Introduction to “Jane Eyre”
“Jane Eyre” is one of the most acclaimed novel of the English literature, authored by Charlotte Brontë in the year 1847. The novel is about a girl named Jane Eyre, who is orphan and growing up in a terrible unkind environment, but in future becomes a confident and independent woman. The novel explores her life from childhood up to adulthood, her feelings and interaction throughout the novel, especially with Edward Rochester, the brooding master of Thornfield Hall.
The novel has also employed a complex mode of applying different elements of literary features that enhance the understanding of the novel’s characters and themes.
Literary Devices in “Jane Eyre”
1- Symbolism
Symbolism is a literary device, where symbols are used to point out to some object in the text beyond its literal sense. Symbolism is used abundantly in the novel to develop multiple layers to it.
The prominent symbol in the novel is “Red Room” at Gateshead where a little Jane is locked up as punishment. The Red Room symbolizes Jane’s suffering and imprisonment:
“I was but ten: a child, and the child’s life is in the present. . . . I could not answer the ceaseless inward question—why I thus suffered; now, at the distance of—I will not say how many years, I see it clearly” (Chapter 2).
The room itself is dark, isolated, and represents Jane’s imprisonment, both, physical and emotional. It also represents the struggle which she will face throughout her life.
Another important symbol is “Bertha Mason”, the ex-wife of Mr. Rochester, who suffers from insane. Bertha represents the suppressed aspects of Jane’s own personality and the constraints imposed on women in Victorian society:
“The lunatic sprang and grappled his throat viciously, and laid her teeth to his cheek: they struggled. She was a big woman, in stature almost equaling her husband, and corpulent besides: she showed virile force in the contest—more than once she almost throttled him, athletic as he was” (Chapter 26).
The confinement of Bertha in the attic symbolizes the secretly, uncontrollable passions and societal restrictions that Jane must navigate and eventually reconcile within herself.
2- Imagery
In Imagery, the writer paints a picture in the mind of the reader by using words that are descriptive and cause the reader visualize. The imagery used by Brontë in “Jane Eyre” plays an important role in setting the mood and the atmosphere of the novel.
The descriptions of Thornfield Hall contribute to its mysterious and gothic ambiance:
“The wind howling in the grove behind, the wild night-wandering scene on the front, the fire and the clock ticking behind, made it all appear like a vision” (Chapter 11).
Such representations create the background of suspense and mystery in the novel and the atmosphere that exists in Thornfield reflecting the internal conflict and concealed vices of people.
There is also a strong use of nature imagery throughout the novel, which seems to shift in accordance with Jane’s emotions. For example, during a moment of despair, Jane finds solace in the beauty of nature:
“I have no relative but the universal mother, Nature: I will seek her breast and ask repose” (Chapter 27).
The peaceful nature and nourishing qualities hardly contrast with the harshness Jane faces in the society. This gives her comfort and a sense of belonging.
3- Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is a technique, which reveals the events to occur later in the story. Foreshadowing is the use of hints given in advance to suggest what is to come later and Brontë uses this feature most-wisely to create suspense and prepare the readers for what is around the corner in future.
One clear example of foreshadowing is the strange occurrences at Thornfield Hall, such as the mysterious laughter Jane hears:
“While I paced softly on, the last sound I expected to hear in so still a region, a laugh, struck my ear. It was a curious laugh; distinct, formal, mirthless” (Chapter 11).
These unnatural experiences are another aspect that prepares the audience for the appearance of Bertha Mason in the story so as to increase the gothic features of the novel.
The dreams of Jane are also symbolized as foreshadowing elements. Before her wedding, Jane dreams of a child, a symbol often interpreted as an omen of misfortune:
“I dreamt I lay in the red-room at Gateshead; that the night was dark, and my mind impressed with strange fears” (Chapter 25).
These dreams foreshadow the dramatic events that disrupt her wedding day. It leads to the discovery of Rochester’s hidden wife.
4- Irony
Irony is the situation where words are used in a way that conveys the opposite of their intended meaning usually to bring out the contrast between what things seem to be and what they really are. Regarding the use of irony, one can state that Brontë uses it to deepen the characterization and the conflicts.
Irony is used in the character of St. John Rivers as a middle class man. Despite his outwardly pious and selfless demeanor, his cold and authoritarian approach to religion and life contrasts sharply with Jane’s passionate and independent spirit:
“He prizes me as a soldier would a good weapon; and that is all” (Chapter 34).
Although St. John wants to marry Jane out of obligation and not an affection, however this fact opposes the described later passionate but questionable, love of Rochester to Jane.
Another example is the character of the Rochester’s blindness. After the fire at Thornfield, Rochester is physically blinded, which ironically brings him to a clearer moral vision and humility:
“A sightless block!” (Chapter 37).
He is blind, however, this physical disability can be interpreted as a metaphorical insight in the story, through which he can regain his feelings for Jane on the more genuine level.
5- Gothic Elements
Gothic is predominant in “Jane Eyre” and makes a considerable impact on it since it sets up the oppressive mood of the novel. Such components as something that goes beyond the human understanding, the gloomy scenes and atmosphere, and horror combined with the elements of the romantic.
Thornfield Hall itself is a classic gothic setting with its vast, ancient structure and hidden secrets:
“The hall was a grey and battlemented building almost hidden in a rookery of venerable trees” (Chapter 11).
The presence of Bertha Mason adds to the gothic horror, with her violent outbursts and confinement in the attic evoking a sense of dread:
“In the deep shade, at the further end of the room, a figure ran backwards and forwards. What it was, whether beast or human being, one could not, at first sight, tell” (Chapter 20).
The use of gothic elements enhances the emotional intensity of the novel and emphasizes the themes of hidden truths and inner disruption.
6- Characterization
Characterization is the process, through which the authors build characters. The development of the main characters and the focus on Jane Eyre’s inner world may also be attributed to the author’s work.
Hence, the character of Jane Eyre is developed as a result of her thinking and behavior, as well as the relations with other characters. Her resilience and moral integrity are evident from her childhood, where she stands up to her cruel aunt and later asserts her independence at Lowood School:
“I resisted all the way: a new thing for me, and a circumstance which greatly strengthened the bad opinion Bessie and Miss Abbot were disposed to entertain of me” (Chapter 2).
One can identify that Mr. Rochester is a multi-dimensional character of the novel, and all his relationships with Jane and the information about him and his past is revealed to the reader. His initial brusque and enigmatic demeanor hides a deeply troubled and passionate soul:
“You examine me, Miss Eyre,” said he: “Do you think me handsome?” (Chapter 14).
The characters are well developed, which means that, as the novel progresses, new layers of their personalities are shown by the author.
7- Metaphor
Metaphor is defined as a figure of speech that makes a reference of one thing in terms of another thing without using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. Metaphors become particularly effective in presenting complicated concepts and feelings with help of simple but imagery expressions.
One powerful metaphor is Jane’s description of her emotional state as a “bird in a cage”:
“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will” (Chapter 23).
This metaphor has to do with her feelings of being a bird in a cage and the need to fly, so this is another point that speaks about the problem of individuality that is the idea of the novel.
Another example is the “chestnut tree” struck by lightning, which symbolizes the tumultuous relationship between Jane and Rochester:
“Before I left my bed in the morning, little Adele came running in to tell me that the great horse-chestnut at the bottom of the orchard had been struck by lightning in the night, and half of it split away” (Chapter 23).
The split tree foreshadows the tested seclusion, the physical division that is likely to be seen in a breakup between the two characters.
8- Allusion
Allusion is used to refer a person, place, event or another piece of literature. It is the basic to the understanding of the satire but over and above this sophisticated device is used by Brontë to add depth to the narrative.
The allusion can be clearly deciphered from John Milton’s epic poem known as “Paradise Lost”, which reflects the theme of sin and salvation. Jane refers to Rochester as a “fallen angel” drawing a parallel with Milton’s depiction of Satan:
“You are no ruin sir—no lightning-struck tree: you are green and vigorous. Plants will grow about your roots, whether you ask them or not, because they take delight in your bountiful shadow; and as they grow they will lean towards you, and seem to lean with pleasure” (Chapter 20).
This allusion points at Rochester’s moral decline and shows that he can still be saved by love and repentance.
9- Personification
Personification is a literary device through which the human characteristics are attributed to the non-human entities. The author uses the conception of personification to make the description of the image more effective and to reveal the feelings of the characters.
In the novel, nature is used in such a way that is as if it is able to express what Jane feels inside of her. For example, the wind is described as “sobbing” to mirror Jane’s sorrow:
“The wind sighed low in the firs: all was moorland loneliness and midnight hush” (Chapter 12).
Such personification raises the emotional tones of the scene and relates Jane’s subjective feelings to the objective surroundings.
The fire at Thornfield is also personified, symbolizing destruction and purification:
“Tongues of flame darted round the bed: the curtains were on fire” (Chapter 15).
The destructive power of fire leads to a new life for Jane and Rochester. It also represent the end of their old life and the start of a new one.
10- Motif
Motif is a recurring element, subject or idea within a piece of literature. In the novel “Jane Eyre,” several motifs reoccur at various points, thus strengthening the primary themes of the novel.
The important motif in the novel is the gothic elements. These include things like darkness, mysterious events and items, the generally spooky and creepy, and themes of horror with romantic interests. The use of these gothic elements elevates tension and promises a rather dramatic or at least an intense experience; and the usage of these elements is rather recurrent, so the feeling of constant anticipation is maintained.
There is another profound motif i.e. ‘fire and ice’, which are associated with passion and rationality, respectively. Jane’s fiery spirit contrasts with the cold, oppressive environments she often finds herself in, such as Lowood School and St. John Rivers’ home:
“A ridge of lighted heath, alive, glancing, devouring would have been a meet emblem of my mind when I accused and menaced” (Chapter 4).
These motifs help to structure the narrative and emphasizes the novel’s exploration of the balance between emotion and restrain, liberty and imprisonment.
11- Parallelism
Parallelism is the use of two similar components used in the construction of a sentence either in terms of grammar, such as word structure, phonology, semantics and rhythm. Eden uses parallelism to create the emphasis of several entities located side by side or to introduce antitheses.
Some of the examples of parallelism used in the novel include the opposition of characters. For example, the main character Jane and Bertha Mason. Both women are connected to Rochester but in a way one is the lighter portion of his life, the other is the more darker and tormented side of life he must face. Jane’s moral integrity and rationality are paralleled with Bertha’s madness and uncontrolled passions, highlighting the duality within Rochester himself:
“Jane Eyre, who had been an ardent, expectant woman—almost a bride, was a cold, solitary girl again: her life was pale; her prospects were desolate” (Chapter 26).
The use of parallelism demonstrates the struggle between the rational and the instinct, the symmetry and the disruption in the novel.
An additional instance of the application of this binary opposition is the contrast between Jane and St. John Rivers. Both characters are dedicated to their principles, but while Jane follows her heart and moral compass, St. John is driven by rigid duty and ambition:
“He prizes me as a soldier would a good weapon; and that is all” (Chapter 34).
The parallelism underlines their contrasting attitudes to life and the novel’s theme of individual’s honor compared to the norms of the society.
12- Point of View
Point of view is the perspective that helps in determining the way the story is told. The novel “Jane Eyre” is told from the first person, by Jane, which lets the readers get a closer look at her character and the life she leads.
Jane’s first-person narrative provides a deep and personal insight into her character, making her experiences and emotions more immediate and relatable to readers:
“Reader, I married him” (Chapter 38).
The use of this narrative style enables the author to address the reader directly and thus to create an appealing sense of closeness to the story.
First-person point of view is also valuable for the development of the theme of self-realization because the reader is shown Jane’s process of transformation.
See also: Literary Devices in Still I Rise
