Jane Eyre 11

• "'Never,' said he, as he ground his teeth, 'never was anything at once so frail and so indomitable. A mere reed she feels in my hand!' (And he shook me with the force of his hold.) 'I could bend her with my finger and thumb: and what good would it do if I bent, if I uptore, if I crushed her?'" (p. 323)

This excerpt is taken from the point in the novel where Mr. Rochester is extremely upset with Jane's decision to leave Thornfield. His tone of voice begins to get angry as he threatens Jane with violence. Disbelief angers Mr. Rochester, leading him to sound very demanding. As a reader, it's interesting to notice Charlotte Bronte's play on words from this passage. Mr. Rochester describes Jane as a fragile reed; something he could easily break or wear down. The word 'reed' associates with Jane's unpleasant childhood guardian, Mrs. Reed, whom she experienced violence, being neglected, and verbal abuse. Charlotte Bronte draws the connection between the occurring situation and Jane's past, where she was often controlled and vulnerable. (Qualities similar to a flimsy reed)

Photo Credit:
Reed Pen. Photograph. Shepherds. Web. 1 Dec. 2009. http://images.nitrosell.com/product_images/3/609/thumb-reed%20pens.jpg.

Jane Eyre 10

• "He had done. Turning from me, he once more 'Looked to river, looked to hill:' But this time his feelings were all pent in his heart: I was not worthy to hear them uttered." (p. 416)
  

The line, "looked to river, looked to hill," in this excerpt is from the poem, The Lay of the Last Minstrel, by Sir Walter Scott. The poem intends to illustrate the customs and manners that prevailed on the Borders of England and Scotland. As Mr. St. John is about to leave for the night, he states a line from this particular poem. Charlotte Bronte alludes to this poem, leaving Jane with a difficult case to ponder. This specific line refers to Mr. St. John River (assuming the river) and Mr. Rochester (assuming the hill) as Jane is torn between the decision of marrying one of the men.

"Work Cited"
"The Lay of the Last Minstrel." Poets' Corner - Bookshelf. Web. 1 Dec. 2009. http://theotherpages.org/poems/minstrel.html.
"Jane Eyre." Review Materials. Web. 1 Dec. 2009. http://reviewmaterials.tripod.com/english/jane_eyre.html.

Jane Eyre 9

• "It was one of the largest and stateliest chambers in the mansion ... Their blinds always drawn down ... This room was chill, because it seldom had a fire; it was silent ... It was in this chamber he breathed his last ... Dark wardrobe, with subdued, broken reflections." (p. 13)

Jane Eyre's experience in the red-room greatly affected her for the remainder of the novel as horrible memories accompanied her single imprisonment. Charlotte Bronte uses vivid images and key word choice to embellish Jane's frightening experience. The environment of the room is certainly not welcoming -- cool temperatures, broken mirrors, dark furniture -- but the fact that Mr. Reed died in the room makes her experience even more terrifying. Although Jane was young, this punishment had a lasting effect throughout her life as the red-room is referred to at other specific points throughout the novel. Themes such as injustice, seeking independence and her dark, unpleasant childhood are expressed through the use of the red-room symbol.

Photo Credit:
The Red Room. Photograph. Unusuallife.com. Web. 1 Dec. 2009. http://unusuallife.com/wp-content/uploads2006/2008/02/valentine-red-room.jpg.

Jane Eyre 8

• "I doubted I had taken a step which sank instead of raising me in the scale of social existence. I was weakly dismayed at the ignorance, the poverty, the coarseness of all I heard and saw round me. But let me not hate and despise myself too much for these feelings: I know them to be wrong-- that is a great step gained; I shall strive to overcome them." (p. 365)

Charlotte Bronte incorporates the many issues of social class and rank throughout the entire novel. Until now, Jane Eyre has always been surrounded by a wealthy environment: in particular, the Reed family and Thornfield Hall. During this time period, her intelligence and elegant behavior did not suffice - she was considered powerless. Because of Jane's social status, she faced many obstacles: such as the decision to marry Mr. Rochester, as she recognized she was not of equal rank. Upon leaving Thornfield Hall, Jane is able to experience some of the hardships of living in poverty, a circumstance she is not accustomed to. This experience ultimately leads Jane to overcome some internal struggles, discover the fortune her uncle left her, and gain the confidence needed in order to return to marry Mr. Rochester.

Work Cited:
"Jane Eyre Study Guide." Grade Saver. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. http://www.gradesaver.com/jane-eyre/study-guide/major-themes/.

Photo Credit:
Photograph. Blogspot.com. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/ ...

Jane Eyre 7

• "Ere I had finished this reply, my soul began to expand, to exult, with the strangest sense of freedom, of triumph, I ever felt. It seemed as if an invisible bond had burst, and that I had struggled out into unhoped-for liberty." (p. 36)
  

Charlotte Bronte creates a very unique representation of a independent female figure as Jane Eyre demands to be respected. Jane is a motivated, opinionated woman, who takes initiative while remaining loyal to her character. Unlike many of the other female characters in literary works we've read, Jane is outspoken, confident, and never hesitates to follow her intuition. During her younger years, she was punished for speaking with an open mind but as she encounters Mr. Rochester, he accepts her for being intellectual and independent. Mr. Rochester acknowledges these qualities, while Mr. St. John ignores all that she has to offer. Jane recognizes that Mr. St. John does not appreciate her autonomous behavior, eventually leading her to return back to Mr. Rochester - someone who values her character.

Photo Credit:
Photograph. HollywoodJesus.com. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. http://hollywoodjesus.com/media/beauty2.jpg.

Jane Eyre 6

• "The picture you have just drawn is suggestive of a rather too overwhelming contrast. Your words have delineated very prettily a graceful Apollo: he is present to your imagination ... Your eyes dwell on a Vulcan ... You certainly are rather like Vulcan, sir." (p. 449)

There are twelve major deities in Greek and Roman mythology; two including Apollo and Vulcan. Apollo was a very important figure during this time, being recognized as the god of light, healing, music, poetry, prophecy, archery, and truth. Vulcan, named by the Romans, is identified as the god of fire and blacksmiths. Charlotte Bronte illustrates Mr. Rochester's jealously by comparing Mr. St. John's character to the well-known god, Apollo. To Mr. Rochester, Mr. St. John appears to possess multiple qualities that Jane would find attractive, therefore associating him with Apollo. Mr. Rochester expresses his inadequacy by relating himself to Vulcan, only then to experience a cutting surprise as Jane agrees with his statement.

Work Cited:
"Vulcan - Roman God of Fire." Volcanoes and Mythology. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. http://www.crystalinks.com/volcanomyth.html.
"Apollo." Encyclopedia Mythica. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/apollo.html.

Photo Credit:
Photograph. WIlson's Almanac. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/images2/vulcan_venus.jpg.

Jane Eyre 5

• "I walked a while on the pavement; but a subtle, well-known scent -- that of a cigar -- stole from some window ... not by sound, not by sight, but once more by a warning fragrance." (p. 252)
  

From this excerpt, Charlotte Bronte's style of writing is clearly illustrated to readers. Her exceptional use of imagery appears in this description of a midsummer night. There are various cases where Bronte appeals to the five senses -- taste, smell, touch, sight, sound -- truly capturing the readers interest. The following appeals are covered: Smell - cigar, flowers, "warning fragrance." Taste - cigar, fruit-parterres. Sight - "I might be watched," "wander unseen," "now rising moon." Sound -"silence reigned." Touch - "walked a while on the pavement," "my step is swayed." The most effective type of imagery appeals to more than one sense because humans are constantly experiencing these senses simultaneously. This specific use of imagery enhances the descriptions in the novel because despite time, Jane is able to remember past moments in her life so clearly. Appealing to the senses illustrates Janes vivid memory and also allows readers to relate/understand the true, significant meaning of her life.