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Jane Eyre
Themes
- The
Gothic
- The Red
Room
- Pgs 8-9 ‘tapenade’ – associated with death “strange little
figure...coming out of lone” “tiny phantoms” – fantasy, phantom
like “Mr Reed had been dead nine years...breathed his last” –
ghost stories “crimson cloth”-red repetition emphasising Jane’s
fear “pale throne” – death image
- Pgs 8-9 ‘tapenade’ – associated with death “strange little
figure...coming out of lone” “tiny phantoms” – fantasy, phantom
like “Mr Reed had been dead nine years...breathed his last” –
ghost stories “crimson cloth”-red repetition emphasising Jane’s
fear “pale throne” – death image
- Thornfield
Arrival
- Pgs 84-92 There is mystery surrounding Thornfield and Rochester as the
reader is ‘drip-fed’ details, leaving the scene to the reader’s imagination
Thornfield itself is presented as a gothic mansion with wild roses growing up
the side showing signs of neglect and reflects Rochester’s character Through
the story of ‘Blue Beard’ Bronte hints at violence and imprisonment : both
features of female suffering in the Gothic At the end of the chapter Jane hears
a mysterious laugh: Bertha’s first appearance in the novel
- Pgs 84-92 There is mystery surrounding Thornfield and Rochester as the
reader is ‘drip-fed’ details, leaving the scene to the reader’s imagination
Thornfield itself is presented as a gothic mansion with wild roses growing up
the side showing signs of neglect and reflects Rochester’s character Through
the story of ‘Blue Beard’ Bronte hints at violence and imprisonment : both
features of female suffering in the Gothic At the end of the chapter Jane hears
a mysterious laugh: Bertha’s first appearance in the novel
- Jane walking in the country
lanes just before her
encounter with Rochester
- Pgs 95-96 “The ground was hard, the air was still, my
road was lonely” “dimness” “low-gilding and pale beaming
sun” –little light adding to the eerie atmosphere “wild roses”
–overgrown and untamed “utter solitude and leafless
repose” –little life, reflects her loneliness
- Pgs 95-96 “The ground was hard, the air was still, my
road was lonely” “dimness” “low-gilding and pale beaming
sun” –little light adding to the eerie atmosphere “wild roses”
–overgrown and untamed “utter solitude and leafless
repose” –little life, reflects her loneliness
- Rochester’s first
appearance
- Pgs 100-101 So far Rochester is still unknown, and for four
months there was no sign of Rochester When they first meet
Rochester still doesn’t reveal his true identity His features are
described as being ‘dark’ – mysterious, evil? Rochester’s dog
reminds Jane of an old folk tale which represents a bad omen
- Pgs 100-101 So far Rochester is still unknown, and for four
months there was no sign of Rochester When they first meet
Rochester still doesn’t reveal his true identity His features are
described as being ‘dark’ – mysterious, evil? Rochester’s dog
reminds Jane of an old folk tale which represents a bad omen
- Bertha’s
outburst
- Pg 180-187 At the night of Mr Mason’s arrival, he is attacked by
Bertha and is left wounded This scene is a particular good example
for the Gothic in Jane Eyre as the night Mr Mason is attacked there
is a full moon which is associated with supernatural creatures
such as werewolves and vampires “I saw too that his linen on one
side and one arm was almost soaked in blood”-Blood: a
reoccurring symbol in Gothic novels such as Bram Stoker’s
‘Dracula’ in which Stoker uses blood as a symbol for sex
“moistened the corpse-like face” –Half -dead “She sucked the
blood: she said she’d drain my heart” –Vampire like
- Pg 180-187 At the night of Mr Mason’s arrival, he is attacked by
Bertha and is left wounded This scene is a particular good example
for the Gothic in Jane Eyre as the night Mr Mason is attacked there
is a full moon which is associated with supernatural creatures
such as werewolves and vampires “I saw too that his linen on one
side and one arm was almost soaked in blood”-Blood: a
reoccurring symbol in Gothic novels such as Bram Stoker’s
‘Dracula’ in which Stoker uses blood as a symbol for sex
“moistened the corpse-like face” –Half -dead “She sucked the
blood: she said she’d drain my heart” –Vampire like
- Before Rochester’s
1st Proposal
- Pg 218-219 “the trees were in their dark prime” “antique garden”
– reference to a time long past “I trode on an edging of turf that
the crackle of the pebbly gravel” – nature foreshadowing events
‘moth’ – associated with old or/and dead things “As I crossed his
shadow, thrown long over the garden by the moon, no yet risen
high” – Rochester’s shadow is distorted and eerie
- Pg 218-219 “the trees were in their dark prime” “antique garden”
– reference to a time long past “I trode on an edging of turf that
the crackle of the pebbly gravel” – nature foreshadowing events
‘moth’ – associated with old or/and dead things “As I crossed his
shadow, thrown long over the garden by the moon, no yet risen
high” – Rochester’s shadow is distorted and eerie
- The Red
Room
- Romance
- Jane and Rochester
- >>> Obstacle one: Jane is of a lower class and it
would be a scandal if the two were to be married!
>>> Obstacle two: Rochester is already married to
Bertha: the mad woman he keeps in the attic
- Jane takes the job of being a governess at Thornfield; which is
owned by Rochester. Shortly after working there Jane falls in
love with her employer; however there are many obstacles
preventing them being together
- After Mr Mason interrupts the wedding in chapter 26, Jane leaves Thornfield
as she is heartbroken Jane has to learn how to love without sacrificing herself
completely and her moral compass that she clings tightly to
- Jane inherits money from her late Uncle and discovers that the Rivers are distant
family members: this changes Jane’s status and she gets the family she always
longed for Jane dreams of Rochester and even hears his voice on the moors She
rushes back to Thornfield to find the estate burned down
- She finds Rochester at Ferndean, as he is recovering
from his injuries. Rochester is more humble as a result of
his injuries They finally marry, have a child and live
happily ever after at Ferndean
- >>> Obstacle one: Jane is of a lower class and it
would be a scandal if the two were to be married!
>>> Obstacle two: Rochester is already married to
Bertha: the mad woman he keeps in the attic
- Jane and Rochester
- Superstiton
- The story of
Gytrash
- In chapter 12, a few months into Jane’s stay at Thornfield, Jane goes on a walk in the
country. Whilst watching the moon rise alone, a horse approaches. A story that Bessie once
told her springs to mind. The story was of a spirit called Gytrash, who disguises itself as a
mule, dog or horse to frighten travellers. Gytrash generally is a bad omen.
- As the horse comes closer, a dog and a rider also appear from the misty weather As the
horse and its rider pass Jane, the rider slips on ice and is injured Taking into account that
Gytrash is a bad omen, was this all a warning that Jane should have left?
- In chapter 12, a few months into Jane’s stay at Thornfield, Jane goes on a walk in the
country. Whilst watching the moon rise alone, a horse approaches. A story that Bessie once
told her springs to mind. The story was of a spirit called Gytrash, who disguises itself as a
mule, dog or horse to frighten travellers. Gytrash generally is a bad omen.
- Dream of
babies
- Jane dreams on a series of consecutive nights about babies. Jane remembers what
Bessie said about dreaming of babies that it was “a sure sign of trouble, either to
one’s self or one’s kin” (chapter 21) Jane thinks the dream is a bad omen
- Jane dreams on a series of consecutive nights about babies. Jane remembers what
Bessie said about dreaming of babies that it was “a sure sign of trouble, either to
one’s self or one’s kin” (chapter 21) Jane thinks the dream is a bad omen
- The story of
Gytrash
- Religion
- Mr
Brocklehurst
- Brocklehurst is a cold and wicked character in the novel Though he is charitable as he
gives money to the school (Lowood) it seems that he could be more giving, he is also seen
to be hypercritical as his family are lavished in fine clothing
- When we first met Brocklehurst Bronte describes him as “a black pillar” with a “grim face
at the top was like a carved mask” (Pg 25) And again he is described as being “black
marble” (pg 56) when he punishes Jane at Lowood These descriptions of Mr
Brocklehurst make him seem cold, evil, two-faced and emotionless
- Brocklehurst is a cold and wicked character in the novel Though he is charitable as he
gives money to the school (Lowood) it seems that he could be more giving, he is also seen
to be hypercritical as his family are lavished in fine clothing
- St.John
- St.John is described as being cold and emotionless
“Statue” “ivory” (pg304) –beautiful yet cold “marble
kisses or ice kisses” (pg352)
- Before St.John proposes a second time, he reads a passage from the bible about hell etc, this is very
manipulative of St.John as he is trying to influence Jane’s decision. He also doesn’t want to marry out of
love; he wants Jane as a wife to serve him and accompany him on pilgrimages
- St.John is described as being cold and emotionless
“Statue” “ivory” (pg304) –beautiful yet cold “marble
kisses or ice kisses” (pg352)
- Helen Burns
- At Lowood Helen takes many punishments, yet doesn’t rebel, here she is
almost Christ-like Helen quotes from the bible to Jane in her times of doubt,
almost like a teacher. She also speaks of Heaven and this life being less
important which could be interpreted as lacking an appetite for life
- Helen can be seen as a messianic figure, an example of this
would be the chapter when Helen dies, and even the markings on
Helen’s grave ‘Resurgam’ meaning ‘I will rise again’ can be seen
as Christ-like
- At Lowood Helen takes many punishments, yet doesn’t rebel, here she is
almost Christ-like Helen quotes from the bible to Jane in her times of doubt,
almost like a teacher. She also speaks of Heaven and this life being less
important which could be interpreted as lacking an appetite for life
- Jane
- Jane is a very moral character and shows all virtues of an
Victorian Society When Jane leaves Thornfield she seeks
spiritual guidance; which she finds at the River cottage Jane
herself attends church later on in the novel when she stays
with the Rivers.
- Jane is a very moral character and shows all virtues of an
Victorian Society When Jane leaves Thornfield she seeks
spiritual guidance; which she finds at the River cottage Jane
herself attends church later on in the novel when she stays
with the Rivers.
- Mr
Brocklehurst
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