Mrs.Hamilton

=Themes = =Main Theme = =Jane Eyre Theme of The Society Class =

//In Jane Eyre// ,The characters who are most interested in the wealth and status and are morally misguided, but characters who take poverty on themselves to demonstrate their great moral nature are also mocked. Instead of the normal class structures, //Jane Eyre// implies that poverty can be thoroughly respectable. Of course, it’s easy to value poverty and hard work when, in the end, all the right people get the money.

Secondary Themes =Marriage = In //Jane Eyre//, marriage is about a combination of three things: compatibility, passion, and ethics. A marriage only works between like-minded individuals with similar attitudes and outlooks on life. Inequalities of class background or financial situation are surmountable, but characters who marry for wealth or status are doomed. But a marriage has to have more than common ground – it has to have passion. =The Home =  In one sense, //Jane Eyre// is about the quest of an orphan girl for a home. In this novel, home isn’t just where you hang your hat – it has to be somewhere that you not only feel comfortable and safe, but also have loving relationships with other people.  TONE  The tone of Jane Eyre changes to the progression of Rochester and Eyre’s relationship. Because Eyre narrates the novel, her emotion dictates the tone.When Eyre first hears about Blanche Ingram, she starts lecturing herself that “a greater fool than Jane Eyre had never breathed the breath of life” (Brontë 149) for letting herself believe that Rochester would prefer over Miss Ingram. Because Eyre suddenly feels insecure and unsure about her relationship with Mr. Rochester, she uses self derogatory words, such as “idiot,” “poor stupid dupe,” and “disconnected, poor, and plain,” (Brontë 150) to describe herself. While some, when faced with competition, try to motivate themselves by giving themselves compliments, Jane Eyre had been raised to doubt and degrade herself. Her sudden insecurity prompts herself to again doubt and degrade herself, which changes the tone of the story to despair. Another prime example of how the status of the relationship connects to the tone of the novel is when Eyre is engaged to Rochester. She blithely taunts teases him, which he returns with the endearment of “sprite,” “pinch[es] on the arm” and “tweak[s] of the ear” (Brontë 262). Jane Eyre, in this stage of her relationship, is going to be married soon. Thus, she is content with life, and her language as a narrator subsequently becomes more teasing and lighthearted. However, soon with the discovery of Bertha Mason, Eyre becomes melancholy as she leaves Thornfield and “flees [from] temptation” (Brontë 304). Once again, the progression of her relationship with Mr. Rochester changes the tone of the story. As is normal, Eyre is upset that her love is basically cheating on her, which in turn affects the language Eyre uses as the narrator. Because of her unwillingness to leave, her language becomes more resigned and despondent. As Mr. Rochester and Jane’s relationship progresses, the tone of Jane Eyrem corresponds to it. Not only does the progression of Eyre and Rochester’s relationship affect the tone of the novel, but also the interaction between the Eyre and the other characters. From the beginning, Mrs. Fairfax and Jane Eyre’s relationship has been affectionate. However, because of Eyre’s relationship with Rochester, Mrs. Fairfax becomes uneasy and confronts Jane and tells her to be “careful[, and] try and keep Mr. Rochester at a distance” (Brontë 252). Mrs. Fairfax’s remark irritates Eyre, since she loves Rochester and does not appreciate Mrs. Fairfax trying to meddle with their relationship. Although she understands that Mrs. Fairfax is trying to look after her, Eyre views her advice with scorn and irritation, which leads their once friendly relationship to become strained and awkward. Her relationship with Adele also changes with the changes of Jane and Mr. Rochester’s relationship. While at times Adele gets more attention from the couple, such as when she was allowed “to go to Millcote too” (Brontë 252), at other times she is neglected, like when “Mr. Rochester sent [her] away to the nursery” (Brontë 245) when it was time for her lessons. While some may say that because she is even more doted upon by Jane and Mr. Rochester and for the most part her lessons are not affected, she is benefiting from this relationship. However, in truth, she is not. To have the care of her governess varying so much is detrimental to Adele’s education and their relationship. Especially at that age, stability is vital to a child’s development and trust, so with the attention bestowed on Adele fluctuating so much, their relationship is damaged as well, which is magnified because Adele does not have many companions besides Sophie and Eyre. Overall, the relationship of Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester is nocuous to the interactions and relationships of Jane Eyre and the other characters.

IRONY

