themes · Love versus autonomy; religion; social class; gender relations
motifs · Fire and ice; substitute mothers
symbols · Bertha Mason; the red-room
Jane Eyre
Main Facts
"It is not violence that best overcomes hate nor vengeance that most certainly heals injury" Helen Burns to Jane (Ch. 6)
at a nearby charity school. Jane becomes good friends with the sisters, but St. John is too reserved.
The sisters leave for governess jobs and St. John becomes closer with Jane. St. John discovers Jane's true identity, and astounds her by showing her a letter stating that her uncle John has died and left her his entire fortune of £20,000. Jane, overjoyed by finding her family, insists on sharing the money equally with her cousins, and Diana and Mary come to Moor House to stay.
Jane then goes to Thornfield to find only blackened ruins. She learns that Rochester's wife set the house on fire and committed suicide by jumping from the roof. In his rescue attempts, Mr. Rochester lost a hand and his eyesight. Jane reunites with him, but he fears that she will be repulsed by his condition. When Jane assures him of her love and tells him that she will never leave him, Mr. Rochester again proposes. He eventually recovers enough sight to see their first-born son.
By Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë
Jenny Premoli & Robin Finetto
SUMMARY
Jane Eyre lives with her uncle's family, the Reeds, as her uncle's dying wish. Both of Jane's parents died of typhus Her aunt decides to send her to Lowood School , a charity school for orphan girls.
Jane arrives at Lowood Institution, a charity school. Mr. Brocklehurst, the man who runs the school, brands her as a liar and shames her before the entire assembly. Jane is comforted by her friend, Helen Burns and Miss Temple, a caring teacher.
Jane's friend Helen dies of consumption in her arms. After eight years of school Jane decides to leave, and she works as a governess for Alice Fairfax, who is a keeper of Thornfield Hall. She takes the position, caring for Adele Varens, a young French girl. Odd things happen at the house, such as a strange laugh, a mysterious fire and an attack on Rochester's house guest, Mr. Mason.
Jane returns to Gateshead and remains there for a month caring for her dying aunt. Mrs. Reed gives Jane a letter from Jane's uncle, John, asking for her to live with him. Soon after, Jane's aunt dies, and Jane returns to Thornfield, where Jane broods over Rochester's impending marriage to Blanche Ingram.
But on a midsummer evening, he proclaims his love for Jane and proposes. As she prepares for her wedding, Jane's forebodings arise when a strange, savage-looking woman sneaks into her room one night and rips her wedding veil in two. During the wedding ceremony, Mr. Mason and a lawyer declare that Mr. Rochester can not marry because he is married to Mr. Mason’s sister. He admits this is true, and explains his wife is crazy and that he was tricked into marrying her.
Jane travels through England using the little money she had saved. Exhausted, she makes her way to the home of Diana and Mary Rivers, but is turned away by the housekeeper. She faints on the doorstep, preparing for her death. St. John Rivers, Diana and Mary's brother, saves her. St. John finds her a teaching position