Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte traces the development of a girl from

childhood at Gateshead to adulthood at Ferindean. We see Jane's lonely

and traumatic life and we are made to feel sympathy for her. Bronte

makes us feel sympathy for Jane throughout the novel by using a number

of literary techniques, which is achieved by methods such as

characterisation, narrative viewpoint, the Reed family, language and

direct speech. We see and admire Jane's courage and her brilliant

imagination. She is a likeable person because she maintains strength

of character and rebellion throughout her suffering, which is unique

for a woman at that period.

We develop a closer relationship with Jane as the novel is written in

the first person narrative. This is very important for creating

sympathy for Jane as Jane pours out her thoughts and feelings so we

know exactly what she is thinking and feeling. It gives us a greater

insight into Jane's character and gives the story a sense of

reliability and credibility as we believe what Jane tells us.

Charlotte Bronte uses nature as a sympathetic background. The weather

is miserable, cold and wet to reflect the cold, hostile atmosphere

Jane encounters.

"… the cold winter had brought with it clouds so sombre and a rain so

penetrating."

Right from the first few paragraphs it is made clear that Jane is an

outsider and also humbled by the consciousness of her "physical

inferiority to Eliza, John and Georgiana Reed."

We see that Jane has been excluded from the family group and that her

appearance contr...

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...is quite pathetic that Jane

feels safe and secure when a stranger is near her and that she feels

no security around her family.

"I felt an inexpressible relief…I knew that there was a stranger in

the room…an individual not belonging to Gateshead, and not related to

Mrs Reed." Chapter 3 also shows how normally Jane is neglected in the

house because here while she feels ill Bessie looks after her well and

Jane describes the special treatment as "wonderful civility."

We see that Jane is a polite, friendly child.

"I pronounced his name, offering him at the same time my hand: he took

it, smiling and saying, "We shall do very well by-and-by.""

We can see here that Jane has good manners and is likeable. It also

evokes our sympathy because she is only being treated well by a

stranger and she is responding well.