintain a status quo and repress such behavior. The Gothic,†¦show more content†¦It can be argued that religion is used as an outlet for repressed romantic passion as seen in the case of St Johns Rivers. As a man of religion, (h)e will sacrifice all (including his romantic passions for Rosamond) to his long-framed resolves (of Christianity). Although he hides (the) fever in his vitals and locks every feeling and pang within, he could not bound all that he had in his natureà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ in the limits of a single passion. He becomes overtly involved in the driven ambition to attain a high position in his vocation and to go to heaven. In a certain extent, he becomes materialistic in terms of his social standing as a clergyman. There and then, the Gothic distorts th e role of religion as a haven for the soul to be a relentless fight for materialistic value. Women are being repressed in Jane Eyre and through the use of Gothic as an outlet, this repression from society is conveyed. For example, outlets such the use of Archetypal symbols, the Double and Madness as an outlet for repressed women helps to convey the repressed feelings to society. The use of the symbol of fire helps in portraying Bertha Masons anger towards Rochester, her husband. 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