Analysis
Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre presents Jane’s experiences from childhood into adulthood as she finds her own way in life, achieves independence, and falls in love with Rochester, the master of Thornfield Hall. The novel is written as adult Jane’s autobiography of the past twenty years of her life.
In terms of structure, the events of the novel develop chronologically across five main parts, each taking place in a different location. The novel includes plot twists and elements of foreshadowing, which create mystery and intrigue.
The novel features a large cast of characters, as Jane interacts with many people throughout her life. Other main characters apart from Jane include Rochester, the master of Thornfield and Jane’s employer and love interest, and St John Rivers, who takes Jane in after she runs away from Thornfield. Jane’s relationship with the two men is contrasting and serves to teach Jane more about herself.
Jane’s story takes place in the early 19th century in England, and there are five significant settings in the novel. Each of these offers Jane experiences that allow her to develop and figure out her own way in life.
The novel is told from the perspective of a first-person narrator, who is also the main character. The narrator frequently addresses the readers to offer additional information or to confess her feelings.
The language is formal and includes complex sentence structures, while the dialogue is natural and conversational. Many symbols are used to reflect the personalities of different characters or Jane’s relationship to them.
