Jane EyreJane EyreBy By

Charlote BronteCharlote Bronte

Charlotte BronteCharlotte Bronte

Was born of Irish Was born of Irish ancestry in 1816ancestry in 1816

•Lived at Haworth, a parsonage•Mother died of cancer when Charlotte was 5 years old.

Charlotte’s Religious ViewsCharlotte’s Religious Views

Father, Patrick Father, Patrick Bronte, was an Bronte, was an Anglican clergymanAnglican clergyman

Due to her Due to her upbringing, she often upbringing, she often wrote about wrote about religious hypocrisyreligious hypocrisy——those who preach those who preach one doctrine but live one doctrine but live by anotherby another

The Bronte SistersThe Bronte Sisters

Charlotte had four sisters Charlotte had four sisters and one brother.and one brother.

After their mother’s death, Brontë and her sisters were sent to the Clergy Daughters’ School. The food was badThe food was bad Discipline was harshDiscipline was harsh Disease was rampantDisease was rampant

Bronte’s two older sisters Bronte’s two older sisters (Maria & Elizabeth) died (Maria & Elizabeth) died of tuberculosis.of tuberculosis.

TuberculosisTuberculosis• Tuberculosis was a common

killer during the Victorian era.• Tuberculosis often destroys

its victims’ lungs, resulting in a bloody cough.

• If untreated, sufferers may die of tuberculosis because their lungs are so badly damaged.

All in the FamilyAll in the Family The Clergy Daughter’s School at Cowan Bridge The Clergy Daughter’s School at Cowan Bridge

would became the model for Lowood, the would became the model for Lowood, the fictitious girls’ school in fictitious girls’ school in Jane Eyre.Jane Eyre.

Charlote’s sisters Anne and Emily Bronte both Charlote’s sisters Anne and Emily Bronte both became successful writers. became successful writers.

In 1846, Charlotte & her sisters started publishing In 1846, Charlotte & her sisters started publishing poems and began writing novels:poems and began writing novels:

The ProfessorThe Professor was Charlotte’s attempt to was Charlotte’s attempt to fictionalize her love for a college professor she fictionalize her love for a college professor she had met at Brussels.had met at Brussels.

In 1847In 1847 Wuthering Heights Wuthering Heights was sister Emily’s was sister Emily’s first success. Charlotte followed with first success. Charlotte followed with Jane Jane Eyre.Eyre.

Charlotte’s brother, Branwell, was a gifted painter.Charlotte’s brother, Branwell, was a gifted painter.

Emily Bronte

Anne Bronte

Branwell Bronte

Charlotte Bronte

All 3 Bronte Sisters…All 3 Bronte Sisters…

Used a masculine pen name because Used a masculine pen name because women writers were not taken women writers were not taken seriously at that time in Victorian seriously at that time in Victorian England.England.

Charlotte used the name Currer Bell.Charlotte used the name Currer Bell.

Marriage BellsMarriage Bells In 1854 Charlotte In 1854 Charlotte

married her father's married her father's curate, Arthur Bell curate, Arthur Bell Nichols.Nichols.

The next year, she The next year, she became pregnant, became pregnant, then ill.then ill.

She died a month She died a month

before her 39before her 39thth birthday.birthday.

THE NOVELTHE NOVEL

Jane Eyre Jane Eyre was published in London in 1847.was published in London in 1847.

Key FactsKey Facts

All events are told All events are told in the past from in the past from Jane’s point of Jane’s point of view.view.

The setting is early The setting is early 1919thth Century Century England.England.

Jane EyreJane Eyre is is classified as both a classified as both a Gothic and a Gothic and a Romantic novel.Romantic novel.

Jane EyreJane Eyre Our protagonistOur protagonist Orphaned as a childOrphaned as a child Becomes governess at Becomes governess at

ThornfieldThornfield A feisty young child, who A feisty young child, who

grows into a strong grows into a strong woman.woman.

Embodies the English Embodies the English working-class woman.working-class woman.

Will marry . . . . ?Will marry . . . . ?

Edward RochesterEdward Rochester

Jane’s boss at ThornfieldJane’s boss at ThornfieldGruff and rude Gruff and rude Made wealthy by family Made wealthy by family

moneymoneyBenefactor to AdBenefactor to Adèèle le

VarensVarensVery secretive and Very secretive and

sometimes deceitfulsometimes deceitful

Reed FamilyReed Family Jane’s family on her Jane’s family on her

father’s sidefather’s side Mrs. Reed is Jane’s cruel Mrs. Reed is Jane’s cruel

aunt who sends Jane to aunt who sends Jane to Lowood; she locks Jane in Lowood; she locks Jane in the “Red Room” for the “Red Room” for punishmentpunishment

John, Eliza, and Georgiana John, Eliza, and Georgiana are Jane’s spoiled cousins; are Jane’s spoiled cousins; they are rude and selfish; they are rude and selfish; they either torment Jane they either torment Jane or ignore heror ignore her

Rivers FamilyRivers Family

Jane’s caretakers when she Jane’s caretakers when she leaves Thornfield – are her leaves Thornfield – are her cousins on her mother’s cousins on her mother’s side.side.

St. John – Minister at Morton, St. John – Minister at Morton, tries to get Jane to be his tries to get Jane to be his missionary wifemissionary wife

Diana and Mary – kind and Diana and Mary – kind and independent women, serve independent women, serve as role models for Jane (we as role models for Jane (we only see one of the sisters only see one of the sisters [Mary] in the movie)[Mary] in the movie)

St. John Rivers

Bertha MasonBertha Mason

Bertha is locked in the Bertha is locked in the attic at Thornfieldattic at Thornfield

Starts the bedroom fire, Starts the bedroom fire, and eventually burns and eventually burns the house downthe house down

Kills herself in the Kills herself in the house firehouse fire

Exotic, sensual Exotic, sensual personification of the personification of the OrientOrient

Why is she at Why is she at Thornfield?Thornfield?

Mrs. FairfaxMrs. Fairfax Housekeeper at ThornfieldHousekeeper at Thornfield Serves as a mother Serves as a mother

figure/role model for Janefigure/role model for Jane Tells Jane about secrets of Tells Jane about secrets of

Thornfield and the Thornfield and the Rochesters.Rochesters.

Thornfield Manor

Other CharactersOther Characters

Helen Burns – Jane’s friend at Helen Burns – Jane’s friend at Lowood, teaches her Lowood, teaches her character, dies in Jane’s armscharacter, dies in Jane’s arms

Mr. Brocklehurst – cruel and Mr. Brocklehurst – cruel and dishonest master of Lowood dishonest master of Lowood SchoolSchool

Miss Temple – Jane’s favorite Miss Temple – Jane’s favorite teacher, positive female role teacher, positive female role model/mother figuremodel/mother figure

Helen

Mr. Brocklehurst

Miss Temple

Other Characters (Cont.)Other Characters (Cont.)

Grace Poole – Bertha’s Grace Poole – Bertha’s mysterious keeper, serves mysterious keeper, serves as Bertha’s scapegoat as Bertha’s scapegoat

AdAdèle Varens – Jane’s pupil, èle Varens – Jane’s pupil, daughter of Rochester’s old daughter of Rochester’s old mistress, Celenemistress, Celene

Richard Mason – Bertha’s Richard Mason – Bertha’s brother, exposes the secret brother, exposes the secret marriagemarriage

Blanche Ingram – socialite Blanche Ingram – socialite after Rochester’s money, after Rochester’s money, opposite of Janeopposite of Jane

AdèleAdèle

Blanche Blanche IngramIngram

Charlotte’s Gothic Charlotte’s Gothic InfluenceInfluence

Jane EyreJane Eyre displays displays some characteristics some characteristics of the of the gothic novelgothic novel::Imprisoned womenImprisoned womenA heroine who faces A heroine who faces

dangerdangerSupernatural Supernatural

interventions at crucial interventions at crucial moments in the plotmoments in the plot

A romantic A romantic reconciliationreconciliation

Jane Eyre’s Romantic Jane Eyre’s Romantic HeritageHeritage

The Romantic The Romantic MovementMovement Came into play in at the Came into play in at the

end of the 18end of the 18thth Century. Century. Championed for the Championed for the

rights of the individual rights of the individual over the demands of over the demands of society.society.

Believed that humans Believed that humans were inherently goodwere inherently good

Valued imagination over Valued imagination over reasonreason

Inspired by natureInspired by nature

IntroductionIntroduction

Jane Eyre is an orphan in 1800s England. Jane’s parents died of Jane’s parents died of

typhus when she was a typhus when she was a baby. baby.

Mrs. Reed, her aunt, has agreed to raise her, but she and her three children treat treat Jane cruelJane cruellly.y.

Yet, Mrs. Reed expects Jane to be thankful.

Jane Eyre: IntroductionJane Eyre: Introduction

When Jane tries to stand up for herself, her aunt is furious.

She calls Jane an ungrateful child and sends her away to a boarding school called Lowood.

Jane Eyre: IntroductionJane Eyre: Introduction

At Lowood the girls . . .

• sleep two to a bed,

• get up before dawn,

• bathe in ice-cold water,

• get burnt porridge for breakfast,

• and are taught to suffer in silence.

TyphusTyphus• Jane Eyre’s Lowood suffers an outbreak of typhus, a disease

that

• is spread by fleas, ticks, and lice

• causes headaches, chills, rashes, and fevers that last up to three weeks

• Both tuberculosis and typhus are diseases associated with crowded, unsanitary conditions.

• The threat of catching one of these diseases is a major concern for the characters in Jane Eyre.

Life at LowoodLife at Lowood The superintendent of The superintendent of Lowood School is Mr. Lowood School is Mr.

Brocklehurst.Brocklehurst. • Jane immediately makes Jane immediately makes

friend with a girl called friend with a girl called Helen Burns. Helen Burns.

• She also admires her She also admires her head head teacher Miss. Templeteacher Miss. Temple..

• As a consequence of bad As a consequence of bad conditions, typhus breaks conditions, typhus breaks out. Many girls die, including out. Many girls die, including Helen, Jane’s best friendHelen, Jane’s best friend

• Jane stays at Lowood eight Jane stays at Lowood eight years as a pupil and then years as a pupil and then two years as a teacher.two years as a teacher.

Thornfield HallThornfield Hall

After posting an After posting an advertisement in a local advertisement in a local paper, Jane becomes the paper, Jane becomes the private governess at private governess at Thornfield Hall.Thornfield Hall.

Her pupil is a young Her pupil is a young French girl named Adele. French girl named Adele.

Thornfield Hall belongs to Thornfield Hall belongs to a Mr. Rochestera Mr. Rochester Jane does not meet him for Jane does not meet him for

months.months. Finally, Mr. Rochester Finally, Mr. Rochester

returns home and stays returns home and stays longer than usual at longer than usual at Thornfield HallThornfield Hall

Role of the GovernessRole of the Governesso With the new stress on With the new stress on

female education, female education, governesses were in governesses were in demand.demand.

o Pay was poor, but it was one Pay was poor, but it was one of the only jobs available to of the only jobs available to educated, yet impoverished educated, yet impoverished young women.young women.

o Employers & other servants Employers & other servants often shunned the often shunned the governess because they felt governess because they felt they were “putting on airs.”they were “putting on airs.”

o Their employers would often Their employers would often ignore them, too, because ignore them, too, because they had a superior they had a superior education, which education, which intimidated many people – intimidated many people – especially men.especially men.

Mysteries . . .Mysteries . . . One night at Thornfield, JaneOne night at Thornfield, Jane wakes up and hears evil laughterwakes up and hears evil laughter......

Who could this be?Who could this be? What is going on in Mr. Rochester’s bedroom?What is going on in Mr. Rochester’s bedroom?

One day Mr. Rochester gives a party for some fine guestsOne day Mr. Rochester gives a party for some fine guests. . In In attendance is a Miss. Ingram, a beautiful woman, who adores Mr. attendance is a Miss. Ingram, a beautiful woman, who adores Mr. RochesterRochester.. During the party a Mr. Mason arrives. During the party a Mr. Mason arrives. Who is this mysterious man?Who is this mysterious man? What is he doing at Thornfield?What is he doing at Thornfield? What will happen to him?What will happen to him?

One day Jane receives a letter regarding Mrs. Reed, her wicked One day Jane receives a letter regarding Mrs. Reed, her wicked aunt. Mrs. Reed is dying and wants to see Jane againaunt. Mrs. Reed is dying and wants to see Jane again.. Why would she want to see Jane again?Why would she want to see Jane again? What secret does she possess?What secret does she possess?

When Jane comes back to Thornfield Hall, Mr. Rochester is very When Jane comes back to Thornfield Hall, Mr. Rochester is very happy to see her again. He gives Jane the news that he has happy to see her again. He gives Jane the news that he has decided to marry.decided to marry. Who will he marry?Who will he marry? Will the wedding actually take place?Will the wedding actually take place?

Jane Eyre: Jane Eyre: A Ground Breaking NovelA Ground Breaking Novel

• The heroine is small, plain, The heroine is small, plain, & poor& poor

• The heroine is the first The heroine is the first female character to claim female character to claim the right to feel strongly the right to feel strongly about her emotions and about her emotions and act on her convictionsact on her convictions

• This romantic ground had This romantic ground had previously been reserved previously been reserved for malesfor males

• Such a psychologically Such a psychologically complex heroine had complex heroine had never been created beforenever been created before

Byronic HeroByronic Hero This term is created by This term is created by

the famous poet George the famous poet George Gordon, Lord Byron.Gordon, Lord Byron.

Characteristics are…Characteristics are…ProudProudGloomyGloomyMysteriousMysteriousPassionatePassionate*Mr. Rochester is an example of *Mr. Rochester is an example of

this typethis type

LoveLove

Jane is constantly in a search for love. Jane is constantly in a search for love.

She is searches for romantic love in She is searches for romantic love in Rochester, motherly love through Rochester, motherly love through Miss Temple and Mrs. Fairfax, and Miss Temple and Mrs. Fairfax, and friendship through the Rivers friendship through the Rivers siblings, Helen Burns, and Rochester.siblings, Helen Burns, and Rochester.

Jane’s search for love might stem Jane’s search for love might stem from the scorn she felt as a childfrom the scorn she felt as a child

Social ClassSocial Class

Jane often feels inadequate compared to Jane often feels inadequate compared to many of the other main characters in the many of the other main characters in the novel.novel.

Jane feels that her love for Rochester is Jane feels that her love for Rochester is wrong because she isn’t from the same wrong because she isn’t from the same class.class.

Class segregates Jane from her cousins on Class segregates Jane from her cousins on both sides, although it is more obvious on both sides, although it is more obvious on the Reed side.the Reed side.

Blanche Ingram is the class opposite of Jane.Blanche Ingram is the class opposite of Jane.

ReligionReligion

Religion plays a huge role in this novel.Religion plays a huge role in this novel.

Helen Burns taught Jane a view of faith Helen Burns taught Jane a view of faith and God that she could understand.and God that she could understand.

Mr. Brocklehurst’s Evangelical view Mr. Brocklehurst’s Evangelical view had negative effects on Jane, as did had negative effects on Jane, as did St. John River’s Empirical view. St. John River’s Empirical view.

Even the once cruel Eliza Reed joins a Even the once cruel Eliza Reed joins a French convent.French convent.

Mother FiguresMother Figures

In her search for love, Jane also looks In her search for love, Jane also looks for the mother figure that she missed for the mother figure that she missed as a child.as a child.

Jane finds the characteristics she is Jane finds the characteristics she is looking for in:looking for in:• Miss TempleMiss Temple• Mrs. FairfaxMrs. Fairfax• Rivers sistersRivers sisters

Red RoomRed Room

The room at Gateshead The room at Gateshead where Uncle Reed died, where Uncle Reed died, and where Jane was and where Jane was locked up to be locked up to be punished.punished.

This punishment haunted This punishment haunted Jane for the rest of her Jane for the rest of her life.life.

Memories of the night in Memories of the night in the Red Room occur the Red Room occur when Jane is at a when Jane is at a crossroads in her life.crossroads in her life.

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