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Studying relationships in Jane Eyre |
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IntroductionFor students of literature, Jane Eyre is important for its themes (especially its exploration of Jane's search for autonomy, and its narrative method). Of the many characters in the novel, the most important, by far, in his relationship with Jane, is Mr. Rochester, whom she marries. Among Jane's other important relationships are those with Mrs. Reed, Helen Burns and St. John Rivers. The comments below are organized under headings taken from a list of criteria for the study of prose texts, as used by an examination board in England. Jane's relationship with Mrs ReedMrs. Reed is Jane's aunt. She despises her and allows her own children to bully Jane. Later we see how all three Reed children grow up to be miserable and unpopular. When Jane's wealthy uncle, John Eyre, writes (from Madeira) with the aim of adopting Jane, Mrs. Reed writes back to inform him that Jane is dead. Dying, Mrs. Reed asks for, and receives, Jane's forgiveness. Subject/implications/moral and philosophical context
Style/structure/narrative craft
Effects of language/emotive, ironic, figurative effect/patterns and details
Jane's relationship with Helen BurnsHelen is a girl some three years older than Jane, and becomes her first, and best, friend at Lowood School. Helen is patient under suffering, and teaches Jane to be less excitable. She sees the best in others, even teachers who dislike her. She is almost too good for this world. As she dies of typhus she is sure that she is going to be with God. Jane leaves the reader, also, in no doubt of this. Subject/implications/moral and philosophical context
Style/structure/narrative craft
Effects of language/emotive, ironic, figurative effect/patterns and details
Jane's relationship with St. John RiversSt. John (pronounced Sínjun) Rivers is a clergyman who gives Jane shelter when she flees from Thornfield. Later Jane finds that he is her cousin. He is a good and sincere man who plans to go abroad as a missionary. He proposes to Jane, but she declines his offer. In 1847 the idea of marrying a handsome and courageous man and supporting him in his vocation would have been attractive to many readers. St. John and his sisters (Diana and Mary) become Jane's best friends, and he helps her recover her fortune. Jane takes only a quarter of the inheritance and gives the rest to St. John, Diana and Mary. The Rivers family can be contrasted with the Reeds, and St. John, hard on himself but kind to others, with the hypocritical Mr. Brocklehurst. Subject/implications/moral and philosophical context
Style/structure/narrative craft
Effects of language/emotive, ironic, figurative effect/patterns and details
Jane's relationship with Mr. RochesterThis relationship dominates the novel, as it becomes the most important thing in Jane's life. At first Jane finds Rochester rather rude and insensitive, but it is her ability to stand up to him that earns his love. He hopes to secure her in a bigamous marriage. Although the modern reader is sympathetic to Rochester who was tricked, as a young man, into marrying a lunatic, the 19th century reader would have no doubt that Jane does the right thing in leaving him - to be his mistress is not an option. The fire that widows him also disables him. He has to learn to depend on Jane. And as an heiress, she does not even depend on his fortune any more. Subject/implications/moral and philosophical context
Style/structure/narrative craft
Effects of language/emotive, ironic, figurative effect/patterns and details
© Andrew Moore, 2000; Contact me
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