The red room itself explains Mrs Reed’s hatred for Jane and the way she treated her. “A sense of dreary consecration had guarded it from frequent intrusion”.
When Mrs Reed believed Jane was disobedient she was locked in the dreaded Red Room which Mr Reed had died in. The Red Room is a massive symbol of Gothic horror; the Red Room described as dark, cold, prison like and terrifying. “Oh Aunt! Have pity! Forgive me! I cannot endure it let me be punished some other way! I shall be killed if—” “Silence! This violence is almost repulsive”(she sends Jane back to the red Room, all because of Johns foul behaviour towards Jane) Quotes such as that demonstrates how terrified Jane was, pleading Mrs Reed to punish her some other way, and also showing Mrs Reeds evilness and how she singles Jane out.
Finally Jane is sent away to Lowood school; a charity school for orphans run by Mr Brocklehurst. Mr Brocklehurst is extremely religious, but is an evil man as well. His religious teaching concentrates on sin and obedience rather than on love and tolerance. He makes the children at his school suffer by starving them and letting them freeze, as he believes it is good for their souls. However, Jane’s time passes at Lowood with ease. The school rules allowed for little disobedience, every rule is enforced with harsh punishment and discipline. This is shown when Jane drops her slate; her punishment may not be too severe, but an example is made out of Jane. Jane is made to stand on a stool in front of an array of students. “Fetch that stool…. place the child up on it”. This was deeply embarrassing for Jane, but Jane kept her temper maybe the reason for this was that Jane met Helen Burns.
Helen Burns would be thought of as a symbol of Christian goodness in the book. Helen acts as a counterbalance to Jane, who is more emotional and less, disciplined. Jane learns self-control from Helen. Jane thinks highly of Helen and seems to look up to her. Helen teaches Jane an important message and that is NOT TO ANSWER BACK! (Self-control) and to accept all wrong doings to be dealt with a punishment. But Jane does not understand how Helen can do this so free willingly. “But then it seems disgraceful to be flogged, and to be sent to stand in the middle of the room full of people; you are such a great girl, I am far younger than you and I could not bear it”. This indicates how Jane does not think about the punishments that could lead from her passionate out bursts, it also indicates how much Jane looks up to Helen, Helen replies by saying. “Yet it would be your duty to bear it, if you could not avoid it. It is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what is your fate to be required to bear” The message to Jane is clearly: If you have done something wrong, accept it and accept the punishment with no form of argument.
Later on in Jane’s life at Lowood, sadly Helen Burns dies in Jane’s arms. Obviously Jane is upset but in a way is happy by the way fate had dealt with her, and the certain thought of Helen going on to a better life. Years passed at Lowood and Jane developed into a young teacher. She worked at Lowood for sometime, but eventually she accepts the post of governess at Thornfield Hall.
When Jane begins work at Thornfield she is astonished by the politeness from the maids and staff there. But mainly its Mrs Fairfax who Jane believes treats her more kindly than the others.
‘She treats me like a visitor, thought I’
Time passes at Thornfield, and Jane finally meets Mr Rochester, the owner, while delivering a letter for Mrs Fairfax. Mr Rochester falls off his horse and injures himself; Jane’s first impressions of him are explained as ‘heroic, handsome looking’. This is Jane’s first associate with a man.
Rochester’s injury compelled him to stay at Thornfield hall; this gave Jane and Rochester time to get to know each other. At first Rochester treats Jane with rudeness and abruptness. But eventually, this changes, Mr Rochester and Jane start to become good friends and Jane begins to get feelings for him.
‘He had not infrequently quitted it in manner quite as abrupt and unexpected. When I heard this I was beginning to feel a strange chill experience and a sickening sense of disappointment’ this clearly indicates Jane’s care for Mr Rochester as she hears that he maybe leaving the house for over a year. This may have been the starting point for Jane falling in love with Rochester. However the quote that proves that Jane is in love with Rochester is ‘ I had not intended to love him; the reader knows I had wrought hard to extirpate from my soul the germs of love there detected’
During the story Mr Rochester has a relationship with Blanche Ingram who is a confident and accomplished women who intends to marry Mr Rochester; but she has no affection for him all she wants is his money and the social position marrying him would bring ‘I had thought him a man unlikely to be influenced by motives so commonplace in his choice of a wife; but the longer I considered the position, education, &c., of the parties, the less I felt justified in judging and blaming either him or Miss Ingram for acting in conformity to ideas and principles instilled into them, doubtless, from their childhood’ . Blanche is very self-centred and snobbish, and seems to look down on Jane; as she is a governess with a low social position. “ My dearest, don’t mention governess’; the word makes me nervous. I have suffered martyrdom from their incompetency and caprice. I thank heaven I have now dome with them!”
When Jane and Mr Rochester go for a walk in Thornfield gardens Jane and Rochester become involved in an argument with each other filled with passion and love; the outcome is a proposal of marriage to Jane. “My bride is here he said, again drawing me to him because my equal is here and my likeness. Jane will you marry me?”I would imagine Jane would never expected that question to be asked by anyone; but when Rochester pops the question, I believe she would be very surprised. Jane accepts the proposal and eventually the wedding arrives.
The ceremony does not all go to plan. It is exposed that Mr Rochester is already married to a woman by the name of Bertha Mason. This is revealed by Birthas’ brother. Birtha is an exaggerated character and described in the story as a ‘Gothic Creature’. “What is was, whether beast or human being one could not at first sight tell. It grovelled seemingly on all fours, it snatched and growled like some wild animal: but it was covered in clothing and a quantity of dark grizzled hair wild as a mane hid its head and face”. Jane’s dreams were shattered in an instant; she leaves Thornfield Hall without a clue where she will end up.
She travels for days until she eventually collapses, all this shows Janes strong willed nature; she is then soon found by a man by the name of St John Rivers.
Jane’s stay at St John Rivers’ household is short lived as she begins to feel uncomfortable around him and cannot seem to act herself around him. “I could no longer talk or laugh freely when he was by, because a tiresomely importunate instinct reminded me that vivacity was distasteful to him.” The story progresses and St John Rivers proposes to Jane, but Jane works out Mr Rivers only wants her for the work she can help him with not love. “ I scorn your idea of love,” I could not help saying, as I rose up and stood before him, leaning my back against the rock “ I scorn the counterfeit sentiment you offer: yes, St John and I scorn you offer it.” Following this Jane starts thinking more about Rochester, and how much he suited her, during this period of time Jane hears Rochester’s voice “ I am coming!” I cried. “ Wait for me! Oh, I will come!” I flew to the door and looked into the passage: It was dark I ran out into the garden: It was void “ Where are you?” The hills beyond March Glen sent the answer faintly back, “ Where are you?!” I listened. The wind sighed low in the firs: All was moorland loneliness and midnight hush. “ Down superstition!” I commented, as that spectre rose up black by the black yew at the gate. “ This is not thy deception, nor thy witchcraft: It was the work of nature. She was roused, and did – no miracle – but her best.” Following this Jane decides to make her way back to Thornfield hall as she sees that she is in love with Rochester. However, as Jane made her way back to Thornfield Hall she is surprised to see that the hall had been burnt down, and only blackened ruins stood. “ I looked on in joy towards a stately house; I saw a blackened ruin”
Later is becomes clear that Bertha tried to burn down the house to kill Mr Rochester. Luckily Adele and the maids came to no harm, but sadly in an attempt to save Birthas’ life Rochester lost his sight and also his hand. Even when receiving this news Jane carried on searching for Rochester, she eventually finds him at a place known as Ferndean Hall. “My dear master I am Jane Eyre: I have found you out I am come back to you” It started here where they married and started a family. Referring to the question, the quote that proves that Jane is now an independent women is ‘ No sir! I am now an independent woman’
