Themes
Jane Eyres marriage is a big theme in the book. Jane’s idea of marriage has 3 main ideas: compatibility, passion, and ethics. She thinks that if someone marries for money the love is dead. A marriage for Jane is people who are similar in thinking similar in a finical standpoint and have good morals, then that men and women are ideal for each other. Marriage is very important to Jane because she wants to feel like she can provide for herself but have a companion that she loves.
"He is not to them what he is to me," I thought: "he is not of their
kind. I believe he is of mine; – I am sure he is, – I feel akin to him, – I
understand the language of his countenance and movements: though rank and
wealth sever us widely, I have something in my brain and heart, in my blood and
nerves, that assimilates me mentally to him. […] I must, then, repeat
continually that we are forever sundered: – and yet, while I breathe and think
I must love him." (2.2.85)
Education plays a important role in Jane's life. Education and learning in her early life was the only
way she could feel happy and it became a way for her to escape from her problems. Jane is kicked out of the Reed’s house for hitting John because she was reading. She was a governess and she taught Adele. She used her painting skill to escape and feel good. In school Jane felt she was loved by Mrs. Temple, Helen, and all the friends she had made
“I had meant to be so good, and to do so much at Lowood; to make
so many friends, to earn respect, and win affection. Already I had made visible
progress: that very morning I had reached the head of my class; Miss Miller had
praised me warmly; Miss Temple had smiled approbation; she had promised to teach
me drawing, and to let me learn French, if I continued to make similar
improvement two months longer: and then I was well-received by my fellow-pupils;
treated as an equal by those of my own age, and not molested by any: now, here I
lay again crushed and trodden on; and could I ever rise more?” (1.8.1)
The characters in the book seem to trick you by their appearances. The beautiful and better looking people are the devious evil ones while the bland or the ugly looking ones are more spiritual, caring, and kind. This shows that the more beautiful people were the uglier people on the inside.
"I have a Master to serve whose kingdom is not of this world: my
mission is to mortify in these girls the lusts of the flesh; to teach them to
clothe themselves with shame-facedness and sobriety, not with braided hair and
costly apparel; and each of the young persons before us has a string of hair
twisted in plaits which vanity itself might have woven: these, I repeat, must be
cut off; think of the time wasted, of – "
Mr. Brocklehurst was here
interrupted: three other visitors, ladies, now entered the room. They ought to
have come a little sooner to have heard his lecture on dress, for they were
splendidly attired in velvet, silk, and furs. The two younger of the trio (fine
girls of sixteen and seventeen) had grey beaver hats, then in fashion, shaded
with ostrich plumes, and from under the brim of this graceful head-dress fell a
profusion of light tresses, elaborately curled; the elder lady was enveloped in
a costly velvet shawl, trimmed with ermine, and she wore a false front of French
curls. (1.7.32-33)
Jane is in a social class of her own because she looks down on
the Victorian hierarchy. Jane is a class of her own because she went to a school
left on her own and she found herself a job when most women would get married.
Jane is also different because she was a governess and her master proposed to
her while most masters won’t even acknowledge his governess. As Jane was getting
comfortable with Mr. Rochester she left him because he was married already. Jane
puts herself in positions to be in her own social
class.
"The
fact is, once for all, I don’t wish to treat you like an inferior: that is
(correcting himself), I claim only such superiority as must result from twenty
years’ difference in age and a century’s advance in experience."[…]
"I don’t
think, sir, you have a right to command me, merely because you are older than I,
or because you have seen more of the world than I have – your claim to
superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience."
(1.14.42, 48
Motifs
Fire
and Ice:
In Jane Eyre Fire represents the compelling emotion in the characters. However
the ice represents the calm and soothing characters that take life for
Granted.
A example of fire is when Jane starts hitting John and yelling at Mrs. Reed, she was stubborn, against traditions, and she had many feminist thoughts.
Helen Burns is an example of ice, She was accepting and an instructor to Jane.
St. John Rivers can be another example of ice: He is a humble missionary, conforming, and doesn't think about himself.”
Mr. Rochester can be classified more like fire: “He is willing to sacrifice relationship with his wife, to marry Jane.
Substitute mothers:
“She had stood by me instead of mother,
governess, and latterly companion”
Jane Eyre experiences women in her life
that set good examples or in other words role models to her. The women are
strong that she can model herself upon. The women play mother roles to the
orphan Jane. There are three women that are female role models to Jane: Bessie,
Mrs. Temple, and Helen Burns.
Bessie: When Jane lived with Mrs. Reed she
was treated badly, although Bessie the maid helped Jane through her hard times.
She babied Jane through the Red room and teached her how to grow
up.
Mrs. Temple: She was not just a role model
she was a companion and a friend to Jane. Temple hid Jane from pain and
possessed charm.
Helen Burns: She was a friend and taught
Jane about the world. Helen told Jane about faith and self-worth.
Independent:
“ I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I
am a free human being with an independent will; which I now exert to leave
you”.
Throughout the entire book Jane is fending
for herself and is alone a lot. For example, she lived at her aunt Reeds house
when she was a kid. Her cousins and aunt do not like or want to play with her.
She is always alone because she doesn’t do what other women do. When Jane moved
to Thornfield Hall she became a social class of her own. Jane is not a servant
or maid but is a lower than the estate owner. Jane becomes an independent of her
own.
Symbols Of Jane Eyre
The
Splintered Chestnut Tree- Exactly
a day after Jane Eyre is proposed to by Mr. Rochester under the chestnut tree,
the tree is stuck by lightning, nearly cutting the tree in half. This symbolizes
Jane Eyre’s and Mr. Rochester’s relationship will be struck by burdens much like
how the tree was struck by lightning, this also suggests the upcoming upset for
Jane Eyre where she is driven away by Mr. Rochester’s secrets and
lies.
The
Red Room-
The red room is the room where her uncle died, and her aunt, who was supposed to
care for her, but was really more wicked then caring, locked her in. In this
room Jane goes through a very traumatic state, and at some points becomes
unconscious. This symbolizes everything Jane Eyre is supposed to overcome, and
the ridicule that causes her to see red, or like written causes her to see the
red room.
Drawing
Portraits-
Throughout this book Jane draws several portraits including one of herself and
another of Mr. Rochester. A few times she compares the two, this symbolizes how
she feels she is not equal with Mr. Rochester. In fact it is not until after she
becomes wealthy with money of her own does she feel equal to Mr.
Rochester.
Bertha
Mason- Bertha
Mason Mr. Rochester first wife. She is show to be insane and violent. She is
also a person in Jane Eyre’s life that can be interpreted in many ways. I
personally feel she symbolizes are Jane Eyre’s rage, and feelings of the typical
gender roles in her society.
Jane Eyres marriage is a big theme in the book. Jane’s idea of marriage has 3 main ideas: compatibility, passion, and ethics. She thinks that if someone marries for money the love is dead. A marriage for Jane is people who are similar in thinking similar in a finical standpoint and have good morals, then that men and women are ideal for each other. Marriage is very important to Jane because she wants to feel like she can provide for herself but have a companion that she loves.
"He is not to them what he is to me," I thought: "he is not of their
kind. I believe he is of mine; – I am sure he is, – I feel akin to him, – I
understand the language of his countenance and movements: though rank and
wealth sever us widely, I have something in my brain and heart, in my blood and
nerves, that assimilates me mentally to him. […] I must, then, repeat
continually that we are forever sundered: – and yet, while I breathe and think
I must love him." (2.2.85)
Education plays a important role in Jane's life. Education and learning in her early life was the only
way she could feel happy and it became a way for her to escape from her problems. Jane is kicked out of the Reed’s house for hitting John because she was reading. She was a governess and she taught Adele. She used her painting skill to escape and feel good. In school Jane felt she was loved by Mrs. Temple, Helen, and all the friends she had made
“I had meant to be so good, and to do so much at Lowood; to make
so many friends, to earn respect, and win affection. Already I had made visible
progress: that very morning I had reached the head of my class; Miss Miller had
praised me warmly; Miss Temple had smiled approbation; she had promised to teach
me drawing, and to let me learn French, if I continued to make similar
improvement two months longer: and then I was well-received by my fellow-pupils;
treated as an equal by those of my own age, and not molested by any: now, here I
lay again crushed and trodden on; and could I ever rise more?” (1.8.1)
The characters in the book seem to trick you by their appearances. The beautiful and better looking people are the devious evil ones while the bland or the ugly looking ones are more spiritual, caring, and kind. This shows that the more beautiful people were the uglier people on the inside.
"I have a Master to serve whose kingdom is not of this world: my
mission is to mortify in these girls the lusts of the flesh; to teach them to
clothe themselves with shame-facedness and sobriety, not with braided hair and
costly apparel; and each of the young persons before us has a string of hair
twisted in plaits which vanity itself might have woven: these, I repeat, must be
cut off; think of the time wasted, of – "
Mr. Brocklehurst was here
interrupted: three other visitors, ladies, now entered the room. They ought to
have come a little sooner to have heard his lecture on dress, for they were
splendidly attired in velvet, silk, and furs. The two younger of the trio (fine
girls of sixteen and seventeen) had grey beaver hats, then in fashion, shaded
with ostrich plumes, and from under the brim of this graceful head-dress fell a
profusion of light tresses, elaborately curled; the elder lady was enveloped in
a costly velvet shawl, trimmed with ermine, and she wore a false front of French
curls. (1.7.32-33)
Jane is in a social class of her own because she looks down on
the Victorian hierarchy. Jane is a class of her own because she went to a school
left on her own and she found herself a job when most women would get married.
Jane is also different because she was a governess and her master proposed to
her while most masters won’t even acknowledge his governess. As Jane was getting
comfortable with Mr. Rochester she left him because he was married already. Jane
puts herself in positions to be in her own social
class.
"The
fact is, once for all, I don’t wish to treat you like an inferior: that is
(correcting himself), I claim only such superiority as must result from twenty
years’ difference in age and a century’s advance in experience."[…]
"I don’t
think, sir, you have a right to command me, merely because you are older than I,
or because you have seen more of the world than I have – your claim to
superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience."
(1.14.42, 48
Motifs
Fire
and Ice:
In Jane Eyre Fire represents the compelling emotion in the characters. However
the ice represents the calm and soothing characters that take life for
Granted.
A example of fire is when Jane starts hitting John and yelling at Mrs. Reed, she was stubborn, against traditions, and she had many feminist thoughts.
Helen Burns is an example of ice, She was accepting and an instructor to Jane.
St. John Rivers can be another example of ice: He is a humble missionary, conforming, and doesn't think about himself.”
Mr. Rochester can be classified more like fire: “He is willing to sacrifice relationship with his wife, to marry Jane.
Substitute mothers:
“She had stood by me instead of mother,
governess, and latterly companion”
Jane Eyre experiences women in her life
that set good examples or in other words role models to her. The women are
strong that she can model herself upon. The women play mother roles to the
orphan Jane. There are three women that are female role models to Jane: Bessie,
Mrs. Temple, and Helen Burns.
Bessie: When Jane lived with Mrs. Reed she
was treated badly, although Bessie the maid helped Jane through her hard times.
She babied Jane through the Red room and teached her how to grow
up.
Mrs. Temple: She was not just a role model
she was a companion and a friend to Jane. Temple hid Jane from pain and
possessed charm.
Helen Burns: She was a friend and taught
Jane about the world. Helen told Jane about faith and self-worth.
Independent:
“ I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I
am a free human being with an independent will; which I now exert to leave
you”.
Throughout the entire book Jane is fending
for herself and is alone a lot. For example, she lived at her aunt Reeds house
when she was a kid. Her cousins and aunt do not like or want to play with her.
She is always alone because she doesn’t do what other women do. When Jane moved
to Thornfield Hall she became a social class of her own. Jane is not a servant
or maid but is a lower than the estate owner. Jane becomes an independent of her
own.
Symbols Of Jane Eyre
The
Splintered Chestnut Tree- Exactly
a day after Jane Eyre is proposed to by Mr. Rochester under the chestnut tree,
the tree is stuck by lightning, nearly cutting the tree in half. This symbolizes
Jane Eyre’s and Mr. Rochester’s relationship will be struck by burdens much like
how the tree was struck by lightning, this also suggests the upcoming upset for
Jane Eyre where she is driven away by Mr. Rochester’s secrets and
lies.
The
Red Room-
The red room is the room where her uncle died, and her aunt, who was supposed to
care for her, but was really more wicked then caring, locked her in. In this
room Jane goes through a very traumatic state, and at some points becomes
unconscious. This symbolizes everything Jane Eyre is supposed to overcome, and
the ridicule that causes her to see red, or like written causes her to see the
red room.
Drawing
Portraits-
Throughout this book Jane draws several portraits including one of herself and
another of Mr. Rochester. A few times she compares the two, this symbolizes how
she feels she is not equal with Mr. Rochester. In fact it is not until after she
becomes wealthy with money of her own does she feel equal to Mr.
Rochester.
Bertha
Mason- Bertha
Mason Mr. Rochester first wife. She is show to be insane and violent. She is
also a person in Jane Eyre’s life that can be interpreted in many ways. I
personally feel she symbolizes are Jane Eyre’s rage, and feelings of the typical
gender roles in her society.