Jane Eyre Quotes
“My thin-crescent destiny seemed to enlarge” - Imagery of the moon adds to the gothic
imagery and themes of the book. It also highlights how Jane views herself as nothing, but
with Rochester she is growing into herself.
“I am no bird and no net ensnares me” - this metaphor links to how Victorian women felt
trapped within society and the limitations of their roles. It could also depict how Jane feels
Rochester is a net which she is trapped in, almost suggesting how she feels tangled up in his
love, and how this may be a very disorientating feeling for her as she has not experienced this
kind of love before, let alone any others. Some could argue that this quote shows that she is
independent and strong-willed, making her a stark contrast to the stereotypical Victorian
women. Birds are seen as fragile creatures who live in cages. Moreover, it links to how nature
is used within the book, as when she is younger she detests going outside, but by the end of
the book, she enjoys the outdoors; the bird that she is has been freed from its cage.
“Poor, obscure, little” - use of triplet to emphasise again how Jane doesn’t value herself;
also, how society has made her feel this way; it is so ingrained into her that she believes it,
making her feel bad for loving Rochester as he is above her class, and her employer.
Mr Brocklehurst- “standing on the hearth” “majestically surveyed” - the imagery of the
hearth connotes him in the fiery pits of Hell, presenting him as an evil character. “Surveyed”
makes the girls feel objectified, as though they are objects, not humans. Also, “majestically”
connotes predatory behaviour, and implies that Brocklehurst sees himself as a King; making
the girls feel afraid is how he displays power. The idea of hell would present him as a bad
person to the audience of the time; everyone was highly religious, and so Hell was seen as
terrifying. Mr Brocklehurst probably uses this image to his advantage to have power over the
girls at Lowood.
“I would rather feel happiness than be dignified”
“I am a free human being with an independent will” - In this quote Jane does not
identify herself as a woman. This was probably due to the stereotypes of women and the
time, and how men saw themselves as superior. By not gendering herself when speaking to
Mr ROchester, it makes her seem more like an equal to him. Furthermore, the adjective free
would not be used to describe any women at the time, showing to readers the importance of
this statement, how Jane does not conform to societal norms.
“I desired liberty” - context of the time - christianity was the widely believed religion, and
therefore everyone knew about the 7 deadly sins; one of them is lust, and “desired” is a
, synonym of lust. Readers of the time may have frowned upon Jane for saying this, and
therefore have known that something bad will happen to her, so Bronte uses foreshadowing.
ch14“No jail was ever more secure” “consecration” metaphor- shows how Jane feels
imprisoned, not only in the red room but in life as well. Bildungsroman evidence: she
desires freedom, and it may have stemmed from this as she feels trapped at
Gateshead.
“We are not to conform to nature”
“Blanks of existence were filled up”-Jane has felt empty all her life, seeing ghosts in
the mirror in the red room, but now, as she falls in love with Rochester she begins to
find herself and feel like a real person. However, although Mr Rochester has sparked
this, it actually leads to her being more independent.
“Tongues of flame darted round” - may show the passionate and raging love that Mr
ROchester and Jane have for each other
“Seldom had fire”
“Jay in borrowed plumes” - Further imagery of birds, metaphor for how Jane feels. Jane
feels like an imposter, as all her life, she has been told by society that she does not belong
with Rochester. It also references how she has led a very plain life, following her name’s
stereotype.
The mood of a revolted slave- one could argue that Jane alreayd is a slave, not only for her
job, but she is Rochesters slave romantically. He knows that Jane would do anything for him.
When she then rebels, this is a shock to Rochester, and the Victorian audience.
Wherever you are is my home- my only home
“I don’t think… that you have a right to command me” - Jane speaking out against Mr
Rochester.
Love
Familial love, romantic love, societal love.
“Reader I married him” - contextually, this would have been a completion for a Victorian
woman. It is a direct address to the reader.
“My thin-crescent destiny seemed to enlarge” - Imagery of the moon adds to the gothic
imagery and themes of the book. It also highlights how Jane views herself as nothing, but
with Rochester she is growing into herself.
“I am no bird and no net ensnares me” - this metaphor links to how Victorian women felt
trapped within society and the limitations of their roles. It could also depict how Jane feels
Rochester is a net which she is trapped in, almost suggesting how she feels tangled up in his
love, and how this may be a very disorientating feeling for her as she has not experienced this
kind of love before, let alone any others. Some could argue that this quote shows that she is
independent and strong-willed, making her a stark contrast to the stereotypical Victorian
women. Birds are seen as fragile creatures who live in cages. Moreover, it links to how nature
is used within the book, as when she is younger she detests going outside, but by the end of
the book, she enjoys the outdoors; the bird that she is has been freed from its cage.
“Poor, obscure, little” - use of triplet to emphasise again how Jane doesn’t value herself;
also, how society has made her feel this way; it is so ingrained into her that she believes it,
making her feel bad for loving Rochester as he is above her class, and her employer.
Mr Brocklehurst- “standing on the hearth” “majestically surveyed” - the imagery of the
hearth connotes him in the fiery pits of Hell, presenting him as an evil character. “Surveyed”
makes the girls feel objectified, as though they are objects, not humans. Also, “majestically”
connotes predatory behaviour, and implies that Brocklehurst sees himself as a King; making
the girls feel afraid is how he displays power. The idea of hell would present him as a bad
person to the audience of the time; everyone was highly religious, and so Hell was seen as
terrifying. Mr Brocklehurst probably uses this image to his advantage to have power over the
girls at Lowood.
“I would rather feel happiness than be dignified”
“I am a free human being with an independent will” - In this quote Jane does not
identify herself as a woman. This was probably due to the stereotypes of women and the
time, and how men saw themselves as superior. By not gendering herself when speaking to
Mr ROchester, it makes her seem more like an equal to him. Furthermore, the adjective free
would not be used to describe any women at the time, showing to readers the importance of
this statement, how Jane does not conform to societal norms.
“I desired liberty” - context of the time - christianity was the widely believed religion, and
therefore everyone knew about the 7 deadly sins; one of them is lust, and “desired” is a
, synonym of lust. Readers of the time may have frowned upon Jane for saying this, and
therefore have known that something bad will happen to her, so Bronte uses foreshadowing.
ch14“No jail was ever more secure” “consecration” metaphor- shows how Jane feels
imprisoned, not only in the red room but in life as well. Bildungsroman evidence: she
desires freedom, and it may have stemmed from this as she feels trapped at
Gateshead.
“We are not to conform to nature”
“Blanks of existence were filled up”-Jane has felt empty all her life, seeing ghosts in
the mirror in the red room, but now, as she falls in love with Rochester she begins to
find herself and feel like a real person. However, although Mr Rochester has sparked
this, it actually leads to her being more independent.
“Tongues of flame darted round” - may show the passionate and raging love that Mr
ROchester and Jane have for each other
“Seldom had fire”
“Jay in borrowed plumes” - Further imagery of birds, metaphor for how Jane feels. Jane
feels like an imposter, as all her life, she has been told by society that she does not belong
with Rochester. It also references how she has led a very plain life, following her name’s
stereotype.
The mood of a revolted slave- one could argue that Jane alreayd is a slave, not only for her
job, but she is Rochesters slave romantically. He knows that Jane would do anything for him.
When she then rebels, this is a shock to Rochester, and the Victorian audience.
Wherever you are is my home- my only home
“I don’t think… that you have a right to command me” - Jane speaking out against Mr
Rochester.
Love
Familial love, romantic love, societal love.
“Reader I married him” - contextually, this would have been a completion for a Victorian
woman. It is a direct address to the reader.
