Article Summary: Jane Eyre

The first article I read was comparing Charlotte Bronte's meaning of love with Jane Austen's view. I focused mainly on reading the sections dedicated to Bronte. I found an interesting paragraph on why God played a role in the actions Jane made in her "love life". She left Rochester because of his sinful lust for her and his attempt to marry her while he, himself, was still married. She knew marrying him would be a sinful act so she fled and came across St. John and his sisters. She was drawn to him by his Christain self- sacrifice, but his passion and " loving" emotions were non-existent. This caused Jane to ponder about Rochester and how he might be. She then hears his voice and leaves St. John. When she meets Rochester after all this time apart, she finds that his hand and eyes are damaged. The author of this essay wonders if it is a repercussion of his lust for Jane during his ongoing marriage to Bertha.

I also read an essay about the struggle between Rochester and Jane. This novel also had very much to do with the meaning of love in the novel. The author of this essay thinks that Jane had a duty to leave Rochester. It was her duty as a follower of God to not betray her morals by marrying him. However, Bronte had to resolve the novel with her usual ending method: positive action. Since Jane could not bring herself to marry St. John, she wants to go back to Rochester. This author also thought that Rochester's injuries were a consequence for being so lustful of Jane. However, since Rochester has paid his dues to the Lord, it is okay for Jane to marry him (His dues were the sacrifice of his eyes and had).

The third essay had a lot more to do with the way I want to write my essay. It was about Jane and her moral decisions in the novel. This essay says that Jane makes her decisions on grace and nature. The grace aspect of this thesis is that she is very religious and makes decisions that will be better morally and for the church. The nature aspect says that Jane is only human and has the same impulses other humans have. An excerpt from the novel and essay says how these two different factors caused two different consequences: "I was a fool both times. To have yielded then would have been an error of principle; to have yielded now would have been an error of judgment." This quote that Jane said showed that both factors had made a difference in the outcome, so in the end she went with her judgement.

Approach for Jane Eyre: Philosophical Approach

A. Jane's view of life is to abide by God, and make choices that follow the church. Jane follows this view of life because she will not marry Rochester because it is against the church's rules to marry someone who is already married.

B. Jane respects God and is committed to the church. The universe is not as big of a factor as God in this novel.

C. The moral statement of this story is that to Jane, following the church was more important then love. It is explicit because Jane makes the decision to leave Rochester.

D. The author thinks that fate will play a big role in life. Jane hears Rochester calling for her. Therefore she goes back to him and they are free to get married. The author appreciates fate making a happy ending. The author also respects God because Jane is strict about the rules of the church.

E. The conception of good and evil in this novel was Jane choosing Rochester over St. John. Jane chose the good choice, Rochester, instead of the evil side, St. John.

F. The novel had no obvious section with defining good and evil.

G. The work suggests that everyone makes mistakes, which is a big part of being human. Also, it shows that humans return to what feels right. Jane returns to Rochester in the end, because it felt like the right thing to do.

Thesis: Love is hard to maintain with morals and values lingering in the mind, but in the end love will always find its way.

Jane Eyre Post #11: Coflict and Climax

A conflict is the forces that go against the protagonist and prevents them from accomplishing their goal. The conflict in the novel is that Jane cannot be with Rochester because she cannot lose her integrity, or marry him without moral regret. The reason of the conflict is Bertha Mason. As long as she remains in the story, they cannot get married. Therefore, the conflict is external because of this women standing in the way. An external conflict is when outside forces conflict with the protagonist. The conflict can only be resolved is Rochester ends his marriage somehow, or if Bertha dies. Eventually, Bertha dies in a fire, so the conflict can finally be resolved.

The climax is the highest point of action. The climax in this novel is when St. John asks Jane to go to India with him and marry him. Since Jane is being controlled by St. John, she almost agrees. However, she hears a voice in the distance. The voice is Rochester's, calling her name. She suddenly realizes that marrying St. John would be a mistake. If she would have gone with St. John, then her life would have become bitter and cold. She then goes to find Rochester, and resolves the conflict completely.

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. Print.

Jane Eye Post #10: Minor Character Overview

St. John Rivers was a cold and distant man. He was consumed in doing religious tasks. He was very controlling of Jane, as well. He was going to go to India to do missionary work, and he wanted poor Jane to go with him and be his wife. St. John seemed to be one of the darkest characters in the novel because he almost caused Jane to have a horrible and bitter life. However, Jane denied his request and he went to India alone. He was a big antagonist in the story.

Another antagonist in the story was Mr. Brocklehurst. He was not a big role in the story, but he made Jane's life very unpleasant. He was the principal of the school Jane attended. When Jane drops a trey near Mr. Brocklehurst, he erupts at her. He places her on a stool and declares in front of the whole school she is a liar and careless. He also tells the students not to talk to her for the rest of the day. This influences Jane a lot because now she is very self conscious. Mr. Brocklehurst made Jane's life horrible.

Instead of an antagonist, this character is kind to Jane. Helen Burns is a dear friend to poor Jane when she attends school. Helen represents one of few people who befriend Jane and care for her. She is important to the story because she is one of Jane's only friends. However, she falls ill and this is a very sad moment for Jane. Helen says that she is happy that she is dying with no pain, and teaches Jane a lesson about death. When Helen dies, Jane is holding her. Helen was a big deal in Jane's childhood.


Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. Print.

Jane Eyre Post #9: Main Character Overview

Jane Eyre was the protagonist. She was raised by a cruel aunt and bullying cousins. Eventually, she went off to school. She was very smart and taught at the school after she completed her learning there. She then went to Thornfield to be a governess. She meets the owner of Thornfield and does not like him much to begin with. Overtime, she warms up to Rochester and then develops feelings for him. When she is to marry him, she learns he is already married. She cannot lose her integrity and marry an already wed man. She leaves him, but she remains in love with him. Jane ends up being cared for by three siblings. They are the Rivers. She learns they are their cousins and shared her inheritance from their uncle with them. She is tempted to marry St. John, but she is lured away from him because she hears Rochester's voice in the distance. She goes to find him and finds out his wife dies. They can finally marry and they have a son together! She went from lonely orphan, to a women with a family and friends. She never lost her integrity, but still remained able to marry her love!

Edward Rochester was a rich man who fell in love with his governess, Jane. He started out as a heir to his brother who owned Thornfield. He was forced to marry by his father. He married Bertha Mason, who went insane few years later. Rochester tried to marry Jane, but he was stopped by his brother-in-law. Mr. Mason told everyone the truth of Rochester's current marriage. This caused Jane to leave and his life to become bitter. However, during a fire, Rochester tried to save all in his manor, but he did not manage to save Bertha. Bertha died, and Rochester was blinded and lost a hand, but he was allowed to wed Jane. He called for her, but knew should would not hear it. Little did he know, she did. Jane came to him and they got married and has a son. He gained sight in one eye to see his son. He eventually got to marry his true love!

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. Print.

Jane Eyre Post #8: Novel Reflecting History

There are many subjects in this novel that can reflect the time frame in which it was written. One historical value I saw in the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte was mistreatment of lower class. Orphans were considered low class. When Jane went to Lowood, the school for orphan girls, the treatment there was not very good. They often got sick in the school because of the low health conditions. One of Jane's friends died because of the conditions there! However, they got a new principal and that made conditions much better.

Another historical reflection the novel had was religion. The novel showed how important religion was in that time. There were many times when Jane prayed and praised to God. There were also many other references to religion. St. John went to India to fulfill his religious duties. Also, when Jane went to marry Rochester both times, it was in a church. Nowadays, people can marry wherever they please. Jane also had a moral conflict to marry Rochester since he was already married. This shows Jane knew religion was important enough to not marry a man that is already wed. Another historical reference to religion was when Jane's cousin, Eliza, went to join a convent. She eventually became a important nun. Obviously, religion was very important in that time.

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. Print.

Jane Eyre Post #7: Author's Techniques

There are many techniques an author can use to keep the readers attentive in a novel. In the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, she uses many techniques. One technique Bronte uses is suspense. The reader must keep reading the novel to find out the fate of Jane. The suspense starts after Jane's attempted marriage. The reader must keep reading to find out if Jane and Rochester ever meet again, or if they die alone and unhappy.
Mystery is also used. Mystery is much like suspense in a novel. The mystery is overpowering and the reader must find out what is happening behind the mystery. The mystery in the novel that kept me reading was when Mr. Mason declared that Rochester was married to his sister. Rochester led the audience of the marriage to his home, where Bertha was hidden away. This mystery needed to be solved, so the reader had to keep reading. Another part of the novel when mystery was used, was around the climax. St. John wanted Jane to come with him to do missionary work in India. The mystery was mixed with suspense, so the reader had to see if Jane would really go to India with St. John. Suddenly, Jane heard the voice of her forbidden lover, and knew it was the wrong choice to go to India with St. John.

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. Print.