NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
... academic life at Lowood such as the death of her friend, her search for a religion and her warming to her surrogate mother Miss Temple. Mr Rochester is introduced to us in a vulnerable position and under the care of Jane. Mr Rochester, the owner of Thornfield, cloaks himself in mystery and refuses to reveal himself to Jane. We already catch a glimpse of his mannerisms and his attitude towards to Jane and his feelings towards her. The mystery concerning Rochester deepens as the novel progresses, and this constitutes the major dramatic thrust of the novel.
Gothic novels usually have a romantic component that revolves around passionate, unrequited love; Rochester's dark, brooding, nature and secretive past makes him an ideal candidate for such a love. Part of Janes struggle with Rochester will be assertion of her independence and equality. As we can already see, Rochester only begrudgingly admits Janes positive attributes, criticising her even when praising her watercolours. Nevertheless, he seems to regard her as his intellectual equal. As the first section comes to a close Rochester warms to Jane and reveals some of his past and how he was passionately devoted to Adele's mother (Adele being the young French child whom Jane is tutoring. ) These revelations and his honesty make him more attractive to her and she is worried that Rochester will leave Thornfield soon. Janes development is significant here, as, other than John Reed and Mr Brocklehurst, has had no real contact with a male on a compassionate level.
When Rochester's curtain catches fire from a fallen candle we are again shown the connection with fire, as it brings Jane and Rochester closer together. Jane is given a power as Rochester is, again, in a vulnerable position. Rochester still tries to avoid the state of affairs concerning Grace and tries to sweep the episode under the rug. Rochester's reluctance to leave after the episode shows us his wounded heart after the situation with Adele's mother. He is yearning for a constant love based on more than a physical attraction, and Jane seems to provide that. We learn much from Rochester's change of affection towards Jane.
At the first introduction he is reluctant for any help and any communication with Jane for example when he questioned Jane about Rochester when in fact, he was the real Rochester. As they continue to get to know each other we are shown how Rochester sees Jane as his intellectual equal. The element of fire emphasises brings the two closer together and Janes poetic ending to the section, mentioning the hills of Beulah which is the Hebrew term for marriage. Jane adds her affection to the recipe along with Rochester's even though he remains adamant to show his soft side. At Thornfield, Jane learns much of her own satisfactions and the restrictions of her gender. Bronte uses the hierarchy of the time in which she wrote the novel to emphasise the barriers of gender.
For example, at the beginning of the imprisonment of Jane in the Red Room and Bertha's imprisonment in the attic at Thornfield is revealed. The connection implies that Janes imprisonment is symbolic of her lower social class, while Bertha's imprisonment is symbolic of Victorian marriage, all women, if they marry under unequal circumstances as Bertha did, will end up going crazy and confined by their husbands in some manner. While it is difficult to separate Janes economic and gender obstacles, it seems clear that her being a woman prevents her from venturing out into the World as some of the male characters do e. g. , Mr Rochester. Indeed, her desire for worldly experience ironies her last name, as Eyre is derived from the French word meaning to travel. We are shown how she is feeling imprisoned at Thornfield after her first few weeks and we are shown her development as a character and her need for independence.
I could not help it; relentless was in my nature; it agitated me to pain sometimes... If they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex. This passage appears in chapter 12, in the midst of Janes description of her first few weeks at Thornfield. The diction highlights Janes feelings of imprisonment (she paces the corridors like a creature caged), and her longings for freedom and equality.
Janes words are also relevant to Brontes own experience as a writer, and to the general condition of Victorian women. The images of relentless and pacing, of feeling stagnation and too rigid a restraint, are examples of the novels central theme of imprisonment and how Jane thrives for independence. In instances of physical imprisonment Jane must also escape the fetters of misguided religion (represented by Brocklehurst), and of passion without principle (represented by Rochester. ) The passage suggests that Brontes writing may have been her means of coping with such rage. Jane describes her retreat into her own mind, to find freedom in her imagination. While Brontes greatest triumphs were the result of such self-retreat, her heroines achievement is the balance she strikes between her need for autonomy and her desire to be an active member of society. Janes development from early childhood to her blossoming womanhood is emphasised through many separate aspects and themes of the novel.
This includes Janes search for a religion. Jane frequently looks for God in her own way throughout the novel, particularly after she learns of Rochester's previous marriage (further on in the novel. ) She has learned from Helens forgiveness without being a pushover, and returns to Rochester when she feels she is ready to accept him again. The spiritual culmination of the book is her and Rochester's mystical experience that brings them together through a spirituality of profound love. Jane has also learnt and nurtured her need for independence and the way she is imprisoned in the first section adds to this desire.
The long passage in chapter 12 emphasises her feelings and the eight years at Lowood and the imprisonment in The Red Room also show this. The constant situation of being poor in a wealthy environment gives justification to this emotion also. The development is the transitional period is the biggest development of Janes character, going from a fiery child who is confused, outspoken and ostracized to being a composed, mature young woman.
Free research essays on topics related to: chapter 12, jane, first section, red room, mr rochester
Research essay sample on Mr Rochester Red Room
