Red Room Symbolism

Mrs. Reed reveals to Mr. Brocklehurst that Jane has a propensity for lying. 4.) Describe the “battle” that Jane has with Mrs. Reed after Mr. Brocklehurst leaves Gateshead. What accusations does Jane level at Mrs. Reed? How does the woman react?

We first see Jane; vulnerable and lonely at Gateshead, where the orphaned little girl resides with her bitter widowed aunt and her children. Jane is sent to the ‘Red Room’ for retaliating when her

Equally, Jane had great respect for St.John as a brother. However, when he asked her to marry him, although his only reason for this decision was he assumes that she is a suitable partner for him on his mission to India. Just when Jane was about to accept his offer, she hears Mr. Rochester call for her. She becomes delusion and runs after calling. By refusing St.John, she has overcome her reason of not marrying Mr. Rochester but she ends up following her passionate love for

Furthermore, this demeaning and negative attitude Jane is exposed to is further instigated when her cousin, John Reed, expresses her situation by saying: "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 to live here with gentlemen's children like us". The truth of Jane's unfortunate situation is expressed against her which results in her feeling no true support from this family and confides only in her childhood nursemaid- Bessie, who although behaves inconsistently and has “a capricious and hasty temper”, is the closest mother figure to her. Furthermore, the friction between Jane and John is further emphasised when the first physical aspect of violence is introduced to the reader through a graphic portrayal, further showing the ultimate rejection Jane experienced

When Jane enters Thornfield she thinks she is going to work for a woman named Mrs. Fairfax, but she does not. She works for a mysterious man name Mr. Rochester. This man is going to be an import aspect of Jane’s life. Jane works as a governess to a young girl named Adele. Jane encounters Mr. Rochester when she goes for a walk and runs into Rochester, whose horse is injured. After the encounter Jane and Rochester start to gain interest into each other. Mr. Rochester is a man with a large amount of money and Jane is a woman with very little money, the fact that she works for Mr. Rochester defies their unprofessional relationship. “Like governesses, these marriages between older men and younger women were viewed with great ambivalence during the Victorian period”(Godfrey). Both characters develop strong feelings for one another and become close to getting married but a discovery of a secret puts the marriage to a halt. After

Jane begins her life in isolation at Gateshead, abused and misunderstood by her Aunt Reed and cousins. She is constantly reminded of her worthlessness to them and the fact that they view her as a burden, and is literally

Jane’s uncle’s dying wish was that his wife raise Jane. As a young child she was harassed by her cousin John Reed who would always be aided by his mom. While locked in the “haunted” red room, Jane believes that she sees the ghost of her uncle who sought to protect her. Jane is forced to grow up without love from her family. In contrast, Stephen is raised in a loving home in Ireland. Whereas religion does not play an

Jane Eyre is a coming of age story following a young woman and her journey of self-growth. At the start of the novel Jane is living with her aunt and three cousins. They continuously abuse her, treating her like a stranger rather than a family member. At the age of ten Jane leaves her aunt's house and attends boarding school. It is at this school where she learns lessons of forgiveness and hope from a meek young woman named Helen Burns. Subsequently studying and teaching at the school for eight years Jane decides to become a governess at the mysterious Thornfield mansion. She falls in love with the owner of Thornfield and the two make plans to marry. Nonetheless on the day of there wedding Jane discovers that Mr. Rochester is already married and that he keeps his insane wife Bertha trapped away in the attic of Thornfield. Devastated by this information, Jane flees Thornfield and nearly dies from cold and starvation. Soon after she is taken in by the Rivers, two sisters and one brother. The passing of Jane's uncle reveals that she and the Rivers are cousins. It is also revealed that this uncle has left Jane all his fortune. This in turn leaves Jane extremely wealthy. Her cousin St. John Rivers ask Jane for his hand in marriage. However Jane comes to the conclusion that she still loves Mr. Rochester. After declining St. John's proposal Jane journeys back to Thornfield. When she arrives at Thornfield Jane discovers the mysterious mansion in burnt ruins. It is revealed that the

Jane’s perception of the furniture’s authoritative presence and her reaction to the looking-glass expresses her over active imagination, which stems from her psychologic need to distance herself from her cruel life when she finds herself isolated. Ostracized by the Reed family, similarly to the “seldom entered” Red Room, Jane finds comfort in novels and stories her nurse, Bessie, tells to her. Locked away in the Red Room as an unfair punishment, Jane’s overactive imagination transforms things like the bed and chair around her into a “tabernacle” and “pale throne” (10) so she can better cope with the strange surroundings. Reflexively, Jane uses her imagination as a shield against her Aunt’s unjust cruelty and bias towards her; instead focusing

Jane has visions and day dreams since she was a child. The ‘Red Room’ is the place where Jane starts having visions, she has one of a strange figure when she had been locked in the red room by her Aunt Reed; “…the strange

God directed me to a correct choice” ( Brontë 306-307). Jane would never have been truly content had she stayed with Mr. Rochester at that time, because she would be ashamed to be a mistress. Jane does go back to Mr. Rochester after his wife has died and decides to marry him since they can be equals. The last man that Jane stands up to is St. John, the man who takes her in after she runs away from Mr. Rochester. St. John asks Jane to marry him so that they can go on a missionary trip in India. Jane refuses his proposal and when asked why she will not marry him Jane answers, “ ‘ because you did not love me; now, I reply, because you almost hate me. If I were to marry you, you would kill me. You are killing me now’” (Brontë 351). Jane would have been so miserable had she married John especial after refusing him once, since he would also harbor bad feelings against her. Also, since Jane does not marry John, she is free to marry Mr. Rochester, the man she truly loves. Jane gets her happy ending, however the females in The Good Earth do not.

Jane would not like to be poor as poverty is looked down upon and equivalent to being an immoral and degraded human being. For Jane to be a respectable woman in society she must remain with the Reeds. John acknowledges Jane’s dependency: “You have no business to take our books; you are a dependent, momma says; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg and not to live here with gentleman's children like us, and eat the same meals we do, and wear clothes at out mamma’s expense (14).” Jane is continuously reminded of her inferior position at Gateshead and powerless dependency to people that do not even love her. At this early age Jane has already been integrated into Victorian society as negative notions about the poor have been internalized. Born the daughter of a poor clergyman, Jane is believed to be of lesser value than the Reeds; however, she has passionate tendencies and is unable to control her emotions when necessary.When being abused by John and accusing him of being “like a murderer” (14) she is described as being a “picture of passion (15).” Jane must learn to temper her “fire” because untamed emotions have consequences. Her consequence comes when she is imprisoned in the red room, a visual representation of the intense emotions that have manifested in

As a governess, Jane is shown the life of the luxurious. Mr. Rochester's mansion is overwhelming, and his parties are extravagant. Mr. Rochester speaks to her frequently, because he needs someone to listen to him. When Edward reveals to Jane his former cheating wife, she feels a connection to him on personal level. Jane has never felt this since her relationship with Helen Burns at Lowood. Jane becomes

The pivotal moment that affected Jane Eyre’s outlook on life was due to her harsh upbringing by her aunt and her cousins. It is first introduced to the reader that Jane was adopted by her kind Uncle Reed, and his family, while Jane was sent to the red room as punishment and she was pondering about the past in order to pass time. The red room was a chamber, with décor that was almost all red, which could be locked from outside. The reason Jane was sent to the red room was because she had lashed out at her snobby and obnoxious cousin John Reed that on a regular basis would torment Jane. After years of pent up anger and frustration Jane couldn’t take it any longer. On regular occasion, she was outcast by her own family, although only she was only blood related to her deceased Uncle Reed and partly to his children. Before he had passed, Jane’s uncle had made a promise with his wife that she would raise Jane as if she were one of her own children. But, as time went on the Reed family’s

John, his character and marriage proposal is not sufficiently emphasized in the film, neither is the fact that Jane actually considered his request to marry him and go as missionaries in India. It is a fairly significant moment in Jane’s life, having encountered with a second proposal and romantic prospect, although so unlike the first one. St. John serves as a foil to Rochester: the first one is cold, austere, ambitious, religious and reserved, while the other is passionate, impetuous, dark and mysterious. Marrying Rochester, Jane would fulfill her emotional need for love and affection but would neglect her duty to her moral principles and to her dignity (by becoming a mistress while Bertha was still alive). On the other hand, marrying St. John would bring her spiritual and moral satisfaction (as she would have a religious and righteous partner), while also leading a meaningful life as a missionary in India and having the opportunity to be more than just a governess, but, nonetheless, it would be a loveless, passionless marriage. This internal battle Jane faces between having to choose whether to gratify her emotions or her moral principles is not highlighted in the film, although, in my opinion, it represents a crucial point in her life. In the novel, she earnestly considers St. John’s proposal before finally making her decision: ‘“Shall I?” I said briefly; and I looked at his features, beautiful in their harmony, but strangely formidable in