Ryan Foss

Jane Eyre

Through the late 17th and into the mid-18th century, English literature remained in the Classical Age. Classicism emphasized clarity, logic, and reason, conforming closely to the classical eras both n music and in culture. Because of strict adherence to the fundamental aspects of classicism, there was rebellion against these principles; therefore inhibiting the firm holds that the classical age held in literature. This deviation from restraint, clarity, and reason resulted in the beginning of the Romantic Age in English literature. From the mid-18th century to the mid-19th century, Romanticism came into play as the major form of literary expression of the time. The Romantic view emphasized emotion, nature, mysteriousness, and self discovery, among others. Jane Eyre clearly demonstrates that it adheres to the characteristics Romantic Age despite the fact that it was written in the Post-Romantic era.

In Jane Eyre, mysteriousness, one of the defining ideas of the Romantic Age, is used in the novel. Mystery is first emphasized in Jane s experience in the Red Room when she is convinced that she has seen the ghost of her dead uncle, Mr. Reed. Jane says, I thought the swift-darting beam was a herald of some coming vision from another world. My heart beat thick, my head grew hot However, the first significant mystery begins when Jane arrives at Thornfield. She hears strange laughter coming from the upstairs: When thus alone, I not unfrequently heard Grace Poole s laugh: the same peal I heard, too, her eccentric murmurs; stranger than her laugh. She is told that the servant is a little on the eccentric side, thus accounting for the strange noises heard. As the mystery unravels, Rochester is nearly killed due to a fire supposedly set by the servant, Grace Poole. Another attack on a friend of Rochester s is yet again blamed on the servant. The mystery continues until Rochester finally acknowledges that the evil woman is really his wife, Bertha, whom he was forced to marry. In addition, the personality of Rochester evokes a sense of mysteriousness in the novel. Mrs. Fairfax calls Rochester peculiar and eludes to the Rochesters as a violent family. Mr. Rochester, much like Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, is relatively taciturn, thus adding an air of elusiveness and mysteriousness to the personality. This was further emphasized by the fact that he was hiding the secret of his wife from Jane.

Besides the mysterious elements in the novel, Jane Eyre demonstrates through Jane s journey the notion of self-discovery, one of the aspects of Romanticism. The female journey in a Bildungs Roman is characterized by the main character(Jane) finding the truth in herself and figuring out the truths in her life and trying to find a place in the world. Jane begins to discover her true feelings for Rochester and sees the direction in theses feelings when she says, For when I say that I am of his kind, I do not mean that I have his force to influence and his spell to attract; I, mean only that I have certain tastes and feelings in common with him. I must, the, repeat continually that we are for ever sundered-and yet, while I breathe and think, I must love him. While Jane begins to realize her own feelings, she struggles with the self-discovery of her place in life, despite having a greater sense of freedom. On her return to Gateshead, Jane says, I still felt as a wanderer on the face of the earth, but I experience firmer trust I myself and my own powers, and less withering read of oppression. At the end of the novel however, Jane seems to find her place in the world by settling down with Mr. Rochester and living a life which she describes by stating, I am independent, sir, as well as rich: I am my own mistress. Here, Jane has finally discovered and recognized her own independence. Not only does this emphasize the self-discovery aspect of a Romantic novel, but it also shows how Jane is an individual, not a dependent as she was called by the Reeds. This aspect of individuality is vital to the view of Romanticism. Thus, Jane becomes truly free now and no longer a caged bird as called by Rochester earlier in the novel.

In addition to the notion of self-discovery in the Romantic aspect of the novel, nature and natural phenomena are emphasized to show Jane s journey through childhood and into adulthood. Jane is fascinated with the natural world, as is shown by her keen interest in books about birds and her observations. Even in her early childhood, Jane is in awe of her surroundings. When she is sitting at the window at Gateshead, she takes notice of the outside and says, I studied the aspect of that winter afternoon. Afar, it offered a pale blank of mist and cloud; near, a scene of wet lawn and storm-beat shrub . In many cases Jane s reflection on the natural world seems to be a reflection on her own state of mind. The bleak weather in this scene seems to go hand in hand with Jane s rather bleak mood. Her boredom and lack of contentness with the Reed family At the end of the novel, Jane s true love for Rochester and her cheerful attitude in going on with direction and security in her life also seem to be expressed through her descriptions of the natural world. While taking Rochester outside, she says, I led him out of the wet and wild wood into some cheerful fields. I described to him how brilliantly green they were; how the flowers and hedges looked refreshed; how sparklingly blue was the sky. Here, Jane communicates through descriptions of the natural world to Rochester due to his temporary lack of vision. Jane uses the imagery of the color green to show the life of the situation. Soon after when talking to Rochester she also says, You are no ruin sir .you are green and vigorous. Plants will grow about your roots. Yet again, Jane is alluding to nature to describe the state of a character. In this case, Jane is trying to cheer up Rochester and uses the imagery of the color green to tell Rochester how he really is still youthful and full of energy despite his lost vision.

Throughout the novel, many aspects of Romanticism are emphasized, some of the more common being nature, individualism, self discovery, and mystery. Mystery is brought to light not only through the personality of Mr. Rochester, but by his past, while the reconnection with nature and the Earth is shown by Jane to the greatest extent. In addition, Jane s self-discovery and strife for individualism throughout the course of the novel demonstrates its Romanticism. Through the use of these romantic elements, Bronte creates an atmosphere in the novel, thus enabling the reader to enter a world where not only attention is brought to the mystery in the novel, but to the female journey as well. Bronte s emphasis on Jane s connection to the natural world, and her self-discovery, and individuality show how women are breaking away from conformity in the world and taking on larger roles. By connecting Jane to the natural world, Jane is essentially coinnected with her past. The female journey is characterized by connection with the maternal These elements also show how Bronte views Jane as a heroine. Her independence and leadership roles as a wife taken on by the end of the novel show how Jane has progressed from a caged bird to a free bird . The novel s romantic elements have shown that Jane now has realized her place or belonging in the world due her self-discovery, but she has also found independence and separation from conformity in society. Although Jane Eyre was written in the Victorian era of English literature, it has clearly demonstrated the characteristics of a Romantic novel.