Comparing The Narrator In Turn Of The Screw And Jane Eyre

So far, we have examined the role of secrets and narrators in “Turn of the Screw”, and now the focus will shift towards the contrast with Jane Eyre.

Whereas, Jane’s experiences with the entities Bertha and Grace Poole are humanised on four occasions by Mrs Fairfax and Rochester. First, Grace’s laugh “repeated in its low, syllabic tone [and] odd murmur” has Mrs Fairfax respond with “perhaps Grace Poole” (108) which drains Jane’s paranoia and fear. On the event where Rochester leaves Jane with Richard Mason’s injury, it is clear her paranoia and fear are restored with: “I hope it is…not something worse” (151). And so, keeping secrets can have this affect Eugenia Delamotte explains that “[gothic heroines] tremble in fear of the unknown” (205).

The discourse change from first to the third person (“where was the Jane Eyre of yesterday?” 293) demonstrates displaces her away from reality. The fact that she does not feel that Rochester has betrayed her indicates a mental blocking warps the concept on truth and

Therefore, the reader can understand how secrets can affect another as Jane’s sadness of “May you never feel what I felt!” (318) reinforces this impact. Further on, as we learn of St.John's inability to tell Rosamund Oliver his true feelings, we see another way how secrets can cause harm. Bronte amplifies this as her ending focuses on St. John's solitude:

St.John is unmarried: he will never marry now. Himself has hither-to sufficed to the toil, and the toil draws near its close: his glorious sun hastens to its setting. (447).

Nevertheless, both Jane and Rochester keep their love a secret. Their time at Thornfield develops their love for each other. Something that should seem harmful in fact damages Jane especially when Rochester prioritises Blanche Ingram over Jane (“the nerve was touched and teased” 175). She questions why Rochester plays these games but cannot help but feel that she loses him to Blanche Ingram. One particular scene, Rochester dressing as a gypsy demonstrates the lengths one will go to preserve a secret:

You have seen love: have you not? – and, looking forward, you have seen him married, and beheld his bride happy?

Humph! Not exactly. Your witch’s skill is rather at fault sometimes.