Jane Eyre: ImageryJane Eyre tells the story of a woman progressing on the path towardsacceptance.
Throughout her journey, Jane comes across many obstacles. Maledominance proves to be the biggest obstacle at each stop of Jane’s journey:Gateshead Hall, Lowood Institution, Thornfield Manor, Moor House, and FerndeanManor. Through the progression of the story, Jane slowly learns how tounderstand and control her repression. I will be analyzing Janes stops atThornfield Manor and Moor House for this is where she met the two most importantmen in her life.
The easiest way to compare and contrast Rochester and St. JohnRivers is by examining when and under what circumstances these two gentlemencome into contact with Jane. It is at Thornfield Manor that Jane first encounters Mr. Rochester.
Whileliving at Thornfield, Rochester demands undivided attention from the servants,Jane included. He needs to be in control of every aspect of his life, and heneeds to feel superior to all of those around him. Jane de cides to accept hiscontrol and she concedes to him by calling him sir, even after they begin tohave an intimate relationship. At one point, she even goes so far as to excuseherself for thinking. She says, “I was thinking, sir (you will excuse the idea;it was involuntary), I was thinking of Hercules and Samson with their charmers”(p.
289). This statement possibly begins to suggests Janes unsatisfaction withRochester’s position of complete dominance in their relationship. To Jane,Rochester embodies the idea of love which she has so long been denied of. As Istated earlier, the whole movie is about Janes journey towards acceptance, byherself and by others.
It is this journey which persuades her to move on whenshe finds Rochester’s physical and material love unacceptable. Jane’s next stop on her journey is Moor House. Here, she meets St. JohnRivers, her cousin. Unlike Rochester, St. John is portrayed as the ultimatesacrificer, willing to do anything for others, no matter how undesirable thetask might be.
St. John also expects this sacrifice from Jane, and she mustdecide whether to accept his proposal. At this point in her journey, Janeunderstands that her search for herself can not be accomplished without reallove. She denies St. John’s marriage proposal by saying, “I have a woman’sheart, but not where you are concerned; for you I only have a comrade’sconstancy; a fellow soldier’s frankness, fidelity, fraternity. .
. nothingmore. ” (p. 433).
She knows real love can not be given to her by St. John and shemust continue on her journey. She must continue towards her destiny rendezvouswith RochesterFerndean Manor is the final stop in Jane’s journey. Once again, Rochesterappears as the dominant figure, although his air of superiority has becomegreatly reduced due to the accident.
Due to his ailments he is now completelydependent on those around him, a situation which humbles him. A new man resultsin this change, and in him, Jane finds her real, spiritual and physical love. She says, ” All my heart is yours, sir: it belongs to you; and with you it wouldremain, were fate to exile the rest of me from your presence forever” (p. 469). Rochester no longer demands people to act inferior around him to boost his eg o.
he is finally at a point in his life where he demands an equal partner. He doesnot try to contai n Jane; he sets her free. He says, “Miss Eyre, I repeat it,you can leave me” (p. 468). She does not leave him though.
Rochester embodiesthe perfect balance between the physical and th e spiritual, the natural andgraceful, intellectual and physical beauty, and love and servitude. These werefeelings that were not present with St. John. Jane is now able to find hertrue abilities and her balance.
Jane makes many stops on her journey for happiness and equality but thetwo most important sto ps I feel are with St. John and Rochester. It is throughthe experiences with these two gentlemen that Jane learns many of her lifelessons. Through her experiences with these two gentlemen she is ableunderstand and realize qualities in herself and others.
With each experience shehas with these gentlemen, she learns how to confront her past repression, whichin turn leads to her own growth. English
