English Literature Paper 2

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
1. Characters
  1. Jane - A young orphaned girl with a strong sense of self and integrity who finally finds the love, equality of status and independence she searches for.
  2. Rochester - A wealthy landowner with a dark past and selfish streak who falls in love with Jane and eventually becomes her husband.
  3. St John Rivers - A devout Christian who wishes to serve God by becoming a missionary abroad and wants Jane to join him as his wife
  4. Bertha - The first Mrs Rochester, who is locked away by her husband due to her insanity, and whose death releases him to marry Jane legally
  5. Blanche Ingram - A member of Rochester’s social group, beautiful and cold, whom Jane believes will be the next Mrs Rochester
2. Themes
  1. Equality - Jane wants to be an equal partner in a relationship and keep her independence and autonomy. Only marries Rochester once they have equal financial status.
  2. Love - Jane’s friendships with Helen and Miss Temple, her relationship with the Rivers family, and the love she finds with Rochester are all powerful influences on her.
  3. Religion - Jane’s belief in morality and Christian values cause her to reject Mr Rochester’s immorality and dark side but also St John Rivers’ cold fanaticism.
  4. Journeys - Each stage of Jane’s development is marked by a journey to a new destination: Gateshead, Lowood, Thornfield, Marsh End and Ferndean.
  5. Home - Jane’s search for somewhere to belong, with a family that loves her, is a central theme of the novel. Her final home is with Rochester.
3. Language, form and structure
  1. Narrative form and style - The older Jane narrates the novel retrospectively in the first person, enabling a close focus on Jane’s internal monologue but with the benefit of reflective hindsight.
  2. Bildungsroman - Jane Eyre' is a Bildungsroman – an ‘education novel’ which recounts the development of a central character from childhood through to emotional maturity.
  3. Gothic influences - The Gothic mansion, a family secret, a ghostly presence and a vulnerable heroine.
  4. Imagery - Jane is often described using imagery of fairies or sprites as if she has an ‘airy’ quality, as does her name.
  5. Symbolism - Fire and ice symbolise the opposing influences on Jane and opposing aspects of her own nature. Rochester and Rivers, and Bertha and Jane, also represent these opposites.
4. Context
  1. Gender - Women in the 19th century had very little status and power in society and were totally reliant upon a patriarchal system for financial security.
  2. Marriage - Although marriage was often viewed at the time as an economic and social arrangement, Jane rejects this in favour of marrying for love.
  3. The British and foreigners - Distrust and fear of the ‘foreign’ can be seen in the mystery surrounding Bertha’s past as well as the reaction to Rochester as a ‘gypsy’.
  4. Social class - The novel can be seen as a critique of the class system which often ignored individual merit and quality of character in favour of money and power.
  5. Setting - Places, and movement between places, are important in the novel. Jane often feels trapped in these imposing buildings and seeks the freedom of the outside world.

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