The Gytrash is a mythical spirit from northern England and parts of Scotland. In popular myth, Gytrash are said to appear to wayward travelers. While typically a wolf like spirit, Gytrash have also been described as horses or "large lion like dogs" (Hollow tree tales). Gytrash are sometimes said to lead wayward travelers to their destination, though also have been said to at times lead them astray. Jane is afraid when she thinks she might have seen a Gytrash in Pilot, Mr. Rochester's dog, as well as his horse, before she is able to make out Mr. Rochester, but upon seeing Mr. Rochester, she finds some relief. "The man, the human being broke the spell at once. Nothing ever rode the Gytrash" (Bronte 103). It's possible that Bronte intended to use this event as a comparison that foreshadows Mr. Rochester's character. Although all the men in this story have a dark side, Mr. Rochester already feels like the lesser of two evils, when comparing him to Mr. Brocklehurst. By introducing Rochester, mysteriously, under the guise of a potentially evil spirit, his character is muddied and the reader, like Jane, is uncertain whether or not to trust him. The relief that Jane feels when she realizes she is not in the presence of the Gytrash foreshadows the ways in which she will grow to like Rochester, and also foreshadows relief for both Jane and the reader that Rochester is much kinder and more respectful than Brocklehurst. The notion of a mysterious, ghost wolf/horse figure also fits with the dark theme of the bildungsroman style novel, that Jane Eyre is. While the origins of the Gytrash myth remain unclear, it likely dates back to the 18th century, and in the year 1900 was defined by Joseph Wright in the English Dialect Dictionary as, "An apparition, specter, ghost, generally taking the form of an animal. It is described as an evil cow whose appearance was formerly believed in as a sign of death; others say that it has cloven feet and eyes as large as saucers, or as a black dog" (Pantheon.org).

Works Cited

Wright, J. (1900). The English dialect dictionary. Vol. 2. London: H. Frowde.

https://pantheon.org/articles/g/gytrash.html

https://hollowtreetales.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/thursday-myths-legends-...