JANE EYRE CHARLOTTE BRONTE BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Context: The Victorian Period

Jane Eyre was written during the Victorian Period characterized by the reign of Queen Victoria between 1837 1901. The Industrial Revolution meant that England was changing from an agricultural to an Industrial country. As a result of industrialization, a number of farm workers migrated to the city in search of work. Overcrowding and the enormous influx of people into the cities resulted in mass unemployment and poor living conditions. A new class distinction emerged that included: the gentry and who were the wealthy landowners, the unemployed and the middle class. There was an enormous gap between rich and poor. The Victorian middle class adhered strictly to the social conventions of family, domesticity and religion. Charlotte Brontes time was characterized by public moralizing, a stifling religious outlook and private hypocrisy. Middle class women were expected to marry and produce children. Unmarried middle class women were restricted to being teachers or governesses. Obedience in children was expected. Punishments often included solitary confinement. Children were often educated either at home by a governess or at a school. True to the times in which she lived, Brontes life was characterized by restraint, piety and Christian virtue. Maria Bronte was an extremely pious woman who married a Reverend. Charlotte was raised in a confining atmosphere yet her passionate nature enabled her to write an accurate tale of her life.

Charlotte Bronte
Charlotte Bronte was born on April 21 1816. She was the third child of Maria and Reverend Patrick Bronte. She was originally of Irish descent but moved to Haworth, a village on the Yorkshire Moor when Patrick Bronte became rector of the Haworth Parish Church. It was this environment in which six Bronte children grew up, Maria, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Bramwell, Emily and Anne. Tragedy struck when Maria Bronte died from Cancer. The Reverend attempted to remarry but was unsuccessful; this led to him asking his sister in-law, Elizabeth for assistance in caring for his children. In 1824, Maria (11) and Elizabeth (10) were sent to Cowan Bridge School. Charlotte (8) and Emily (6) joined them the same year. Due to harsh unsanitary conditions at the school, Maria and Elizabeth died of Tuberculosis. In 1831, Charlotte was sent away to be educated at the exclusive Roe Head School. After less than a year, Charlotte returned home to teach her sisters. In 1835 she returned to Roe Head as the Headmistress. Unfortunately, she was called back to care for her sisters after her Aunt Elizabeth died. For a brief time she worked as a governess but spent most of her time educating her sisters Anne and Emily. At the age of 26, Charlotte hoped to open her own school. She went to Brussels to improve upon her understanding of foreign languages. It was here that she had a one sided relationship with a married Headmaster named Constantin Hegar.

 In 1846, Charlotte discovered that Anne and Emily had been writing poetry and attempted to convince them to publish their poems. Under the pseudonyms, Currer (Charlotte), Elllis (Emily and Acton (Anne) they published their first Anthology of poetry. Unfortunately, only two copies of these anthologies were sold but this did not discourage them form pursuing their writing talent. In 1847 Charlottes novel Jane Eyre was published as were Anne and Emils novels Agnes Gray and Wuthering Heights respectively. Immediate success came to Charlotte with her novels Shirley in 1849, Villette in 1853 and The Professor in 1857. By 1849 all of Charlottes siblings had died. She was left behind to care for her father. During this this time she accepted a marriage proposal from her fathers curate, Arthur Nichols. In 1855 she feel pregnant but died at the age of 39 after falling ill with influenza.

Style of Writing
NARRATIVE STYLE Jane Eyre is written in first person and told from the viewpoint of the main character, Jane. This novel is a memoir written by Currer Bell, Charlottes pseudonym. The action unfolds naturally as it is told in retrospect (action that is not happening while it is being told as it has already happened). At times the narration appears almost omniscient as the narrators comments on other characters are rather insightful.

Setting
The action takes place in Northern England during the mid 19th century. The novel covers a span of approximately 12 years. Bronte uses a succession of several main settings, primarily individual house settings for the plots main action. Each setting is described vividly to create an atmosphere as well as to give the illusion of realism. Each setting also corresponds with a distinct phase of Janes life. The main setting is Gateshead, the home of Janes Aunt, Mrs Reed with whom the orphaned Jane lives. At the age of 10 she is sent to Lowood, a charity school for orphans. At the age of 18, Jane goes to Thornfield to serve as a governess to Adele Varens. When she learns of Rochesters marriage she flees to Moor House where she is taken in by Reverend St John Rivers.

 Towards the end of the novel she finds Rochester at his second home, Ferndean Manor. Bronte does not use the real names for the places presented in the novel, however Lowood Institution is believe to be modelled on the Clergy Daughters School at Cowan Bridge in Yorkshire where her sisters Maria and Elizabeth had died due to the unsanitary conditions. Thornfield Hall may be modelled on two Manor houses that Bronte was familiar with, Nortan Conyers and North Lees Hall. History books describe the mistress of North Lees Hall as one Agnes Ashurst who was thought to be insane and locked up in an upstairs room. This woman died in a fire as Bertha did. Regardless of the factual information of the settings mentioned in this novel, Bronte describes each vividly to enhance the Gothic atmosphere with the reference to stock Gothic elements such as moonlight, stormy weather and dark hallways.

Gothicism
Jane Eyre contains elements of the Gothic Genre. Gothic literature is identifiable by certain characteristics such as overblown language, bizarre characters, melodramatic incidents, menacing castles, decaying manor houses, wild landscapes, madness and secrets. The plot usually contains an elements of the supernatural. The mood is usually suspenseful and mysterious. An innocent heroine is often threatened by a horror of some sort. Another characteristic of the genre is the Gothic hero who has a flaw that severs his ties from society. This hero is commonly known as the Byronic Hero who is often prone to violent outbursts and known for being cynical, arrogant, having a dark personality, being self critical, sophisticated and highly intelligent. This hero also appears to suffer from an awareness of his past actions. Mr. Rochesters character closely resembles that of a Byronic Hero in the novel. Thornfield is representative of a Gothic residence with its presence of Grace Poole and Berthas howling in the middle of the night.

Structure
There are thirty eight chapters in the novel and three distinct parts. Each part traces a pattern of conflict and resolution where Jane is faced with various obstacles she must strive to overcome. Running through each of these sections is Janes desperate effort to find a true home where she feels a sense of belonging. Chapter 1 10 is set at Gateshead Hall and Lowood Institution and focuses on Janes childhood and schooling. The main conflicts and incidents include Janes rebellion against Mrs. Reed and her friendship with Helen Burns. Chapters 10 27 center around Janes life as a governess at Thornfield Hall where she falls in love with Mr. Rochester. The dramatic action focuses on Janes growing love for Rochester, Janes fear that Rochester may marry Blanche Ingram and a series of strange incidents that occur at Thornfield. Chapters 28 38 focus on Janes life after she has fled Thornfield. The action takes place at Moor House and Moorton where Rochesters presence still remains significant here. Action such as Janes attempt to find shelter, her uneasy relationship with St John and her return to Rochester are featured in these last 10 chapters.

Symbolism and Imagery

Jane Eyre contains imagery drawn from nature and the English countryside and is used to describe Janes state of mind throughout the novel. There are numerous references to the weather and to the sky in the form of storms, clouds, rain and sun. The opening mood of the novel if representative of Janes depressive state at the beginning of the novel, the cold winter had brought with it clouds so sombre and a rain so penetrating There are a number of symbols related to Gothicism that occur frequently in the novel. These include the full moon that appears on the night Bertha attacks her brother. The image of trees is important as it signifies the development of passion between Jane and Rochester, Their first meeting takes place among trees, however the Chestnut tree is representative of their separation later on in the novel.

Themes
Love and Passion
On a simple level the novel is a love story between an impoverished orphan and a mentally tormented man. This novel is also about selfless love of a friend as is seen with Helen Burns. There is also the absence of love such as the relationship between Jane and Mrs Reed and Jane and St John. There is a suggestion throughout the novel that life that is not lived passionately is not worth living. Jane is a passionate character throughout the novel. Her defiance of Mrs. Reed and her all consuming passion for Rochester are examples of this. This novel is not only a love story but one about Janes desperate pleas for recognition. Janes defiance of Mrs. Reed is a first declaration of independence. Helen Burns and Miss Temple are characters who recognize Jane as an individual. Other Themes include: God and Religion, Atonement and Forgiveness, Search for Home and Family.

Independence