Essay About Jane Eyre And Mrs. Rochester

Character Influences From Setting In Jane Eyre
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Charlotte Brontes, Jane Eyre, a story of an unfortunate you whos morals and self-respect
continue to fluctuate as she matures. Jane Eyre begins her life in the wrong place at the wrong
time. During the novel, Jane endures love, hate and friendship, though maturity allows her to
forgive. Settings surrounding Janes life alter her own ideas of self-acceptance, her actions taken
to release herself from certain settings have effect on her.
In the first few chapters, Bronte establishes Janes character as a young girl who is the
object of hatred from her cousins and aunt. In Chapter Five, Jane encounters numerous
problems with her cousin John. After a confrontation, Mrs. Reed forces her to the Red-Room for
punishment. Though, Jane resists which is unlike her, she is still placed in the Room. Jane
recalls contents resting in a drawer in her aunts wardrobe, “[. . .] a miniature of her deceased
husband, in those last words lies in the secret of the Red-Room — the spell which kept it so
lonely in spite of its grandeur (Bronte, 3rd Ed. 2001 p.11).” The Red-Room becomes a symbolic
part of the novel but also an important setting. The Red-Room is “[. . .] the largest and stateliest
chambers in the mansion (p. 11),” the atmosphere of the room lingers an ominous and creepy
tone. Janes inferior position among the Reed family is set by her punishment in the Red-Room.
Jane explains her hatred towards the Reeds and shows no remorse for them. Soon after Janes
experiences in the Red-Room, Jane leaves to attend Lowood. As she leaves Gateshead, Jane
emotions are overflowing with joy. The Lowood Institute assists in education impoverished and
orphaned children, receives majority of its funds through charity. Beginning out at Lowood,
Jane is ecstatic. After a period of time Jane expresses, ” My first quarter at Lowood seemed an
age; and not the golden age either: it comprised an irksome trouble with difficulties in
habituating myself to new rules and unwonted tasks (p.50).” Thus, her thoughts of life at
Gateshead with her aunt and cousins become increasingly different. Befriending classmate,
Helen Burns, Jane realizes a friend can help in improving herself. As Jane shows great progress
in class Helen begins to have a religious effect on her. Though Jane does not always believe in
Helens ideas she grows to respect them unlike, Mr. Brocklehurst who preaches his ideas.
Character Influences from Setting 3
All the religious ideas Jane faces force her own ideas of self-respect and morals to constantly
change.
“A new chapter in a novel is something like a new scene in a play (p.79),” as Jane ends
her nine year stay at Lowood, she accepts a governess job at Thornfield. Jane feels that a change
in setting might allow her to grow more as her own person, opposed to living up to everyone
else. In the beginning the tone of Thornfield attains a comforting but an eerie tone at the same
time. Janes first night at Thornfield, she is greeted and welcomed by many of the servants.
Mrs. Fairfax helps Jane to be comforted by warming and feeding her. Janes first few months at
Thornfield have no encounters with the owner, Mrs. Rochester, though Jane experiences Bertha
Mason, who as she knows is Grace Poole. Berthas effect on Jane makes her wonder the true
reality behind the Thornfield house, and the history of its presence. According to other servants,
Mr. Rochester is rarely seen and if he is there, no one can tell. One night, Janes curiosity leads
her to wander outside Thornfield, she encounters an injured middle-aged man.
To Janes dismay, the middle-aged man turned out to be Mr. Rochester. After spending
time with Mr. Rochester and Adele together, Janes thoughts of Thornfield allow her to be more
comfortable. With Janes insight on Rochesters history, she feels for him. After learning that
Rochester will be away for the next week, Jane becomes heavy-hearted. Soon Jane learns
Rochesters accompany will be a wealthy,beautiful woman, Blanche Ingram. Jane does not
understand her despondence to the news of this. Soon, Thornfield becomes dismal for Jane, she
attempts to erase any thoughts and imaginations she my have held about Rochester. On what
seemed a typical night, Jane awakes to the sound of a door creaking. Jane leaves her room to
find, “a strong smell of burning (p. 127).” The smoke led to Mr. Rochesters room, Jane
scanned the room seeing, ” Tongues of flame darted round the bed: the curtains were on fire. In
the midst of blaze and vapour, Mr. Rochester lay stretched motionless, in deep sleep (p. 127).”
Jane panicked and quickly woke him and assisted him out of the room. As the next few days
went by, Jane became increasingly nervous.
Character Influences from Setting 4
She does not understand why Rochester took