Jane_Eyre

The major themes and ideas of Jane Eyre are evident in the plot, but unsolved mysteries still exist in the story. Additionally, the novel’s form as a bildungsroman, or coming of age story, is seen clearly through Jane’s growth and development. There are many different apparent themes in the novel. The appropriateness of names is significant to the story. Jane Eyre’s name, the people in Jane’s life, and place names are key elements to the story. Firstly, the name “Jane Eyre” has few interpretations. Jane’s first name is associated with plainness when compared to the other women in the novel of a higher social class. “She would not be burdened with her society for any consideration. Georgiana should take her own course; and she, Eliza, would take hers” (245). Georgiana and Eliza both have elegant names and this shows that they are both of a higher class than Jane. This highlights Jane’s lack of status and also shows her lack of pretense. Jane’s last name also has many interpretations. “Eyre” sounds like “air,” and in the novel, Jane is described as being wind-like, drifting from one place to the other. “Eyre” also sounds like “heir” which is very meaningful. Jane’s uncle writes Mrs. Reed asking her about Jane because he wishes to share his fortune with Jane. "Madam,--Will you have the goodness to send me the address of my niece, Jane Eyre, and to tell me how she is' … I wish to adopt her during my life, and bequeath her at my death whatever I may have to leave” (250). Mrs. Reed kept this from Jane because she was jealous. Secondly, the people in Jane’s life have symbolic meaning. For example, Jane’s superintendant, Miss Temple, not only plays a significant role in Jane’s life but her name also has meaning. Miss Temple’s name signifies Jane’s worshipful feeling for Lowood’s superintendant. Not only is Miss Temple’s name a positive one, she also has a positive influence on Jane’s life. “Miss Temple, through all changes … she had stood me in the stead of mother, governess, and, latterly, companion” (85). Her appearance also has that same feeling. Miss Temple is tall, fair, and shapely with a kind light in her eyes and stately posture. Miss Temple’s appearance contrasts with the dark, rough exterior of her employer, Mr. Brocklehurst. His name alone sounds rough and rigid. Not only is his name harsh but he is also very mean to the girls of Lowood school. A character that played an important role in Jane’s life is Helen Burns. When Jane arrives at Lowood, she meets Helen. Helen is a Christ-like figure who is burning with a passion for heaven. Helen is defined as one who is the “light bearer.” She is a loving, forgiving, and patient girl who taught Jane the value of each of those things as well as the true meaning of faith. "Yet it would be your duty to bear it, if you could not avoid it: it is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what it is your fate to be required to bear” (56). Helen easily accepts her fate and does not believe in trying to fight fate. Basically, Helen showed Jane the truth about life. Finally, place names are also symbolic. The places Jane has been represent a certain stage in Jane’s life. For example, Jane’s story begins at Gateshead. Her childhood happens there and ends when she reaches her awakening with the red-room incident. Gateshead is her “gateway” or entrance to the rest of the world and the “head” or start of all her problems. "Because I disliked you too fixedly and thoroughly ever to lend a hand in lifting you to prosperity … and asserted that I had treated you with miserable cruelty. I could not forget my own sensations when you thus started up and poured out the venom of your mind: I felt fear as if an animal that I had struck or pushed had looked up at me with human eyes and cursed me in a man's voice” (251). Mrs. Reed was always hard on Jane but it definitely prepared her for the future. Next, Jane is locked in the red-room. The red-room is where her uncle is rumored to have died. Mrs. Reed locks Jane in that room and experiences a moment of extreme trauma. The red-room is a space where bitter emotions come together with unpleasant life experiences such as anger, fear, and anxiety. “I wiped my tears and hushed my sobs, fearful lest any sign of violent grief might waken a preternatural voice to comfort me, or elicit from the gloom some haloed face, bending over me with strange pity” (12). Jane is filled with fear. Jane is “seeing red” in this moment. Being locked in the room also shows where she stands with social class. Then, she works her way to Lowood. She moves on to her education at Lowood until she wants to get out into the world. Lowood, also meaning “low wood,” is a low time in Jane’s life. Finally, there is Thornfield. There, Jane finds mystery and temptation. Thornfield, also meaning “field of thorns,” has Biblical meaning to it. Overall, the appropriateness of names is a crucial part of the story. All of the names in the novel have meaning and importance. Jane’s name has different meanings. Her name shows who she is. The people in Jane’s life have names that give characteristics and describe who they are. The places that Jane visits also show what kind of places they are. These three key items are symbolic and can help foreshadow events that are to come in the story.