Jane Eyre
In a nutshell
Jane Eyre is a novel written by Charlotte Brontë in 1847. It tells the story of Jane Eyre, a young orphan being raised by her abusive Aunt Reed, overcoming life's difficult circumstances. In this summary, you will learn the plot, characters and themes of Jane Eyre.
Plot summary
The novel begins with Jane Eyre living a life of cruel treatment due to her aunt Mrs Reed and her ∫ John, Georgiana and Eliza. Mrs Reed decides to send Jane to Lowood School where she makes friends with Helen Burns. Later on, her best friend Helen dies of consumption (tuberculosis) and a new administration is established at the orphan school.
Once Jane has finished school, she becomes a teacher and works at Lowood for two years. She is offered a governess position at Thornfield Hall, so she moves out and falls in love with her employer, Mr Rochester. One night, a fire breaks out at Thornfield almost killing Mr Rochester in his sleep. Fortunately, Jane puts the fire out, saving his life. It remains unknown who started the fire, Mr Rochester claims it was his servant, however, Jane doesn't believe him.
Jane is called back to her aunt's place because Mrs Reed is dying. On her death bed she reveals to Jane that she does not regret the way she treated her and that her uncle, John Eyre, had been looking for her, but she told him Jane was dead. Back in Thornfield, Mr Rochester declares his love for Jane and asks her to marry him. However, the wedding is interrupted by a lawyer, who claims Mr Rochester cannot marry because he is already married. Mr Rochester admits he is married to his wife Bertha but that she has gone mad, so he still wants to be with Jane.
After finding out about Mr Rochester's marriage, Jane escapes and gets sick. The Rivers family host her and take care of her. When she has finally recovered, Jane takes a teaching job in their town where St John Rivers proposes marriage to her and suggests they both move to India. However, Jane refuses since she cannot marry someone who she is not in love with. Eventually, he shows her a letter that reveals that the Rivers siblings are Jane's cousins and she inherits her uncle's estate and wealth.
One night, she hears Mr Rochester's voice calling her name, so she returns to Thornfield Hall. However, the manor is in ruins as Bertha started a fire and committed suicide. Jane visits Rochester, who is now blind and handicapped. They agree to marry, ten years later they have a son and live happily ever after.
Characters
jane eyre
| The development of Jane is the centre of the novel. From a very young age, Jane's life is full of difficulties that she has to overcome. These difficulties include being an orphan, her aunt's cruel treatment and the death of her best friend. Her character represents the search for freedom, the pursuit of her passions and the blossoming of adulthood. |
mr rochester
| Despite his strong character and his strange relationship with Jane, Edward Rochester wins Jane's heart, he shows her true love. The character of Mr Rochester is Jane Eyre's intellectual equal; during the Victorian era, men were considered socially and economically superior to women. However, Jane proves to be morally superior after finding out at the altar that Mr Rochester was already married. |
mrs reed
| Mrs Reed represents an obstacle in Jane's life that will help her grow and mature. Mrs Reed always mistreated and punished Jane due to jealousy because she thought her husband cared more for Jane than even his own children. At the end of the novel, Jane is able to truly forgive her aunt, showing how Jane has matured; even if Mrs Reed still hates her. |
helen burns
| Helen Burns is Jane's best friend at Lowood school. Her character embodies the Christian side of Victorian society. She is constantly victimised by the teachers and accepts punishment without complaining. This reaffirms Jane's stronger character as she thinks Helen should not be so submissive and seek justice by herself. |
bertha mason | Bertha Mason is Mr Rochester's wife. Her character symbolises the impediment of happiness for Jane but at the same time marks Jane's growth and independence. If she had not been married to Mr Rochester, Jane would have never proved her worth and moral superiority. |
st john rivers
| St John Rivers proposes marriage to Jane and wants to go to India as a missionary. Jane's opportunity to contribute to society is higher if she marries St John Rivers. However, she decides not to marry him because a life with him would mean putting her emotions as the last priority over her ambitions. |
Relationships
Jane Eyre ↔ Mr Rochester
The relationship between Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester illustrates the ability to overcome difficult circumstances in order to love each other. On the one hand, Jane has to deal with the loss of dignity and disrespect because Mr Rochester was already married. On the other hand, Mr Rochester has to prove himself and demonstrate with his actions his love for Jane.
Jane Eyre ↔ Helen Burns
The relationship between Jane Eyre and Helen Burns serves as Jane's character development. Helen Burns is Jane's only friend at Lowood school. Even if they have a strong bond, Jane disagrees with Helen's attitude towards certain situations such as punishments or bad treatment from the teachers. Jane believes she should speak her mind, which is why Jane starts seeking balance on her temper, autonomy and freedom.
Jane Eyre ↔ Mrs Reed
Mrs Reed plays another significant part in Jane's character development. Mrs Reed is a symbol of injustice, hypocrisy and evil towards Jane's life. At the beginning of the novel, Jane suffers all the cruel treatments from Mrs Reed, however, when Mrs Reed deathbed speaks to Jane on her deathbed and confesses she does not regret the way she treated her; and Jane still decides to forgive her shows Jane's ability to grow beyond her resentment and give closure to the power Mrs Reed had over Jane's feelings.
Themes
Social class
Jane Eyre is a critique of Victorian society. Throughout the novel, the life of Jane is judged by society; she is an orphan, does not have any money and has difficulties when getting married. Later on, access to education and many life lessons teach her how to overcome life's struggles and become a woman that can fight Victorian standards.
Personal identity
In Jane Eyre, the protagonist is the centre of the novel. Jane explores diverse life situations and starts a journey to discover herself and what she wants. The struggle to find her personal identity is a mix of the personal experiences of the author, since Charlotte Bronte too struggled to find love and freedom; and the need to overcome the standards of Victorian society.
Emotions
Jane Eyre is a novel about overcoming life's difficult circumstances but also about the pursuit of love. As an orphan kid abused by her Aunt Reed, throughout her life, Jane searches for love. Not only romantic love, but also the feeling of validation, belonging and being appreciated by others. On the other hand, negative feelings are depicted on several occasions, for example, in the relationships between Jane and her family and teachers. The way that Jane manages her emotions works as a teaching for her and the reader to understand what love and friendship are about.
Key quotations
chapter
| quotation
| theme
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Chapter III
| "I learned, for the first time, from Miss Abbot's communications to Bessie, that my father had been a poor clergyman; that my mother had married him against the wishes of her friends, who considered the match beneath her, that my grandfather Reed was so irritated at her disobedience, he cut her off without a shilling; that after my mother and father had been married a year, the latter caught the typhus fever... that my mother took the infection from him, and both died within a month of each other." | Social class
In this quote, Jane tells the story of her parents' life. Her parents' relationship is a reflection of the harsh Victorian standards and social structure. They were disowned by friends and family and struggled with disease. The fact that their marriage was against the conventions places the blame for their deaths on their choice to marry.
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Chapter XXXVII
| "I am independent, sir, as well as rich; I am my own mistress." | Personal identity
Almost in the last chapter of the novel, Jane perceives herself as equal to Mr Rochester. She has grown and become an independent woman and nobody can rule over her.
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Chapter XXXVII
| "He sees nothing attractive in me; not even youth - only a few useful mental points... Oh, you need not be jealous!.. But if you wish me to love you, could you but see how much I do love you, you would be proud and content. All my heart is yours, sir, it belongs to you; and with you it would remain, were fate to exile the rest of me from your presence forever." | Emotions
Jane is describing to Mr Rochester her relationship with St John Rivers, mentioning his lack of love for her. Then, she confesses her love to Mr Rochester, which is a clear insight into love in the novel, especially as Jane chooses true love in the end.
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