Analysis of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre

Analysis of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre

'Jane Eyre' was written by Charlotte Brontë under the male pseudonym

of Currer Bell in 1847. It is a semi autobiography and is a mixture of

realism, romance and Gothic. During this time women were seen as

beings of inferior status. The plot of 'Jane Eyre' follows a

bildungsroman. Jane's growth is traced from childhood and innocence to

adulthood and maturity. It depicts the story of a woman who is capable

of strong emotions and passion and the difficulties she must overcome.

There were two ideas of a woman the 'angel' and the 'monster.' The

'angel' was submissive, obedient, had no sense of identity and lived

purely to please her husband. Differently the 'monster' felt strong

passionate emotions and rejected the idea of male dominance. Both the

characteristics of the 'angel' and 'monster' are evident in Jane.

Charlotte Brontë was aware of women's subservient status in society

and of the difficulties faced by women who wanted to be independent.

It was not considered respectable for a middle class woman to earn her

own living. Her only option was to become a governess, which was an

anomalous social position as she was neither a servant nor a proper

young woman.

At the beginning of the novel Jane Eyre is an orphan living at

Gateshead with her aunt Mrs Reed and cousins Eliza, John and

Georgiana. Brontë uses pathetic fallacy to reinforce the idea of

Jane's unhappiness, 'a scene of wet lawn and storm- beat shrub, with

ceaseless rain sweeping away wildly before a long and lamentable

blast.' Jane's sense of isolation is evident from the start, as she is

'dispensed from joining the group' and hides...

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... is devoted to me, we are precisely suited in character perfect concord

is the result." She has found someone who she can communicate with and

express herself freely with as she is now his equal financially,

morally and emotionally.

I feel that the ending is satisfactory, as Jane has found her equal in

Mr Rochester; the relationship is based on their mutual dependence on

each other. Jane's fierce rebellion is a constant throughout the book

but is only evident in uncontrollable form when she is bullied and

intimidated. She grows to maturity, as a passionate and strong willed

woman who has achieved fulfilment both emotionally and financially,

therefore is able to harness this side of her in a positive way. Jane

Eyre is an assertive heroine, she is neither meek nor subservient and

is forthright and honest with her self.