The Nature of Jane Eyre

A detailed Summary of The Nature of Jane Eyre

Discerning the true qualities of a character in literature proves difficult in many cases. To ensure total comprehension of the aspects of a character, authors often utilize imagery to parallel the personality of their characters. "As we have seen, the literal is historically associated with nature" (Homans 114). Charlotte Bronte is one such author who employs "patterns of her imagery" to enhance interpretation (Gilbert and Gubar 64). Imagery, specifically in the form of nature, exists dualistically with the traits of Jane Eyre, for whom the novel is titled. Throughout the progression of life in the novel, Jane Eyre, nature provides an insight into Jane's emotion.

Gateshead Hall serves as a "habitation corresponding to a stage in her mental development" to conceive the literary life of Jane Eyre (Gateshead 32). Jane's recorded life begins at Gateshead Hall and is immediately paralleled with nature. "The connection between Jane's inner and outer landscapes is established in the very opening of the novel: she is as vulnerable to the 'penetrating' rain (39) as to the hostility of those around her" (Gateshead 33). Proving the foreshadowing of nature

, Jane experiences sever hostility at Gateshead Hall. Also, nature's dualistic relationship with Jane takes shape early in Jane's stay at Gateshead through "wandering in a bleak landscape representative of her psychological condition" (Gateshead 33). "Jane is fundamentally a nomad-an orphan with no roots and little knowledge of her beginnings" which is seen through her early directionless wandering (Gateshead 33). The ruthless atrocities Jane experiences at Gateshead provide her with a need to escape that " Jane is so timid that she cannot realize" (Gateshead 33). However, prior to Jane's realization of a physical need to escape, subconsciously " she turns from people to nature" (Gateshead 33). "When she hides behind the window curtains" Jane looks through window to nature and "is 'shrined' in the 'double retirement' (39) of . . . her own mind" (Gateshead 33). The motivation behind Jane's desire for escape is an emotional exclusion "from the family circle clustered around the 'fireside' (39)" (Gateshead 33), which deprives Jane from "emotional as well as physical warmth" (Gateshead 33). Thus, the fire, conceived by nature, domesticated by the Reed family symbolizes Jane's emotional coldness and isolation. An additional correlation in nature to the frozen emotional status of Jane Eyre is exemplified by the "perpetual winter" that Jane endures while at Gateshead (Gateshead 33). Linking with the wintry weather, Jane's aunt, Mrs. Reed, provides an "eye of ice" which continues "to dwell freezingly on" Jane, "so that even the glass panes become frozen-over, making it impossible to see beyond her immediate petrified self" (Gateshead 34). Consequently, a parallel between the bitter conditions of weather and Jane's dejected status can be drawn. However, the coldness of nature changes to allow Jane "in the garden of Gateshead" where "Jane undergoes a physical and spiritual transition away from the 'visionary hollow' of her inner confinement" (Gateshead 43). Hence, following Jane's being "locked in the red-room (epitomizing her mental imprisonment)", she is "then released . . . into the garden (which symbolizes her transition from inferiority), then onto a road of 'preter-natural length' (74) for a journey that, like birth, commences in darkness (73)" (Gateshead 33). Therefore, Jane experiences a mental and emotional release from her inferior, dejected status at Gateshead into "Lowood, the first stage of Jane's journey out into the world" (Lowood 44).

"Hence it is that both Emily and Charlotte are always invoking the help of nature. They both feel the need of some more powerful symbol of the vast and slumbering passions in human na

Some common words found in the essay are:
Gateshead Hall, Gilbert Gubar, Fairfax Rochester, Jane Eyre, Lowood Lowood, Charlotte Bronte, April Lowood, Regained' Jane's, Gateshead Gateshead, Gateshead Lowood, gilbert gubar, gateshead 33, jane eyre, jane experiences, lowood 45, jane's life, nature jane, lowood 44, jane's inner, jane rochester, gilbert gubar 89, gilbert gubar 88, connection jane's inner, lowood 46 jane, dualism nature emotion,

Approximate Word count = 1795
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English