Jane Eyre tells the story of a woman
progressing on the path towards acceptance. Throughout her journey, Jane comes
across many obstacles. Male dominance proves to be the biggest obstacle at each
stop of Jane's journey: Gateshead Hall, Lowood Institution, Thornfield Manor,
Moor House, and Ferndean Manor. Through the progression of the story, Jane slowly learns how to understand and
control her repression. I will be analyzing Janes stops at Thornfield Manor
and Moor House for this is where she met the
two most important men in her life. The easiest way to compare and contrast
Rochester and St. John Rivers is by examining when and under what circumstances
these two gentlemen come into contact with Jane.
\par
\tab It is at
Thornfield Manor that Jane
first encounters
Mr. Rochester. While living at
Thornfield, Rochester demands undivided attention from the servants, Jane
included. He needs to be in control of
every aspect of his life, and he needs to feel superior to all of those
around him. Jane de
cides to accept
his control and she concedes to him by calling him sir, even after they begin
to have an intimate relationship. At one
point, she even goes so far as to excuse herself for thinking. She says,
"I was thinking, sir (you will excuse the idea;
\par
it was
involuntary), I was thinking of Hercules and Samson with their charmers"
(p.289). This statement possibly begins to
suggests Janes unsatisfaction with Rochester's position of complete
dominance in their relationship.
To Jane, Rochester
embodies the idea of love which she has so long been denied of. As I stated
earlier, the whole movie is about Janes journey
towards acceptance, by herself and by others. It is this journey which
persuades her to move on when she finds
Rochester's physical
and material love unacceptable. \par
\tab Jane's next
stop on her journey is Moor House. Here, she
meets St. John
Rivers, her cousin. Unlike Rochester, St. John
is portrayed as the ultimate
sacrificer, willing to do anything for others, no matter how undesirable the
task might be. St. John also
expects this
sacrifice from Jane, and she must decide
whether to accept his proposal. At this point in her journey, Jane understands
that her search for herself can not be
accomplished without real love. She denies St. John's
marriage proposal
by saying, "I have a woman's heart, but not where you are concerned; for
you I only have a comrade's constancy; a fellow
soldier's
frankness, fidelity, fraternity. . .nothing more." (p.433). She knows real
love can not be given to her by St. John and she must continue on her journey.
She must continue towards her destiny rendezvous with Rochester\par
\tab Ferndean
Manor is the final stop in Jane's journey. Once again, Rochester appears as the
dominant figure, although his air of
superiority has become greatly reduced due to the accident. Due to
his ailments he is n
ow completely
dependent on those around him, a situation which humbles him. A new man results in this change, and in him,
Jane finds her real, spiritual and physical love. She says, "\par
All my heart is
yours, sir: it belongs to you; and with you it would remain, were fate to exile
the rest of me from your presence forever" (p.469). Rochester no longer
demands people to act inferior around him to boost his eg
o. he is finally
at a point in his life where he demands
an equal partner. He does not try to contai
n Jane; he sets
her free. He says, "Miss Eyre, I repeat it, you can leave me"
(p.468). She does not leave him though.
Rochester embodies the perfect balance between the physical and th
e spiritual, the
natural and graceful, intellectual and physical beauty, and love and servitude.
These were feelings that were not present with St. John. Jane is now able to find her true abilities and her balance. \par
\tab Jane makes many stops on her journey for happiness
and equality but the two most important sto
ps I feel are
with St. John and Rochester. It is through the experiences with these two
gentlemen that Jane learns many of her life lessons. Through her experiences
with these two gentlemen she is
able understand
and realize qualities in herself and others. With each experience she has with
these gentlemen, she learns how to confront her past repression, which in turn leads to her own
growth. \par
\par
\par
\par
\par
\par
\par
}{\plain \ul
Essay 6\par
Symbolism In Jane
Eyre \par
}{\plain \par
Charlotte Bronte employs symbolism in many
interesting ways. Symbolism is used in Jane Eyre
to illustrate dangerous realities that Jane
herself could not see. Symbolism drags the reader deeper into the story as well
as bringing to attention points that otherwise might not be noticed. \par
}\pard
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{\plain \tab
A moment of
particular symbolic importance to me was when lightning strikes the chestnut
tree in the orchard on the evening of Janes engagement to Rochester. The tree
splits into two and bursts into flames. Bronte uses this lightning strike to
show the
turmultuous
nature of the relationship, the troubles and perils that lay ahead for the two.
Bronte also uses this image to foreshadow the transformations that will occur
in Jane and Rochester. The eventu\par
}\pard
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{\plain
al success of the
relationship can be seen as the roots of the tree, solid and unharmed planted
deep in the ground. Vivid symbolism of fire serves to create the passionate
nature of the work, and drag the reader deeper into t
he narrative.
"Fiery iron" and "blackness and burning" are both used to
illustrate Jane's emotions at this point. Visions of fire also link Jane to Bertha.
Both characters are repeatedly involved with fire, especially in regards to
Rochester. T
his can be seen
with the physical presence of fire in the case of Bertha or with the fiery
passion that Jane has for Rochester.Fire is used to describe many aspects of
Rochesters life.
The early days of his marriage, the bedroom
blaze which Jane saves Rochester from, the language that both Rochester and
Jane use in describing their emotions towards each other
, and in the
final fire that destroys Thornfield Hall, cripples Rochester, and kills Bertha.
The image of fire possibly symbolizes the death and rebirth of both Rochester and Jane. \par
\tab Since the
passionate love that Rochester and Jane first held was sinful, it was
accompanied by images of fire and burning possibly symbolizing Hell. \par
}\pard
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{\plain \tab After Jane leaves Thornfield, and her "burning" desires
for Rochester are no longer openly present, the next and fina
l image of fire
occurs. In the fire that destroyed Thornfield, Rochester proved his
worthiness to
Jane by attempting to save Bertha from the blaze. This represents a great
turning point in Rochesters life. He is no longer the self involved tyrant that
he used to be. His heroic action indicates that he has quenched
his "burning" passions regarding
Jane and Bertha. Shortly after the fire,
Jane and Rochester reunite and each prove to be reborn, Jane having undergone
her own final period of personal and spiritual growth, and Rochester having
faced his inner demons.
\par
}\pard
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{\plain \tab Bronte
uses many
techniques to bring about emotions in the reader. Her use of metaphors is particularly powerful. Although
this is imagery and not symbolism it still makes a strong point about the
characters and about Brontes writing style.
In this exa
mple a metaphor
is used to compare Janes intense happiness and simultaneous confusion with the
tossing and uncertain voyage of a ship. Jane slips from joy to insecurity and
back, just as one might \par
toss back and
forth in a turbulent sea
. "I
regained my couch, but never thought of sleep. Till morning dawned, I was
tossed on a buoyant but unquiet sea, where billows of trouble rolled under
surges of joy. I thought sometimes I saw beyond its wild waters \par
a shore, sweet as
the hills of Beulah; and now and then a refreshing gale wakened by hope, bore
my spirit triumphantly towards the bourne; but I could not reach it, even in
fancy, a counteracting breeze blew off land, and continually drove me back.
Sense w
ould resist
delirium, judgment would warn passion" ( 133). This passage makes very clear Jane's love for
Rochester and also that the match would be a good one (according to Bronte)
\par
\tab Symbolism
was a very important tool for the Victorian writer. Through the use of
symbolism a writer is able to convey certain feelings and emotions to the
reader. The writer is also able to write about things that possibly are not
acceptable to write about in an open manner. Through the use of symbolism we
are able to relate and to feel for the protagonist on a deeper level. It is
through the use of symbolism that a book can truely come alive for the
reader.\par
}}
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