February Literature Analysis: Jane Eyre

GENERAL:
1. Jane Eyre is brought up as a child in a terrible and very disciplined school for girls. She learns quickly to hold her tongue and do just as she is told. She is raised in the school and eventually becomes a teacher there. The girls love her and her ways. She has become a delicate young women as well as strong and independent. Soon enough, she takes up a job as a governess at a very large estate. She grows very fond of the child  and also, unknowningly, for the girl's stubborn and rude father and Jane's boss, Mr. Rochester. As their love for each other blossoms, Jane can't help but feel creeped out by the house she is living in. Strange things always seem to occur around the house. When Jane asks Mr. Rochester about the noises she hears from a locked bedroom, he simply explains to her that the noise is coming from a maid of the house who is sick and there is nothing to worry about. After leaving Thornfield for a while to visit her family, Jane returns to the awaiting love of Mr. Rochester. They end up expressing their deep compassion for one another and soon enough become engaged. As the wedding come close, Jane is still feeling a sense of fright in the house. On their wedding day, just as they are about to be wed, a man comes forward and explains that Mr. Rochester is still married to the little girl's mother and she is actually not dead, but in fact living in the very house they live in. Jane is hurt and feels used and soon leaves Rochester. After a while though, she realizes she made a huge mistake leaving the only man who she ever truly loves. She returns to find the Thornfield estate burned to the ground, and learns that Rochester's wife went completely mad and set fire to the house killing herself in the process. Mr. Rochester, trying to save her, hurt his eyes and is now blind. Jane finds out where they are all staying and finally speaks to Mr. Rochester. He thinks she could never love him now the way he is. She replys saying she will never leave again no matter what. They end up living "happily ever after".
2. The theme is independence. Jane, through the whole entire book, demands to be treated as an individual, independent person, who has her own talents and needs and wants. In the beginning, though, she is punished harshly for that independence she is so proud of, but it does not cause her to submit dependence.
3. The author's tone is subtle, expressing Bronte's own feelings through the piece. When speaking to the main character, other character's come forth as sweet and subtle towards Jane. It's mostly because she is that kind of character. Aside from the crazy wife, everything in the story is surrounded by passionate love. The tone is very passionate and sweet.
4. Symbolism: the red room symbolizes extreme trauma as a child
Symbolism: gross poridge symbolizes the humility and subjections that's unnatural for anyone to attain
Allegory: "The Madwoman in the Attic"
Imagery: fire is represented to cause tension multiple times in the story
Imagery: Jane's drawings of portraits captures her true likeliness of the world and the people she is surrouned by

CHARACTERIZATION:
1. Direct: a) Jane explaining, even as young child, how other character's looks and what they said..."Eliza was headstrong and selfish..." b) "John had not much affection for his mother and sisters, and an antipathy to me."
Indirect: a) Rochester says, " . . . you are not so unsophisticated as Adele: she demands a 'cadeau,' clamorously, the moment she sees me . . . " The author uses more direct characterization to get her points across clearly and efficiently.
2. No because she's speaking through Jane, and although Jane's feelings and outlooks may be different when thinking of other characters or other things, her words and the placement of them are still sophisticated and lovely and do not change.
3. Jane is, I would say, a dinamic character. She goes into Thornfield thinking only of her job and is strong headed. Yet, as her feelings for Mr. Rochester cloud her better judgement, she becomes this confused and frightened woman who really doesn't know what is right and what is wrong.
4. At first I hated Mr. Rochester with the passion, yet, as his kinder gentler side came through, I think I fell just as in love with him as Jane did. Yes, I also felt hurt and betrayed when I found out that he'd been lying to Jane this whole time about his wife being alive and living in the house, but at the same time I had to feel for him and know that he meant it when he only loves Jane. I came away from the book feeling like I had just returned from that era.