Connections

First, lets make some outside connection for our Jane Eyre, what can we learn?
Oddly enough there are modern connections that we, as readers can take from the experienced of a character that none of us have met in our lifetime, or ever, such as Jane Eyre.

First off, Cliques:
There were many bullies and cliques that were roaming around the story of Jane Eyre. The group of rich individuals that come to Thornfield mansion were a prime example. They were even describes as doves flouting down the hallway, that's how close-knit these women were. I think that people, at any age, could relate to these individuals, by identifying them with somebody else, feeling a part of a group like that, or being treated harshly by a group like that. Those women were not very nice to Jane, especially Miss Ingram. She was like the main bully of the group, even calling Jane disrespectful names right in front of Jane's face. I think that readers can relate to Miss Ingram, that one person that seems to drive her strength from treating people badly. Jane dealt with Miss Ingram by merely ignoring the snarky remarks, or 'killing her with kindness' at times. When can the readers learn from Jane's approach? One may learn that ignoring the problem as Jane had done but still remaining certain of yourself inside will defeat that obstacle (weather it be a person or any other problem) will be fulfilled in a conservative fashion. However, one man criticize Jane's silence by arguing that she should have stood up herself.
What do you think, pupil? How do you feel of the 'clique's' and 'bully'? What do think Jane should have done, and if nothing, was her method successful?

Love:
There is this saying that Love comes in all shaped, forms, sized, colors, directions, and orientations, and Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester reveal this theory very well. Jane was a peasant girl, and Mr. Rochester was a wealthy man- socially at this point in time was unacceptable. But, obviously, the two were able to break barrios and fine love and prosperity- granted that some things had to change in order for that to happen. I think that this can also very well relate to issues of this age. Is love really blind? Are there certain aspect that had to be in check for there to be love? If love is blind, does that mean that it is successful? What does it take to fall and love, and most of all, stay in love? Jane and Mr Rochester demonstrate that love is not objective, but notice that there were certain things that had to be changes in order for them to become successful, changes that determined their love overall. If they had gotten married with their previous relationship, would they really would have lasted?
Reader, tell me what you think. About Jane and Mr Rochester and about the reality associated with it. Is love really blind?

Music to My Eyes

"Ah, how my heart flutters when reading the words of Jane Eyre. My dear, when you read my sentence just there, did the word choice affect you at all? Of course it did! My brilliant use of literary tools caused a strong emotional response, no? You see my dear this same use of word choice was also consistently used throughout Jane Eyre. Charlotte Bronte very well used imagery and emotions to set and describe moods, tones, emotions, and even settings all throughout the novel."

Not a page will turn where there will not be imagery used to help describe a scene, emotion, mood, or setting. To narrow that search, we will focus in the extreme moments in Jane Eyre, and examine how nature was used to intensity that emotion.

The Big Heartbreak:

“ ‘The waters came into my soul; I sank in deeper mire: I felt no standing; I came into deep waters; the floods overflowed me.” (301).

In this example, Charlotte is comparing Jane's emotions to an engulfing river flooding over her. I think that Bronte used this imagery effectively to communicate the feelings that Jane was bearing with and how these feelings punched her in her soul as the grief hit her. I could almost feel the feelings slam into her like a punch in the gut. The words: 'waters', 'sank', 'deep', and 'overflowed' all describe the moment of water as well as the agony in her heart. The nature reference is also another recurring theme where nature can describe bliss, and aagony.

Burning Sensations:

“ I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart...-and, kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one”(320).

"I crushed his hand, which was ever hunting mine, vigorously, and thrust it back with red and passionate pressure"(273). 

This directs directly to fire, which seems to be a common theme with nature tying in with moods and emotion (water, fire...), even in that chapter there were other mentions of “flaming eyes” and other reference to fire. The words 'fervent' , 'red', 'passion', and the action words of 'kindling', 'powerful flame', and 'fuses' all depict images of heat mixed with the emotion on passion and anger. It again makes the readers almost able to feel the gaze of Mr Rochester look burning, almost as if he is burning us through the paper. 

A Moment of Bliss:

 "It was now the sweetest hour of the twenty-four: - 'Day its fervid fires had wasted,' and dew fell cool on panting plain and scorched summit. Where the sun had gone down in simple state- pure of pomp of the clouds- spread a solemn purple, burning with the light if red jewel and furnace flame... The east has its own charm of fine, deep blue, and is own modest gem..." (251)

"Sweet briar and southern wood, jasmine, pink, and rose, have long been yielded their evening sacrifice of incense: this new scent in neither of shrub nor  flower, it is- I know it well- it is Mr Rochester's cigar..."(pg 252)

"...a brilliant June morning had succeeded to the tempest of the night; and to feel, through the open glass door, the breathing of a fresh and fragrant breeze. Nature must be gladsome when I was so happy." (261).

These three scene just so happen to be the chapter that Mr Rochester pledges love and marriage to Jane. The opening quote, and the opening of the chapter, hints many bright and brilliant colors like blue, purple, and fiery red. The clouds and wind give a refreshing breath to the opening scene of Jane's engagement.
Natural elements were also a graceful gateway to the next scene in books. The the second quote, notice how the interests shifts from pink jasmines and roses, to their delicate small through the air, and that notable shifting to Mr Rochester's pungent cigar which ties into the next scene. Once more these is more relaxing nature settings in the background, but there is special attention to how smell sensations tie into the story. Not to mention, roses and bushed and men with cigars go seem to go well with romance in this story!
Finally, the last quote ties nature with emotions. Jane's moment of bliss reflects onto the day itself when she awakens. This is again the day after the live of her life proposed to her, and Jane was feeling on top of the world. Noticeably, the 'brilliant June morning' fed off of her happiness and even intensified Jane's euphoria.

Finally, these is my personal favorite of an example of brilliant word choice. There are many different descriptions of Mr. Rochester, and stern and rough-faced man that is the love of Jane; however, this description of him as a blind and crippled near the end of the story was my favorite:

“His form was of the same strong and stalwart contour as ever: his part was still erect, his hair was still raven-black; nor were his features altered or sunk; not in one year’s space, by any sorrow, could his athletic strength be quelled, I saw a vigorous prime blighted. But in his countenance, I saw a change: that looked desperate and brooding- that reminded me of some wronged and fettered wild beast of bird, dangerous to approach in his sullen woe. The cages eagle, whose gold-ringed eyes cruelty has extinguished, might look as looked that sightless Samson (439).

Can't you just about picture it in your mind! The stern face of the man mixed with the blank expression of a blind-mans focus. His black hair jetting in contrast with his pale white face and his deep eyes that appeared empty from his heartbroken spirit. See how Bronte used the eagle imagery, and imagine the intense look on the majestic bird's face that reflects on that of Mr. Rochester. The poor and desolate Mr. Rochester, though wretched and broken-spirited, still hold the majestic nature of an eagle- as Jane described it. His elegance still shines through the veil of ugly as Jane reunited her master and lover once again.

Readig Between The Lines

"My dear, have you ever hear the term that 'Great minds think Alike"? Well dear, Miss Expo is not only referring to her own brilliant mind, but also to other writers and artists of similar and different time periods. Charlotte Bronte has made certain Allusions to other works of literature, can you find them? Silly pupil, you have much to learn about the art of exploring literature through a critical eye. Let Miss Expo help you..."

Look Close! There is a hidden Allusion to Paradise Lost:

"...; and anon the devilish face off Judas, that grew out of the panel, and seemed gathering life and threatening a revelation of the arch-traitor- of Satan himself- in his subordinates form." (213).

This does not come from a direct quote from Paradise Lost, but Bronte in still referencing the story of the fallen angel and his minions into the lake of fire. She refers to Judas and the arch-traitor by connecting them to her own characters that may have displayed similar devilish, traitor-like, or rebellious attitudes that resemble that of Satan in Paradise Lost.  



See Here! Do you notice another Allusion to The Scarlett Letter?

“She had been dreaming of a little child; and to dream of children was a sure sign of trouble, either to one’s self or one’s kin...."
"a dream of an infant...sometimes watched it playing with daisies on a lawn; or again dabbling its hands in running water...it failed not for seven successive nights to meet me the moment I entered the land of slumber...It was from companionship with this baby-phantom I had been roused on that moonlight night I heard a cry...” (223-224).

Taken this quote from Jane Eyre, it can be related to the a quote from Nathaniel Hawthorn's novel The Scarlett Letter:

"Children have always a sympathy in the agitations of those connected with them; always, especially, a sense of any trouble or impending revolution, of whatever kind, in domestic circumstances; and therefore Pearl, who was the gem on her mother's unquiet bosom, betrayed, by the very dance of her spirits, the emotions which none could detect in the marble passiveness of Hester's brow." (164-StudyMode)

Like the demon child Pearl in the Scarlet Letter, little Pearl was a bad omen, or rather a reincarnation, of Esters bad doings and thus an omen to bad things on the future. Similarly, baby-phantom that frightens Jane was another omen. Though Jane was not literally with child, she was holding certain suspicions and doubts that questioned her truth and sanity, and clearly ones that she had wished that she had never encountered.

It was explained in Hawthorn's quote the significance of Pearl being a connection to her mother, in that case a poisoned soul stricken with grief and loneliness. In Jane Eyre, this connection between infant and mother/carrier was to communicate and connect more unconscious emotions and thoughts by Jane herself.

Lastly, both infants were bad omens. Pearl was an uncontrollable, wicked, 'demon-child' of the novel in The Scarlett Letter, and the unnamed infant was a bad omen for destruction or death in Jane's circumstance.




Alas! Here is another! This time from the story of Frankenstein:

“Before I left my bed in the morning, little Adele came running in to tell me that the great horse-chestnut at the bottom of the orchard had been struck by lighting in the night, and half of it split away”(261).

Notice that it very much resembles this quote from Frankenstein:

"As I stood at the door, on a sudden I beheld a stream of fire issue from an old and beautiful oak which stood about twenty yards from our house; and so soon as the dazzling light vanished, the oak had disappeared, and nothing remained but a blasted stump. When we visited it the next morning, we found the tree shattered in a singular manner. It was not splintered by the shock, but entirely reduced to thin ribbons of wood. I never beheld anything so utterly destroyed" (Shmoop).

Both of these scenes that featured an utter destruction of a tree both occurred before the appearance of a tragedy or a significant event. In Jane Eyre, it symbolized and foreshadowed Jane's relationship with Mr. Rochester, as they became engaged under a giant oak tree. However, just as the oak tree was destroyed, so was their relationship that spearheaded both characters into a long period of agony and heartbreak.
For Victor Frankenstein, it was the moment that foreshadowed the loss of Victor's mental stability. From that night of the storm, Victor endured a long and horrible journey of emotional depression and physical and mental deterioration.
Nature had something to say in both of these stories. They symbolized the extremes of human emotion as well as agony of the human spirit.

Theme- Roles

"Everybody has their place, do you agree my dear? Well, what if pleasing others by your looks was you one and only role? Or making a healthy profit for your partner as your only job? Seems rather stifling, young you agree my dear? Well, well, well, this was all too true for our Jane Eyre. Imagine that dear, being surrounded by such people with such materialistic values. Let us see how Jane Eyre and Charlotte Bronte addressed this theme in her novel, shall we?"

The role of man and women were very clear in the society that Jane Eyre lived in. To sum those roles, a certain young Lady by the name of Miss Ingram, one of the 'delicate doves' in the

“flock of white plumy birds”(173) that visited Thornfield,  summed those roles, or 'job's' for men and women very nicely for us to observe:

She stated:

‘Oh, I am so sick of the young man on the present day... Poor, puny...Creatures so absorbed in care about their pretty faces and their white hands, and their small feet; as if a man had anything to do with beauty! As if loveliness were not the special prerogative of women- her legitimate appanage and her heritage! I grant an ugly woman is a blot on the fair face of creation...{for men} let their motto be: - Hunt, shoot, and fight...” (182).

As if this weren’t enough of an obvious gender stereotype, she continued to say:

 “‘ Whenever I marry... I am resolved my husband shall not be a rival, but a foil to me. I will suffer no competitor near the throne; I shall exact an undivided homage: his devotions shall not be shared between me and the shape he sees in his mirror’” (182).

Well now, lets examine this rather arrogant quote. First, the girls that visited Thornfield were described as “flock of white plumy birds”, was another label that relates to the roles of women in the society. She clearly believes that men and women have very separate, and very distinct roles in society. In fact, for a man or women to denture or fail these specific jobs one has to society, should be frowned upon- such as a man concerning with looks or a woman failing to please to the eyes of the beholder. The second part of her quote reveals the arrogant nature of her character, but also reflects some of the familiar views of men and woman roles that were commonly shared throughout their society.

Even strong-willed Jane fell victim to the superiority complex that men held over women:

To St John:
" “I found him a very patient, very forbearing, and yet an exacting master: he expected me to a great deal... he acquired a certain influence over me that took away my liberty of mind: his praise and notice were more restrained than his indifference...I fell under a freezing spell. When he said ‘go’, I went! ‘come’, I came; ‘do this’, I did it. But I did not love my servitude: I wished, many a time, he had continued to neglect me.” (404-405)"

This quote relates to St John as well as Mr. Rochester. Mr. Rochester was a very bossy and demanding man: from the day that Jane first met Edward in the forest and he demanded her help, then even continued to be demanding when she abandoned him after the discovery of his lunatic wife and his temperament demanded that she stayed. Jane always fell subordinate to these men, always followed their demands and opinions, she even addressed both man as 'sir'. This is partially a display of Jane following the social expectations of her time, but is also a way of Bronte addressing that men and women did have strong and distinct roles at that time- strong enough to even curb Jane Eyre to their rule.

Although Jane may be trapped in a society that values male-dominance over woman's intuition, she addresses her views on roles and duties in her own words:

“Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel...and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings...It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex.” (111-112).

Clearly here, she notes society's expectations of women to be calm, quaint, and meek. That were to be defined by 'stockings', 'pudding' and 'knitting'- household chores and reserved clothing. But, Jane attacks this unfair logic by stating that it is unfair to condemn women for their thirst of knowledge, ambition, expansion of character, or higher learning that any person is wishing to seek. The feels that any human, male or female, has the right to expand or better themselves

Theme- Skin Deep

"The world of Jane Eye was surely a different world from ours, do you agree reader? Why think of the many issued that our dear Jane had to endure throughout her life, and think, my pupil, these themes relate to the authors social, political, and/or economic life in her own time period. My dear, is it not fascinating! There are many themes in the novel that are presented more than once throughout the story, let us get started..."

Physical appearance was a major aspect for the life of Jane Eyre. Simply because of her displeasing looks, Jane faces many conflicts that sometimes restricted her from achieving her full potential and impair her self-esteem.

You could see the way she was treated as a child and being compared to her younger, but more beautiful, cousin Georgiana:

“ ‘Poor Miss Jane it to be, pitied too, Abbot.' ‘Yes,’ responded Abbot; ‘is she were a nice, pretty child, one might compassion her forlornness; but one really cannot care for such a little toad as that’.... ‘Yes, I doat on Miss Georgiana!'...Little Darling! With her long curls and her blue eyes, and such a sweet colour as she has; just as if she were painted!-'...” (25)

.

Even Jane realized the discriminatory treatment she was restricted to as a child:

“Georgia, who had a spoiled temper, a very acrid spite, a captious and insolent carriage, was universally indulged. Her beauty, pink cheeks and golden curls, seemed to give delight to all who looked at her, and to purchase indemnity for every fault” (14).

So soon was Jane exposed to the unfair treatment because of her appearance on the outside. For her entire life she felt inferior to those who were gifted with natural beauty. Still, it was not her fault that her society oppressed the 'plain' or 'boring' looking people. It was a young ladies job to be married at that time, and to be married meant that you had to posses money or beauty to attract a mate who could please you appropriately. So much stress was places on appearance for women, it was easy for certain people to be judged, left behind, or completely forgotten.

Observe how Jane felt about herself as a young lady, and her feelings towards her own physical appearance:

“It was not my habit to be disregardful of appearance, or careless of the impression I made: on the contrary, I ever wished to look as well as I could...I sometimes wished to have rosy cheeks, a straight nose, and small cherry mouth... I felt it a misfortune that I was so little, so pale, and had figures so irregular and so marked.” (100).

However, despite her discomfort in her opinion about her appearance, Jane held a strong moral value about the Skin Deep judgments that soil her society:

“There are people who seem to have no notion of sketching a character, or observing and describing salient points, either in persons or things:... Mr. Rochester was Mr. Rochester in her eyes; a gentleman, a landed proprietor- nothing more: she inquired and searched no further and evidently wondered at my wish to gain a more definite notion of his identity.” (107).

This quote was a clear example of Jane's character attacking the judgments on physical appearance. She believes that character was not Skin Deep, it was much deeper.  A persons values lied within their inner morals, practices, and spirit. Character was not appearance of wealth at all, they were mere decorations of the Human on the inside of the clothes, money, and property they own. Wanting to got to know a person should imply their personality character than, not their wealth background and public opinion.

Characterizaion- The Many Layers of Jane

"Now readers, lets observe Characterization. When Charlotte Bronte wrote her novel, she didn't simply throw random names on a piece of paper and then hoped that all of the characters would get along. No, no, no reader, she had to develop each character into the story, to give them depth and texture in their personalities and characteristics."

"Lets analyze our Jane Eyre, the firstly, fearless, and independent main character of the novel."

Charlotte Bronte build Jane's potential as a child, introducing her feisty attitude and hash environment. By making the family break Jane down as a child, Bronte actually builds Jane's character when Jane is later revealed to strive past her childhood and defy her family's undermining.

A perfect example is Jane's experiences at Lowood. As she carried her unforgiving immature nature to the orphanage school, and her attitude was met with many challenges to her confidence and judgment.

Upon being humiliated my Headmaster Brocklehurst, Jane had the clear intention of revenge in her heart, she stated:

"You are good to those who are good to you...If people are always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust, the wicked people would have it all their way: they would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter, but grow worse and worse. When we are stuck at without reason, we should strike back very hard...so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again” (57).

However, the soothing mediation of sweet Helen Burn's philosophy of forgiveness and faith left an imprint of Jane's own philosophy. This graceful lesson changed Jane at heart, and as she was smitten to a stool of shame for an entire day of behalf of Mr. Brocklehurst, Jane took a new initiative on her thoughts of inner peace:

“I mastered the rising hysteria, lifted up my head, and took a firm stand on the stool”

Even further was Jane's forgiveness stretched into her adult life, and went as far as forgiveness shown in the utmost loyal and mature way:

When the wicked Mrs. Reed had failed to forgive Jane, even on her own death bed, she blatantly stated to Jane, "You were born, I think, to be my torment:"(243). Jane, however,

declared to the miserable woman, “you have my full and free forgiveness..”(243). 

This shift in spirit from vengeance to peace, inner acceptance, and Faith was accomplished through the teaching of a girl no more than a few years older then she as well as outward experienced that she faced throughout her life. These small lessons have stitched onto the brain of Jane, and from then on had changed her outlook on life. It is an example of Jane being a Dynamic Character, or one that grows and develops over time. This shown throughout Jane's entire story, from her defying the expectations of her family, her education potential at Lowood, and even her expectations in her love life. Jane's complex character creates interest and texture to her as a character and readers begin to love or hate Jane as a Person.

Later in life, Jane rises from being subordinate to the men in her life to almost becoming the dominant figure.

Mr. Rochester and St John were always demanding men, from the day Jane met them to the day she left she had taken orders from them- to sit, speak, stand, and stay. But as Jane grew older, richer, and more secure, she began to assert her newly found dominance:

“I had silently feared St John till now...He had help me in awe, because he had held me in doubt...I saw his fallibility's:...I sat at the feet of a man, erring as I. The veil fell from his hardness and despotism. Having felt in him the presence of these qualities, I felt his imperfection, and took courage.(413-414).

After having a few months to properly understand her new cousin, Jane replaces her role as being a follower to that man’s harsh superiority to growing into her own independence. She took courage in her ability to judge a person and became even more willing to stand up to St John. An example is in the quote below:

“No, St John, I will not marry you. I adhere to my resolution.” (419).

Aside from being a very controversial subject of the time- declining a marriage- this statement remains constant for Jane, even when St John continually request her hand. Nevertheless, Jane shows a growth in character in her ability to be stern in her morals, making her a likeable character as well as a strong symbol.

Finally, Jane deals with Mr Rochester:

"Summoning Marry, I soon had the room in more cheerful order...There was no  harassing restraint, no repressing of glee and vivacity with him; for with him I was at perfect ease, because I knew I suited him: all I said or did seemed either to console or revive him. Delightful consciousness! It brought to life and light my whole nature: in his presence I thoroughly lived; and he lived in mine." (444)

Once more, little Jane is growing up. The beginning relationship between the young couple was a very uncomfortable one, with Mr Rochester being the boss and Jane the insecure follower. She had little to no say in anything that had to do with their relationship- not even her own wedding dress! But times have changes and Jane had found a new comfort in her new life with more opportunities. Jane no longer stands in the shadows of her own live and relationships, she takes command and has a very strong say. This growth in development represents the complexity in Jane's character and shows how her alone grows and develops a story.