Narration in Jane Eyre: Finishing Our Discussion

1/9/2014

Behold, my favorite Jane Eyre: French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, from the '96 movie version. Doesn't she just look the part perfectly? (cultural tangent: Gainsbourg's father is French icon/musician Serge Gainsbourg. Feel free to enhance your potential hipster quotient by watching this classic Serge/Brigitte Bardot video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB112Vbl8-A. You'll thank me when you're the coolest kid in college).

Inaugural Blog Assignment: Narrative Perspective in Jane Eyre

Please return to the handout on narration that I gave you in class on Thursday, 1/9. Since we ran out of time during class, I would like us to finish our discussion here on the blog.As a refresher, here are the questions I posed:

1. How would you characterize Jane as a narrator? Choose two or three adjectives and offer a description of her narrative style, using examples and/or direct quotes from the book in order to support your claim.

2. Writing on Victorian Web, Ph.D candidate Devon Anderson observes that “Jane seems astoundingly strong, rational, reliable, and honest,” yet, in certain passages the reader senses, “an underlying emotional chaos and an impulse to withhold or manipulate lurking within our seemingly reliable narrator.” Elaborate on this claim, using a specific passage from the novel as evidence (you may consult your journals for a passage if you wish).

Your Assignment:

1.In the blog comments, please write a post that combines your thoughts on these two prompts, using quotes to support your claims.

2. Length: 2-3 paragraphs. Must include at least two direct quotes, properly cited.

3. Please also reply to at least one of your classmate's comments.

DUE: Sunday 1/12, by midnight

I look forward to reading your thoughts!

24 Comments

Amber Dindorf

1/12/2014 07:16:25 am

Jane Eyre is an honest and judgmental narrator throughout the beginning of the novel. These traits are essential in uncovering the “underlying emotional chaos” in Devon Anderson’s observation of seemingly “strong, rational, reliable, and honest” Jane. The best evidence of this is the interaction between Blanche Ingram and Jane. Upon seeing Mr. Rochester and the company for the first time Jane admits she “had not intended to love him; the reader knows I had wrought hard to extirpate from my soul the germs of love there detected; and now, at the first view of him…he made me love him without looking at me.” (Bronte 177). Jane’s narrative has a very honest nature in this situation because she is making a large confession. These feelings bring out the judgmental side of Jane’s narration because her description of Blanche Ingram is controlled by jealousy of Mr. Rochester’s affection. For example Jane observes that Blanche “was not good; she was not original: she used to repeat sounding phrases from books: she never offered, nor had an opinion of her own” (187). Jane very bluntly judges Blanche for her actions as well as her appearance with descriptions like “arched haughty lip” (174)
Both Jane’s honesty about Mr. Rochester and her judgment of Blanche show that there is an underlying factor controlling the commentary, Jane’s love for Mr. Rochester. By judging Blanche so harshly it is clear that Jane is jealous. When these feelings are brought to the reader’s attention, Jane seems very emotional. There are several instances of this in the novel, for example when she is publicly ridiculed by Mr. Brocklehurst at Lowood school she becomes hysteric, and her character transforms from honest to overwhelmingly emotional. There is a similar effect in this situation, she does not lose control but Jane casually intertwines her thoughts on Blanche and Mr. Rochester’s relationship. For example “If (Blanche) she had managed the victory at once, and had yielded sincerity laid his heart at her feet, I should have covered my face, turned it to the wall, and (figuratively) have died to them” (188). Here, Jane is clearly illustrating that emotional chaos, it is especially evident in the dramatized image of Jane figuratively dying. I predict that this emotional chaos will escalate and cause Jane to lose control of her feelings controlled by love.

Dacota Griffin

1/12/2014 08:13:07 am

I agree with you, Amber, for the most part. I believe too that Jane is a very emotional character and tends to let her emotions get the best of her in some situations. One such situation is when Jane is attacking Mrs. Reed after Mr. Brocklehurst comes to Gateshead for the years of abuse the Reed's have done to her as she said that "a passion of resentment fomented now within me" (Bronte 38). Even though I believe she had a right to unleash her feelings about how she felt about Mrs. Reed, she should have a little more control over herself as she felt "a sensation as if [she] had been poisoned" after she said what she thought (40).
I cannot fully say that Jane is honest. As a character, she lies a lot. She lied to Mr. Rochester when he was dressed as the gypsy. She keeps to her most dearest thoughts to herself. Therefore, she is an honest narrator as does tell the reader her deepest thoughts no matter what they are. Although, at times, she does not display the whole truth.

VIBRODAH (nick)

1/12/2014 08:23:04 am

I agree with Dacota about Jane's affinity for lying, though she has a knack for always telling "her". With truth being objective, having the only the Sith deal in absolutes, I think it exciting as well as necessary for her to tell her to tell lies which lead to misinterpretations of the truth. Masks the "foo-foo" quality of the original OG 50 shades of grey.

Nick

1/12/2014 08:16:36 am

willed girl. Jane is always telling things how they are, or at least how she perceives them, and can often times be found saying what is on her mind. A great example being her telling her boss, Mr. Rochester, that he is ugly. When asked if she finds him pretty she answers "No, sir"(Bronte 134).
To Jane being stubborn and strong willed, she is constantly asserting and shoving her opinion down our throats and leaves little to no room for interpretation. With the story being told through her eyes so too are the opinions we form. Such can be seen with the character Miss Reed. "They all call Miss Reed my benefactress; is so, a benefactress is a disagreeable thing"(35). Though Miss Reed takes care of Jane, providing food and shelter, Jane is never thankful no matter how harsh the punishment. (This coming from a girl who said she would rather live in that place than be poor). So because of Jane's stubborn and strong willed ideas, she is blind to her own folly of continuously bashing the only thing between the life she hates and the life she said she could not stand.

Ashley

1/12/2014 08:31:42 am

Altogether Jane is both reflective and blunt in her narrations. These descriptions also go hand in hand with Devon Anderson’s observations. Jane’s blunt side resembles her “astoundingly strong, rational, and honest” nature, and her reflective side shows “an underlying emotional chaos” (Anderson). These two aspects intertwine as she grows as a character. Jane’s very blunt side can be seen as she addresses Mr. Rochester when he asks “Do you think me handsome?” and Jane replies, “No, sir” (Bronte 134). This outright honesty is not only a component of Jane’s narration but of Jane herself. Another time she does this is when she was younger (on page 35) when asked if she like the psalms, and she replied honestly, even though it was not the popular answer one might expect. These straight forward and instinctive answers make Jane relatable to the readers, because at times they also act instinctively without thinking before talking.
As time passes in the narration Jane has time to reflect on what she has previously thought of, done, and/or said during the course of the book. This shows her inward “emotional chaos” as she fights herself deciding between loving or not loving Mr. Rochester. As she contemplates upon his person once more we can see that she changes her own ideals from before to say that his features “were not beautiful, according to rule; but there were more than beautiful to me: they were full of an interest, an influence that quite mastered me… he made me love him without looking at me” (177). As she fights these new emotions that Jane has yet to fully experience she has time to fully ponder over them as she also has to take Miss Ingram into consideration. Another aspect of her reflective nature is to sit back and listen rather than to take to upon herself to make Mr. Rochester love her. This can be partially to the norms of the time period (different social ranks and gender), but it is also partially because she would rather speculate about occurrences than actually be a part of them. Jane criticizes Miss Ingram as “she was very shows, but she was not genuine” because it is not her place to tell Mr. Rochester about these qualities in her, so Jane just sits and waits patiently from him to notice.

Andrea

1/12/2014 09:10:48 am

I think Ashley has made an astounding observation. Jane has two sides; a blunt side and a reflective side. What this observation made me question is, which side of Jane is more reliable? Often we see throughout life that we can tell more easily who a person is when they always say exactly what they mean without having to think about it. On the other hand, a person's first impression or first thought is not always the thought they themselves hold on to be the true one. As Ashley's example shows, Jane at first thinks Mr. Rochester as not handsome, but then later comes to adore him so much that she would never again say something like that to him. While we as readers often appreciate Jane's brutal honesty, it seems as though both sides of her could have the tendency to be unreliable.

Andrea Engen

1/12/2014 08:59:29 am

Prompt One:
I chose the adjectives bold, mischievous, curious, confidant and doubtful to describe Jane. Why I chose several of these words becomes clear through one of Jane's last interactions with Bessie at Gateshead, after Jane describes her last encounter with Mrs. Reed; "'That was wrong, Miss Jane.'
'It was quite right, Bessie'" (Bronte, 43). At her departure from the one person who has actually cared for her, and she reacts very boldly and confidently indeed. This shows that Jane is very strong-willed, and says what she thinks no matter the circumstances.
Another scene that showcases Jane's confidence in her opinion is after she's met Helen at Gateshead, and they are discussing Miss Scatcherd's demeanor. Helen understands that her often slatternly habits are "'…all very provoking to Miss Scatcherd, who is naturally neat, punctual, and particular.'
'And cross and cruel.' [Jane] added" (58). Even when Jane hears a heartfelt plea of understanding from another pupil, she still feels the need to interject her own undying opinion. This shows both her, boldness, and doubtfulness, and brutal honesty.

Prompt Two:
Jane spent her whole childhood wondering why her cousins and aunt felt the need to judge her for things she could not control, mostly the fact that she is a plain looking orphan. But they judged her for her character as well, though Jane never intended to be a bad child; she just retaliated when her relatives treated her poorly. The readers would think that this upbringing would make Jane very sensitive and understanding towards children especially. Something that proves her to be somewhat of an unreliable and impulsive character is how she reacts to Adéle. Jane “...allow[ed] her to prattle as she liked: not rebuking even some little freedoms and trivialities into which she was apt to stray when much noticed: and which betrayed in her a superficiality of character, inherited probably from her mother, hardly congenial to an English mind” (148). She judges her pupil for her genetics and her childish demeanor, both things Adéle cannot control. She thinks terrible things of Mrs. Reed for judging her in the past, and even though Jane is otherwise very kind to Adéle, she judges still her on a similar basis.
This prompt reminded me of another passage, one from when Jane was still a girl in Lowood and finally discovering that there was a bright side to life. “How sad to be lying now on a sick bed, and to be in danger of dying! This world is pleasant–it would be dreary to be called from it, and to have to go who knows where?” Jane’s epiphany in this passage showcases more of the positive traits that Devon Anderson speaks of. I find it particularly intriguing because as I recall, as a little girl Jane was quite committed to the idea that the world was only full of misery. The fact that she has been able to change that outlook signifies that Jane is a reliable and rational character that can change according to the change in her environment, even though it was at the cold dreary Lowood that this change of mind occurred. It takes a very strong character to make light out of what is often a very dark place, especially when her friend Helen is dying. This passage also shows her rebelliousness when it comes to religion; even though she was being brought up in a very religious school and was friends with a very godly friend, she still questions the idea of heaven and hell, and she is very honest with the reader about this.

Ashley

1/12/2014 09:14:08 am

I agree with you that Jane is confident in her decision when she decides to leave Lowood and travel to a place where she doesn't know. But I'm not sure that Jane was confident about being on her own in a new place, she seemed hesitant as she states "it is a very strange sensation to inexperienced youth to feel itself quite alone in the world.. the charm of adventure sweetens that sensation, the glow of pride warms it; but then the throb of fear disturbs it; and fear with me became predominate" (96). I'm also not convinced to say confidence is the reason she adds "and cross and cruel" while talking with Helen. I believe she added the above phrase because she acted instinctively, not thinking about it before she said it. If seen this way a good way to describe Jane would be impulsive, which could cover both topics!

Savannah

1/12/2014 09:57:55 am

I think Andrea makes a great point on how Jane can be an unreliable character. Jane is somewhat of a hypocrite, even though earlier in the novel she condemned Mr. Brocklehurst for being one. Just as Andrea stated Jane extremely disliked her aunt for being so judgemental towards her, yet she herself proves to be very critical of other characters. It is hard to believe that Jane is even judgemental towards Adele who lives in similar circumstances to Jane, when she was a child. This makes us as readers question whether we can rely on what Jane says. She usually says what she thinks, but recently we are noticing that she can be contradicting and manipulating with her words.

Dacota Griffin

1/12/2014 09:10:07 am

I would characterize Jane as a number of things but if I had to pick two adjectives to describe I would describe her as expressive and straight-forward. For the most part, I think Jane tends to tell things exactly the way they are and what she thinks about them. One obvious example of this is when Jane tells us how she feels about Mr. Rochester when she says "I have told you, reader, that I had learnt to love Mr. Rochester: I could not unlove him now, merely because I found that he had ceased to notice me" (Bronte 187). Jane genuinely loves Mr. Rochester and cannot attempt to treat him like just her payman and her master, but as the love of her, so far, short life. Likewise, Jane speaks her mind when she talks about women's role in society. Jane declares that "It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex" (113). For men to have said at the time what they thought about women's rights would have been one thing, but for Jane, a woman, to say it shows how expressive and straight-forward she is. She really wants the reader to know what she thinks about certain things.
But there is one other word that I think would characterize Jane; she seems to be naturally insightful. Given she is narrating the book as an adult, she knew from the moment she first arrived at Thornfield that something was supernatural about Grace Poole. When she first saw Grace Poole, or rather heard, the "tragic, as preternatural a laugh as any [she] ever heard" she knew that Grace must be possessed by the devil (110). Later, we see that Jane's insightful nature holds true as Grace nearly kills Mr. Mason by sucking his blood and biting him. I can't help but wonder if any other of Jane's presumptions will come true. She could see that Mr. Rochester and Blanche Ingram were going to get married and Mr. Rochester confirmed they were.

Juliet

1/12/2014 10:19:23 am

I think it is this straight-forward nature that makes the reader eager to trust Jane as a reliable narrator because she isn't afraid to share her opinion. I think by sharing her thoughts she is able to manipulate the reader and evoke feelings of sympathy when appropriate. The reader is therefore not making their own opinions of the other characters.
I think your second paragraph was very interesting. I agree that Jane demonstrates insightfulness, which is expressed particularly in deep conversation with Mr. Rochester. I would not say that she is showing more knowledge of what is happening than she had when it was the present. Although the story is told in retrospect, and in reading the book for the second time, I think Jane does a good job withholding what is to come and giving the novel a suspenseful characteristic.

Sully

1/12/2014 10:22:07 am

I agree with Dacota about Jane being expressive and straight-forward. She can often be very blunt, saying exactly what she thinks about someone, and can also be very descriptive at the same time. I like how Jane's opinions on equality get tied into the mix. I also find the part about Jane's insight and Grace to be an interesting perspective. However, the mention of Mr. Rochester's marriage could have been an excellent time to tie in Anderson's observation of "an underlying emotional chaos," seeing as how the man she seems to love is getting married.

Savannah

1/12/2014 09:46:04 am

Jane Eyre would best be characterized as a critical character, both towards herself and others. Jane expresses this characteristic by being both blunt and reflective in her narration. Jane is not shy when she evaluates her-self and the novels other characters. In fact she is more likely to outright state the faults of others and herself than try to find any redeeming qualities in either. The best example of Jane’s blunt narration is in chapter fourteen when she and Mr. Rochester engage in their first lengthy conversation. Jane displays her extremely frank narrative voice when she is asked to give her opinion on Mr. Rochester’s physical appearance. When Mr. Rochester asks Jane “do you think me handsome?” she bluntly replies “No, sir” (Bronte 134). I believe Jane is neither afraid of concealing her true thoughts or hurting her recipients feelings. This characteristic separates her from the other women of the novel and I am sure the women of Bronte’s time. Jane does not save her criticism just for others, but regularly dishes it out to herself, such as when she draws a portrait of her and Blanche Ingram. Jane harshly criticizes her looks as she compares them to Ms. Ingram. Jane is very conscious of her own faults. She plainly tells things like they are.
Both of these aspects, blunt and reflective, of Jane’s character agree with Devon Andersons observation of Jane as “strong, rational, reliable, and honest”. I also agree with Devon Anderson’s observation that Jane, no matter how up front and honest, has underlying emotions that she tries to withhold and suppress. The most obvious example being her love for Mr. Rochester. Jane has no problem with being blunt with Mr. Rochester on everything except with her feelings for him. When Mr. Rochester was dressed up as a gipsy, “Jane had been on [her] guard from the beginning of the interview” (Bronte 204), she cannot even divulge her feelings to someone she thinks is a complete stranger. No matter how blunt and reflective Jane is I believe she will experience inner turmoil until she can be open and honest with her love.

Bailey

1/12/2014 10:42:32 am

I agree with you that Jane is both blunt and reflective. You bring up a great point when you say that Jane will experience inner turmoil untill she can be open and honest with her love. It is very interesting that while Jane will admit that Miss Ingram is a fine catch she refuses to at all confront her own feelings for Mr. Rochester. For example, Jane immidiately agrees when Mr. Rochester asks her "For instance the night before I am married! I am sure I shall not be able to sleep. Will you promise to sit up with me to bear me company?" (Bronte 221). Jane does not even take a moment to ponder how she will feel that night before Mr. Rochester's marriage to Miss Ingram because she refuses to confront her love. Therefore she will be unable to act as Mr. Rochester's friend without causing herself great pain.

Juliet

1/12/2014 09:47:10 am

I would describe Jane's narrative style as being honest and opinionated. It is her honesty that allows the reader to find her trust-worthy but her strong emotional opinions are able to manipulate the reader's perspective. We are only exposed to Jane's point of view and her characterization of others, which is what leads Anderson to classify her as only "seemingly reliable."
When Mr. Rochester asks, "Do you think me handsome?" Jane's honesty is displayed in her blunt response: "No, sir" (134 Bronte). At the same time, she is also expressing her opinion. She shares with the reader that she thinks Helen is "such a great girl" and that Mrs. Reed is "bad; hard-hearted" as she exclaims "You are deceitful!" (39-58). Jane gives only information that will lead the reader to make the opinion she desires them to have and withholds any details that will have the reader thinking, for example, that Mrs. Reed can be a kind lady or that Mrs. Temple is not beautiful. Through this distorted lens Jane tells her story and is easily perceived as "strong, rational, reliable and honest," but makes the reader well aware of the judgments she has passed on the other characters.

Amber

1/12/2014 10:05:59 am

I agree that Jane is very opinionated. I think that these opinions can manipulate the reader's perception of each of the described characters. This is where that manipulative aspect of Anderson's observation comes in to play. Jane uses these small remarks to align the reader with her train of thought. Thus characterizing Jane as slightly selfish, and interesting and bold characteristic to display in a woman of that time. It is yet another example of how Jane defies the proper behavior of a woman during that time period.

Skye

1/12/2014 12:51:09 pm

Jane's opinionated narration purely reflects her character throughout the novel. She keeps little to herself in thought and in speech. Jane persecutes others appearances in her head and in real life. She outright tells Mr. Rochester that she does not find him attractive.

Lauren Porter

1/13/2014 01:17:45 am

I feel like Jane's honesty in all matters of her mind and life provide the reader with a biased view through Jane's eyes, which appears to have become a way for Jane to directly or indirectly manipulate the reader. Rather than presenting the situation, and then giving her thoughts on it, she solely presents her opinion of people and situations which only allows the reader to see it through a bias of Jane. The reader has come to trust Jane because she is so honest, but her opinionated honesty has become a means to manipulate to her opinion.

Sully Briggs

1/12/2014 10:09:12 am

As a narrator, Jane can act very direct and curious. When Jane describes people, she tends to be very direct and blunt, offering her honest opinion without sugarcoating anything. In one part when she describes an encounter with Mr. Rochester, she seems particularly blunt when she says "...his eyes sparkled, whether with wine or not, I am not sure; but I think it is very probable" (Bronter 133). Jane basically just comes out and says she thinks Mr. Rochester might be slightly drunk. How much more direct can she be?
Sometime Jane can seem very curious too. When she recounts one of her first interactions and discussions with Helen, she lets her curious side show through. "I heard her with wonder: I could not comprehend this doctrine of endurance; and still less could I understand or sympathies with the forbearance she expressed for her chastiser... I suspected she might be right and I wrong..." (58). Often Jane does things like this when encountering something new. She pauses to think about it, and occasionally follows up her thoughts by asking questions to someone, as she later does in this instance.
There is also definitely a part of Jane that is much more complex than she usually seems. Usually, her goals are very strait foreword. At Gateshead, she wanted to avoid her "family." At Lowood, she wanted to start over and make for herself a better life. Then she gets restless, and moves off to Thornfield. After a while, she again falls prey to restlessness, as she "longed for a power of vision which might overpass that limit; which might reach the busy world, towns, regions full of life I had heard of but never seen that then I desired more of practical experience than I possessed; more of intercourse with my kind, of acquaintance with variety of character, than was here within my reach" (112). She is restless, with and undeniable feeling of chaos within her. She is still searching for where she belongs, and until she does, she will continue to have this chaotic restlessness within her.

Bailey Friedman

1/12/2014 10:29:30 am

Jane has several distinct qualities as a narrator. However, one of the adjectives that best describes her is curious. From the beginning of the book Jane is drawn to the unknown. First Jane wonders “If Mr. Reed had been alive he would have treated [her] kindly” (Bronte 18)? Jane’s curiosity continues once she reaches Lowood. Not only does she question the generosity of the lovely Miss Temple but she also investigates the origins of the entire community of Logwood when she questions her friend, Helen Burns. Jane asks Helen questions like “Why do they call it institution? Is it in any way different from other schools?” and “Are you happy here?” (52-53). Jane insists on knowing why and what is happening at all times creating a very detailed narrative that reveals the cruelties of her life at Gateshead and Lowood. However, sometimes Jane’s curiosity will get the better of her. Helen even says “You ask rather too many questions” at one point when Jane tries to dig into Helen’s past.
When Jane arrives at Thornfield her curiosity is just as present. For instance, she often asks Mrs. Fairfax many series of questions not only about Thornfield but also about its owner, Mr. Rochester. Jane’s curious nature really begins to take over when she discovers Blanche Ingram. Jane immediately attempts to get as much information about Miss Ingram from Mrs. Fairfax as possible. Jane questions “What is she like?...what sort of voice has she?...And this beautiful and accomplished lady is not yet married?” (161-162). While Jane’s curiosity as a narrator provides for a well detailed description of the people and places in her life her curiosity can also be seen as fault. First, her continuous questions can often be considered rude and nosey, like when she tried to question Helen. Second, because of her curious nature she often finds herself in dangerous situations, like when Mr. Rochester’s bedroom was set on fire. Whether it be an argument with Miss Ingram or a horrific run in with Grace Poole, I predict that soon Jane will find herself in trouble because of her curiosity.

Skye

1/12/2014 12:47:18 pm

As a narrator, Jane Eyre is mature woman that is reflecting back on her life. As she tells her life story she speaks as if it is the present. Jane never holds anything back and I would describe her as an opinionated, straightforward and strong willed character. Jane tells it as it is as a narrator and as a character. Often in her thoughts she judges and thinks out right what she thinks of a person. She described Mr. Rochester shortly after telling him directly that she thought he wasn’t handsome as “unusual breadth of chest, disproportionate almost to his length of limb”(135). Jane continues to describe people this way including when thinking about Blanche. Except Jane’s bluntness can waiver because she shows “emotional chaos” as Devon Anderson says.
One of the emotional issues Jane seems to struggle with is ghosts and the supernatural. “Was that Grace Poole? And is she possessed with a devil?”(151) thought Jane. Jane was also terrified in the red room and basically had a panic attack from something that others wouldn’t have thought anything of. Jane’s concerns with the supernatural make her a slightly unreliable narrator seeing how she seems to confuse reality with nightmares.
Jane also diverges into tangents throughout her narration on pg 112 Jane rants about women’s rights for quite some time saying, “Millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine, and millions are in silent revolt against their lot. Nobody knows how many rebellions besides political rebellions ferment in the masses of life which people earth. Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do.” Jane has discussions with herself throughout the story displaying the emotional war going on within her own head.

Tariah Brown

1/12/2014 09:54:34 pm

Jane is an exceptionally strong and opinionated narrator since the very beginning. Keenly aware of her surroundings and situations, it does indeed appear that Jane is together and honest. Yet it's in her overtly blunt and obstinate nature which sets the stage for Jane's “underlying emotional chaos” in Devon Anderson’s observation. "I could not tell: nothing answered me; I then ordered my brain to find a response, and quickly. It worked and worked faster: I felt the pulses throb in my head and temples; but for nearly am hour it worked in chaos, and no result came of its efforts." (89) Jane very clearly does not function well under stress and allows her emotions to rule her perceptions of a situation-- this is seen in her love of Rochester, who fancies him and finds a connection with him despite their situational and positional gap. She has frequent acts of jealously, "a passion of resentment tormented now within me." (36) And acts this way especially in regards to Rochester. On her way to Millcote, she's as fearful of leaving her home in Lowood. She allows a preconceptions and ideas to stir her emotion and feeds an underlying anxiety and an apparent paranoia. "The harm of adventure sweetens that sensation, the glow of pride warms it; but then the grog of fear disturbs it; and fear with me became predominant when half an hour elapsed and I was still alone. I be thought myself to ring the bell." (97)

Lauren Porter

1/13/2014 01:14:13 am

As a narrator, Jane offers true honesty as she dives into her thoughts, her feelings, and her mind as she processes through what she's experiencing internally and externally. She discusses the conflicts she's feeling, which many have interrupted as her "lying," yet it seems to be more an issue of even Jane not knowing what exactly it is she's feeling. As she beings to develop feelings for Mr. Rochester, she thinks on both options: "yes, I have feelings for him" or "no, I do not." While she makes both claims, it's not a solidified statement. This represents her thought process that she shares with the reader.

She struggles with mental demons that she discusses in great detail throughout many parts of the book. Jane discusses the sickness she feels in her mind while at Lowood as she says, "“...my worse ailment was an unutterable wretchedness of mind: a wretchedness which kept drawing from me silent tears; no sooner had I wiped one salt drop from my cheek than another followed. Yet, I thought, I ought to have been happy....” (Bronte 22). This is a true and difficult honesty that Jane gives to the reader. As contradictive as it sounds, her presentation of "lying" is really more a form of honesty as she's allowing us to follow her thought process through, which includes every and all options.

Jane is also very liberal for her time. She's rebellious and is open about her feelings of modern society. Her views could now be labelled feministic, as she states things like, “Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex" (Bronte 112-13). Her honesty on people, society, and her own self provide us with a story that is not cleaned up to make for a nice story, but provides much more openness and honesty that allows the reader to relate.

Tyler O'Keefe

1/13/2014 08:48:59 pm

Jane's narrative style is characterized throughout the course of the novel by her highly perceptive nature. Bronte's depiction of the world through Jane's analytical eyes offers vital insights into Jane's character. Jane is aware of her surroundings and, furthermore, herself. Her capacity for introspection is demonstrated even as a child early on in the book: "I was conscious that a moment's mutiny had rendered me liable to strange penalties, and, like any other rebel slave, I felt resolved in my desperation to go all lengths" (Bronte 14). Her chronological narrative in punctuated by many such moments, as she pauses and reflects on the driving forces behind her actions. Jane possesses the ability to question the motives of not only others, but herself. She is lucid and self-aware.
Jane's narration methods reflect a character that is confident and aware. The stream of her thoughts is continuous and woven into the chronological order of events. Following the trauma of Helen's death, however, Jane offers little in regard to her thoughts or emotions. She simply states "I was asleep, and Helen was-- dead" (85). This is a departure from the otherwise self-reflecting, even metacognitive internal dialogue that Jane shares with the reader throughout the book. It is apparent that there is a sensitive, if not highly unstable component of Jane's psyche that she quite effectively conceals throughout the plot.

Narration in Jane Eyre: Finishing Our Discussion

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