JANE EYRE

THEMES

Summary

• Relationship of Rochester and Bertha Mason revealed
• Rochester persuades Jane to elope, explains about Bertha
• Rochester tells Jane how he was attracted to her
• Jane refuses to be his mistress and flees
• Jane is taken in by St John after countless rejections for food

LOVE & MARRIAGE

• Jane and Rochester express love for each other near separation
• Jane, convulsed by emotion, is torn between passion and reason
• Love is of paramount importance to Jane, Jane always yearned for love
• Love affects Jane's decision making
• Restraint of reason over passion

Reason over Passion

• Jane's conflict between love and doing the right thing
• Jane controls emotions and does the right thing
• Jane does not react emotionally to threats anymore
• Different from when she faced Mrs Reed as a child
• Jane's developed ability to calm down and make decisions

SOCIAL class

• Rochester finding love in someone equal as him
• Equal in terms of intelligence and depth
• Jane's pride in herself being middle class
• To be poor is to be morally lacking
• Similarity in Jane's and Rochester's thinking

Feminism/Individualism

• Jane's actions are driven by her own principles
• Jane, being Christian, follows the laws of god
• Jane does not want to be shaped by anyone
• Refuses to conform to roles given by society
• Jane is not a typical Victorian Era woman

Religion

• Influence of Helen Burns
• Jane adopts Christian faith and becomes devout Christian
• Reference to the bible and god when feeling lost
• God becomes Jane's sole source of reliance
• Finds herself praying to God for solace after leaving Rochester

The Outsider Figure

• Jane becomes an outcast in Whitcross
• Jane rendered defenseless and exposed
• Emphasis on importance of love for Jane
• Inadvertently helps her reinforce individuality

Bildungsroman

• Great maturity in Jane compared to the past
• Individuality as a child - desire for humane treatment
• Individuality now - cares for herself, understand 'self worth'
• Mastery of emotions
• Ability to control her passion and emotions according to situations

Power Struggles

• Rochester trying to force Jane to accept his love
• Rochester becomes more abusive and cruel
• Jane resists and retaliates
• Both striving to be dominant in their relationship
• Contrast to Jane being submissive to John Reed

Motifs

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