Jane Eyre-character Flashcards
Protagonist :
Passionate
-Strong willed which was unusual at the time - women were expected to be modest and not hold or
express strong feelings/ emotions
She’s also hardworking and keen to improve herself through learning-St John admires her work and Erich and “unflagging energy”
Describe Jane as a protagonist
Outsider:
“There she is still behind the window-curtain”
She begins the novel as an orphan living with her aunt and cousins , who don’t like or love her
They think that she is “naughty” and “passionate” and even the servants have a “bad opinion of her
In fact she tries to be good and keep out of trouble , but she is tormented by her cousins- particularly John
Mr brocklehurst tries to make Jane an outsider at lowood by claiming that she is a liar
At thorn field Jane is caught between the servants and the upper-class guests-she doesn’t fit in with either group making her an outsider:
Writers technique-
Janes status as an outsider at thornfiled means that she spends lots of time observing other people
Which aids get narrative - she sees all that goes on between the guests and shares this with the reader
Describe Jane as an outsider
But ends up with a family:
-has a strong desire to belong and become less of an outsider as the novel progresses
Things begin to change at Lowood -Jane makes friends with Helen Burns and miss temple looks after her
Jane battles threw the hardships of lowood -enduring the poor conditions and eventually becoming a teacher there .this enables her to move on and become a governess
At thronfield she has a family of sorts -she likes mr Rochester , miss fair fax and Adele - but must leave them
James filled with “sudden joy” when she finds out she’s related to the rivers family . Having relations is far more important to her than the money she also finds out about
At the end Jane marries Rochester , and begins There own family and Jane finally fella she has sthe meheere she belongs completely
Theme-family:
Mary and Diana have similar interests to Jane and are closer to her than any other women in the novel - it seems right that they turn out to be Related to her
Describe Jane when she ends
Jane has to balance conflicting characteristics and desires
Passion v self control:
Jane is passionate - she deeply loves mr Rochester and and fights against sadness and jealousy when it looks like he’ll marry Blanche Ingram
She also shows St. John with her passionate “undermine “ words”.
However she tries to be self controlled - she manages to hide her feelings when questioned by the fortune teller
Independence vs Desire to belong
Jane can be independent and she isn’t afraid to stand up for herself - she rebels against the reeds and she makes tough descions to leave mr Rochester and St. John even though they both try to persuade her against it
However this independence clashes with her desire to belong
How is Jane presented as having to balance conflicting characteristics and desires
She has strong ideas about strong ideas about right and wrong :
When Jane finds out that mr Rochester is already married she knows she can’t become his mistress , even though she is desperate to be with him she won’t go against what she believes to be right
She’s also caring - she tells off mr Rochester for speaking unkindly about bertha -“she cannot help being mad” , and is also concerned for Blanche’s feelings after mr Rochester rejects her
As Mrs reed is dying , Jane apologises
To her and offers her “ full and free forgiveness”- she’s keen to put right past wrongs and not dwell on bitterness
Jane is religious and has strong Christian morals . She seems prepared to sacrifice her life and happiness for god and go to India , but ultimately her passion leads her back to mr Rochester
Describe how Jane has strong ideas about right and wrong
Independent: I am not bird, and no net ensures me ; I am free human being with an I independent will”
Strong willed:”I don’t think , sir you have a right to command me , merely because you are older than I”
What quote shows Jane is independent ?
What does this quote show?
What quote shows Jane is strong willed ?
What does this quote show
Jane and Mr Rochester have an unconventional relationship:
Mr Rochester talks about Jane as is she’s a fairytale creature. He calls her a “ malicious elf” and jokingly accuses her of putting a curse on his horse
He also teases Jane so much that she tells him that she’s not “ a machine without feelings”
Janes ambiguous social position a slap complicates things - she’s not a servant but she is employed by Mr Rochester and isn’t socially equal to him
Neither Jane not mr Rochester are physically attractive . Jane describes herself as being “ plain” and “little” and she tells mr Rochester that he isn’t handsome. This is unusual for the mai. Romantic couple
Describe Jane and mr Rochesters relationship
