What techniques are used by Charlotte Bronte create sympathy for Jane Eyre in chapters 1-5

    One of Bronte’s numerous techniques that are used highly effectively in the novel is animal imagery. This is used efficiently to create sympathy for Jane. Animal Imagery really portrays the suffering which Jane has to go through. Jane is continually humiliated and ill-treated mostly by her older cousin John by Reed. His treatment of Jane really comes through by his use of animal imagery. Jane is an orphan and the treatment of orphans in the 19th century was very unsympathetic they were usually sent to the workhouse. Citizens did not consider them as actual people with requirements. John Reed does exactly that he demeans and degrades Jane by incessantly referring to Jane as an animal ‘bad animal’. He dehumanises Jane taking away her remaining dignity suggesting that she doesn’t have much of it to begin with. He denotes to Jane as this not only once but many times ‘Rat! Rat!’.  He uses these words and this particular animal to imply that Jane is uncivilised. Jane is terrified of her cousin the way he speaks to her is just one example ‘Show the book’ he uses an imperative ordering her around. This really creates sympathy for Jane and the readers pity Jane because of this.

    Symbolism is one of Bronte’s features that is used to bring out Jane’s character and personality which then makes us feel sorry for her as Jane’s nature and persona is not one which is accepted in the 19th century. The symbolism in the novel is used mainly to represent Jane’s disposition. The allegory of the moon is exceptionally significant ‘The cold and ghastly moon’. This is surprisingly momentous as in the 19th century the moon was seen as a symbol of madness. This greatly reflects Jane as Jane’s personality and behaviour is considered reckless and irrational and also eccentric. Also the symbolism of the red room is very important the colour red has many connotations; anger Jane’s anger towards the injustice of her treatment, hatred the hate that Jane feels for her extended family, fear the fear that Jane has of the red room and pain the pain the pain she feels from having no real family. The ‘Red’ is very major it is mentioned many times but in different forms ‘deep red damask … crimson cloth’. Deep red and crimson are both varieties of the colour red, damask is a type of expensive material it suggests that the red room has a certain grandeur about it with all the sumptuousness of the furniture ‘A bed supported on massive pillars of mahogany’ the room is obviously very important, however there is something about the room which Jane fears. The symbolism of red which is also shown in the first chapter ‘having drawn the red moreen curtains … folds of scarlet drapery’. The symbolism of red almost creates a type of gothic genre which represents Jane’s over active imagination. Her overzealous imagination gets Jane into frantic moods and states and then she receives scoldings and punishments for which we pity her for.

     Characterisation, relationships and treatment is one of the main themes in the novel. They are the main features which assist in creating sympathy for Jane. Jane’s character is one of the main things. Jane is a fiery, passionate and opinionated young girl and in the 19th century there was a certain expectation of children especially girls. They were meant to be seen and not heard. Jane’s traits go completely against that. ‘Wicked and cruel boy! I said you are like a murderer you are like a slave driver, you are like the roman emperors!’. All these comparisons to John just show us her dislike to John and the way he behaves with Jane do not make us disagree. She completely looses all her fear and her anger takes stride. Jane’s fiery character causes much grief for her as she is locked up in the red room treated as a prisoner because of her outburst. Jane is not afraid to have her opinion heard. ‘I resisted all the way’. Jane fights back as she knows she is being treated unfairly, as John is not being punished for his attack upon Jane. ‘Had thrust me upon a stool: my impulse was to rise from it like a spring’. The word ‘thrust’ suggests they are manhandling Jane. Her intense and heated nature are shown when Jane immediate reaction is to want to jump back up like a spring. This simile shows us Jane’s hyper activeness. Relationships are very important it is one of the key features in creating sympathy for Jane. Jane has no relationship with any of her cousins or her aunt the is treated as a complete outcast because of the status of orphans in the 19th century. ‘The said Eliza, John and Georgiana Reed were now clustered round their mamma … with her darlings about her … Me she had dispensed from joining the group’. Jane describes their positions as if they seem almost comfortable to her making it seem as if comfort is opulence to Jane. She uses sarcasm when saying ‘mamma’ and ‘darlings’ suggesting Jane envy’s her cousins as they have a loving and caring mother. Something which Jane has never been able to experience. Or perhaps Jane is just mocking them and showing resentment towards her supposed family. The word ‘dispensed’ implies that Mrs Reed treats and refers to Jane as an object not an actual human.  Another temperamental relationship is Jane’s friendship with the maid Bessie ‘Come Miss Jane don’t cry’, ‘I had now got hold of Bessie’s hand, and she did not snatch it from me’. Jane at times feels she can rely on Bessie and Jane has experienced so little love that feels grateful for the small fact that Bessie has not let her go of her hand. She is the one person at Gateshead who is concerned about Jane. However the other maid Miss Abbott continually scolds Jane ‘God will punish her: He might strike her dead’ Miss Abbott has no sympathy of Jane and we really pity her as even the servants feel it is ok for them to mistreat Jane. Jane is the lowest of ranks; this really shows us the status of orphans. A new and also different friendship takes place once Jane moves away from Gateshead to Lowood School she forms a friendship with a girl named Helen Burns. This friendship starts when Jane approaches Helen questioning her about her book ‘Is your book interesting?...  a chord of sympathy somewhere for I too liked reading’ Jane is finally having an actual conversation with someone about something they both have in common and enjoy. We feel sorry for as this is the first time Jane is actually conversing with someone outside of Gateshead. This makes us fee sorry her.

    The features used in the novel such as symbolism, pathetic phallacy, animal imagery, characterisation and language and structure are all used to create sympathy for Jane. The social, historical and moral context is integrated into the novel to create some understanding for the treatment of particular citizens. Which creates pity for those treated badly mainly Jane.