I will be exploring how the theme of isolation is used throughout the novel "Jane Eyre" written by Charlotte Bronte, with particular focus on the opening chapters.
When Charlotte Bronte wrote "Jane Eyre" in 1847, it became an immediate bestseller. It contained themes of which were previously rarely brought to light and of which many believed to be controversial, such as women's place in the Victorian society, of which Bronte lived in.
"Jane Eyre" was written in first person narrative. This technique immediately allows the reader to relate to and connect with the main character's emotions and experiences, and her isolation.
In this book, the author, Charlotte Bronte, has chosen to take an almost autobiographical approach to the plot. At
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In reading her volume, Jane takes particular notice of certain aspects of the book, such as: "the solitary rocks and promontories" and "the bleak shores". This could be yet another subtle reflection of her life, and the direct reference to solitariness shows her introverted lifestyle and personality. Charlotte Bronte then goes onto describe how "the clear panes of glass, were protecting, but not separating me [Jane] from the drear November day". This could be interpreted as meaning that although Jane is protected from the realities of life outside Gateshead, as she is always isolated inside the house and its' grounds, she is not really separated from the harsh realities of life itself, as she believes she is suffering a much more cruel life locked inside.
The use of sympathetic background, in the description of the "drear November day" the other side of the window directly reflects the disposition of her own life, and therefore endorses the previous statements. "Afar, it offered a pale blank of mist and cloud; near a scene of wet lawn and storm beat shrub, with ceaseless rain sweeping away wildly before a long and lamenting blast."
This description on page 2 of Jane's view from her window describes that of lawns, shrubs and clouds, of which are usually thought of as generally pleasant, but Bronte has carefully chosen adjectives to convert them
In part one of the book, Jane is a very hurt child. She’s an orphan and her Uncle Reed takes her in but, he too passes away. Her Aunt Reed is not welcoming at all. She makes her children shun her and the servants treat her poorly as well. Jane is aware of the way the Gateshead residents feel about her. “I was a discord at Gateshead Hall; I was like nobody there; I had nothing in harmony with Mrs. Reed or her children, or her chosen vassalage If they did not love me, in fact, as little did I love them. They were not bound to regard with affection a thing that could not sympathize with one amongst them; a heterogeneous thing, opposed to them in temperament, in capacity, in propensities; a useless thing incapable of serving their interest, or adding to their pleasure; a noxious thing, cherishing their gems of indignation at their treatment, of contempt of their judgement. I know that had I been a sanguine, brilliant, careless, exacting, handsome, romping child-though equally dependent and friendless- Mrs. Reed would have endured my presence more complacently; her children would have entertained for me more of the cordiality of fellow-feeling; the
Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre is a coming-of-age story about an unconventional woman's development within a society of strict rules and expectations. At pivotal moments in Jane's life, she makes choices which are influenced by her emotions and/or her reason. Through the results of those choices, Jane learns to balance passion and practicality to achieve true happiness.
Throughout Jane Eyre, as Jane herself moves from one physical location to another, the settings in which she finds herself vary considerably. Bronte makes the most of this necessity by carefully arranging those settings to match the differing circumstances Jane finds herself in at each. As Jane grows older and her hopes and dreams change, the settings she finds herself in are perfectly attuned to her state of mind, but her circumstances are always defined by the walls, real and figurative, around her.
To provide a significant understanding of their work, a composer will progressively develop particular aspects in order to produce an unequivocal conclusion. In her novel, “Jane Eyre,” published in 1847, Charlotte Brontë establishes her course of action through various literary techniques collectively for her audience. The ideas of the romantic era, such as social stratification, the significance of religion and exclusion and social isolation are explored to convey Brontë’s main purpose. Due to the elegant composure and integrity of the novel, the chronological compilation of specific textual facets culminates through a notably distinct ending.
As author Charlotte Bronte pens Jane Eyre, Bronte manipulates the readers emotions through diction and imagery. These tools make the reader bring sympathy towards the protagonist, as if she were confined or imprisoned. As the main character goes to her place or retirement, she does not walk or strut in, but rather slips in. This demonstrates the author application in diction or word choice.
Jane Eyre and Incidents in the life of a slave girl are two opposite literary texts which, despite being 19th century texts, belong to different historical periods. Brontë sets her character in the Victorian England. Jacobs, on the other hand, writes about slavery during the civil war in order to relate the treatment of slaves, and more precisely that of female slaves. We will analyse, in this essay, the differences as well as the similarities which exist between Jane Eyre and Incidents in the life of a slave girl written by herself. We see that they differ in terms of genre, the period of history in which they find themselves, the way the characters are presented and so forth. However, they share some of the main
Exile. Isolation. Solitude. Whether literal or not, exile from the familiar, while both traumatic and alienating to experience, can serve to ultimately be enriching. These descriptors summarize Jane Eyre’s isolation in the novel Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë. Her isolation manifests itself as emotional and physical, and Jane’s repeated inability to establish herself in a stable home becomes somewhat of an identifier for her, from her emotional isolation and abuse in her first “home” at Gateshead to her final dwelling at Ferndean.
In Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte, builds up a sense of isolation and a sense of constraint through Bronte’s diction. Bronte as well invokes us to feel what the main character, Jane, feels by giving us the feeling Jane is imprisoned by everyone at the orphanage, through imagery. Although the emotions are not clearly stated in the excerpt, they are felt as the reader reads the excerpt. The felling of isolation is manifested as Jane speaks of how “mamma” would not let Jane join the rest of the group.
“You have no business to take our books; you are a dependent, mama says; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not live here with gentleman’s children like us and eat the same meals as we do,” is the first real sign of the cruelty Jane faces in her childhood (Bronte 6). This causes her to live in her head about her status in society. Due to the mistreatment from
Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre” has captivated readers for generations. As with all coming of age novels, young adults can relate to the struggles and triumphs of Jane. Jane’s setting influences and parallel her emotions. A reader can see the novel through her eyes and perspective. In Bronte’s “Jane Eyre,” the location often parallels Jane’s emotional growth through the tone presented by the environment, resulting in the different places she lives revealing her journey through depression. Jane’s behavioral patterns and thoughts suggest clinical depression that affected her choices throughout the novel and her life at Gateshead, Lowood, Thornfield, Marsh End, and Ferdean.
Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre is presented in the Victorian Period of England. It is a novel which tells the story of a child's maturation into adulthood. Jane's developing personality has been shaped by her rough childhood. She has been influenced by many people and experiences. As a woman of her time, Jane has had to deal with the strain of physical appearance. This has a great effect on her mental thinking and decision making. Jane Eyre's cognitive and physical attributes have been affected by her environment throughout her life.
Bronte has purposefully rejected the idea of a conventionally beautiful heroine; she told siblings ‘I will show you a heroine as plain and small as myself’. As a reader we have more respect for Jane because of these virtues, she has more emotion and does not appear placid. She questions everything, which is unfortunate at Gateshead as Mrs Reed doesn’t ‘like cavillers or questioners…there is something truly forbidding in a child taking up her elders in that manner.’ Jane is shown to possess a strong and rich inner life, but we notice also how much she internalises and, when attacked, retreats and finds solace in solitude, in the world of art, and in contact with nature.
Conclusively, Jane Eyre can be said to be an autobiography written by Charlotte Bronte, because many of the significant events that occurred in Charlotte’s life were also happening to Jane in the novel. Jane Eyre is a detailed reflection of Charlotte’s life, from her childhood to adulthood.
Jane Eyre, a novel by Charlotte Brontë, contains several notable themes and messages sent to its readers. Jane Eyre is a coming of age novel that is a story of a girl's quest for equality and happiness. A common theme that recurs throughout the novel is the importance of independence.Charlotte Brontë utilizes several techniques to convey this message, incorporating her personal experiences, as well as including symbolism and motifs. Charlotte Bronte subjects Jane to several conflicts that occur because of Jane’s desire for independence and freedom, such as love, religion, and gender inequality.
One could look through the enticing piece of literature that is Jane Eyre through a variety of lenses, two significant lenses being mythological and autobiographical. Charlotte Bronte creates an imaginative plot line that encaptures her readers and contributes to the essence of her work as a whole. Bronte combines the lenses of mythology and autobiography not only to appeal to her readers but to balance out the fairy-tale like events with realistic and real-life issues.