Gateshead Flashcards
“I was a discord at Gateshead Hall”
Metaphor of musical disharmony. Jane feels out of sync with her family as they treat her in a harmful way
“the cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so sombre”
Bronte starts the novel with pathetic fallacy foreshadowing the struggles Jane will face at Gateshead
“Drawn the red moreen curtain nearly close, I was shrined in double retirement”
Red is used as a motif throughout the novel- the colour red is associated with anger and passion. First introduced to the red imagery here-Jane isolates herself and her family isolate her. Jane cocooning herself within the red curtains creates a comforting womb like image as if to say Jane is vulnerable and susceptible to oppression
Red Room-
“deep red damask”
“polished mahogany”
Red has connotations of anger and violence, perhaps this could represent Jane’s pent-up anger and frustration at the hands of the Reeds who view her as inferior and treat her as such. The red is juxtaposed by the colour of the bed which “glared white” with a “snowy counterpane” and a footstool that looked like a “pale throne”. White has connotations of purity and innocence. Juxtaposition of the colours could represent Jane’s inner turmoil as she struggles to repress her anger at her unjust treatment. White represents the societal expectation of a Victorian chid- to be pure and not give into temptation of releasing emotions.
“Bewick’s History of British Birds”
Jane uses this book as a form of escapism as she imagines all of the places in the book. Birds are meant to be free but they are put in a cage which represents Jane as she is held in captivity by the Reeds. Contrasts imagery of freedom vs isolation. Jane categorises herself from an early age as she understands her limitations. This links to when Jane compares herself to Blanche when she calls herself “Portrait of a Governess, disconnected, poor and plain”.
“You are like a murderer, you are like a slave driver, you are like the Roman emperors”
Jane uses her knowledge as a weapon against John. Her intellect helps her through her struggles.
“He called me ‘rat’”
The use of animalistic imagery suggests that Jane’s family view her as a pest and an inconvenience to them.
