Jane EyreJane EyreBy By

Charlotte BronteCharlotte Bronte

Charlotte BronteCharlotte Bronte

Was born of Irish Was born of Irish ancestry in 1816ancestry in 1816

•Lived at Haworth, a parsonage•Mother died of cancer when Charlotte was 5 years old.

Charlotte’s Religious ViewsCharlotte’s Religious Views

Father, Patrick Father, Patrick Bronte, was an Bronte, was an Anglican clergymanAnglican clergyman

Due to her Due to her upbringing, she often upbringing, she often wrote about wrote about religious hypocrisyreligious hypocrisy——those who preach those who preach one doctrine but live one doctrine but live by anotherby another

The Bronte SistersThe Bronte Sisters

Charlotte had four sisters Charlotte had four sisters and one brother.and one brother.

After their mother’s death, Brontë and her sisters were sent to the Clergy Daughters’ School. The food was badThe food was bad Discipline was harshDiscipline was harsh Disease was rampantDisease was rampant

Bronte’s two older sisters Bronte’s two older sisters (Maria & Elizabeth) died (Maria & Elizabeth) died of tuberculosis.of tuberculosis.

TuberculosisTuberculosis• Tuberculosis was a common

killer during the Victorian era.• Tuberculosis often destroys

its victims’ lungs, resulting in a bloody cough.

• If untreated, sufferers may die of tuberculosis because their lungs are so badly damaged.

More on Charlotte’s More on Charlotte’s FamilyFamily

In 1846, Charlotte & her sisters started In 1846, Charlotte & her sisters started publishing poems and began writing novels:publishing poems and began writing novels:

The ProfessorThe Professor was Charlotte’s attempt to was Charlotte’s attempt to fictionalize her love for a college professor fictionalize her love for a college professor she had met at Brussels.she had met at Brussels.

In 1847In 1847 Wuthering Heights Wuthering Heights was sister was sister Emily’s first success. Charlotte followed Emily’s first success. Charlotte followed with with Jane Eyre.Jane Eyre.

Tragedy Strikes…Tragedy Strikes…

1848:1848:September - Bramwell diesSeptember - Bramwell diesDecember – Emily diesDecember – Emily diesFollowing May – Anne dies (last living Following May – Anne dies (last living

sibling)sibling)

Charlotte is left to care for sick, aging Charlotte is left to care for sick, aging father – fights depressionfather – fights depression

Marriage BellsMarriage Bells In 1854 She marries In 1854 She marries

her father's curate, her father's curate, Arthur Bell NicholsArthur Bell Nichols..

The next year, she The next year, she became pregnant, became pregnant, then ill.then ill.

In 1855 - She dies (a In 1855 - She dies (a

month before her 39month before her 39thth birthday)birthday)

All in the FamilyAll in the Family The Clergy Daughter’s School at Cowan Bridge The Clergy Daughter’s School at Cowan Bridge

would became the model for Lowood, the would became the model for Lowood, the fictitious girls’ school in fictitious girls’ school in Jane Eyre.Jane Eyre.

Charlote’s sisters Anne and Emily Bronte both Charlote’s sisters Anne and Emily Bronte both became successful writers. became successful writers.

In 1846, Charlotte & her sisters started In 1846, Charlotte & her sisters started publishing poems and began writing novels:publishing poems and began writing novels:

The ProfessorThe Professor was Charlotte’s attempt to was Charlotte’s attempt to fictionalize her love for a college professor fictionalize her love for a college professor she had met at Brussels.she had met at Brussels.

In 1847In 1847 Wuthering Heights Wuthering Heights was sister Emily’s was sister Emily’s first success. Charlotte followed with first success. Charlotte followed with Jane Jane Eyre.Eyre.

Charlotte’s brother, Branwell, was a gifted Charlotte’s brother, Branwell, was a gifted painter.painter.

Emily Bronte

Anne Bronte

Branwell Bronte

Charlotte Bronte

All 3 Bronte Sisters…All 3 Bronte Sisters…

Used a masculine pen name because Used a masculine pen name because women writers were not taken women writers were not taken seriously at that time in Victorian seriously at that time in Victorian England.England.

Charlotte used the name Currer Bell.Charlotte used the name Currer Bell.

Charlotte’s QuotesCharlotte’s Quotes

IIt is vain to say human beings ought t is vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. it if they cannot find it.

IIf we would build on a sure f we would build on a sure foundation in friendship, we must foundation in friendship, we must love friends for their sake rather than love friends for their sake rather than for our own. for our own.

SchoolingSchooling During the early 19During the early 19thth

century, it became century, it became fashionable to educate fashionable to educate females.females.

However, free education However, free education was not yet available for was not yet available for either sex.either sex.

Only the very rich could Only the very rich could send their daughters to send their daughters to elegant girls’ schoolselegant girls’ schools

Role of the GovernessRole of the Governesso With the new stress on With the new stress on

female education, female education, governesses were in governesses were in demand.demand.

o Pay was poor, but it was one Pay was poor, but it was one of the only jobs available to of the only jobs available to educated, yet impoverished educated, yet impoverished young women.young women.

o Employers & other servants Employers & other servants often shunned the often shunned the governess because they felt governess because they felt they were “putting on airs.”they were “putting on airs.”

o Their employers would often Their employers would often ignore them, too, because ignore them, too, because they had a superior they had a superior education, which education, which intimidated many people – intimidated many people – especially men.especially men.

•Published in October 1847

•During the Industrial Revolution

THE NOVEL

Key FactsKey Facts

All events are told All events are told in the past from in the past from Jane’s point of Jane’s point of view.view.

The setting is early The setting is early 1919thth Century Century England.England.

Jane EyreJane Eyre is is classified as both a classified as both a Gothic and a Gothic and a Romantic novel.Romantic novel.

Charlotte’s Gothic Charlotte’s Gothic InfluenceInfluence

Jane EyreJane Eyre displays displays some characteristics some characteristics of the of the gothic novelgothic novel::Imprisoned womenImprisoned womenA heroine who faces A heroine who faces

dangerdangerSupernatural Supernatural

interventions at crucial interventions at crucial moments in the plotmoments in the plot

A romantic A romantic reconciliationreconciliation

Jane Eyre’s Romantic Jane Eyre’s Romantic HeritageHeritage

The Romantic The Romantic MovementMovement Came into play in at the Came into play in at the

end of the 18end of the 18thth Century. Century. Championed for the Championed for the

rights of the individual rights of the individual over the demands of over the demands of society.society.

Believed that humans Believed that humans were inherently goodwere inherently good

Valued imagination over Valued imagination over reasonreason

Inspired by natureInspired by nature

Jane Eyre: Jane Eyre: A Ground Breaking NovelA Ground Breaking Novel

• The heroine is small, plain, The heroine is small, plain, & poor& poor

• The heroine is the first The heroine is the first female character to claim female character to claim the right to feel strongly the right to feel strongly about her emotions and about her emotions and act on her convictionsact on her convictions

• This romantic ground had This romantic ground had previously been reserved previously been reserved for malesfor males

• Such a psychologically Such a psychologically complex heroine had complex heroine had never been created beforenever been created before

Jane EyreJane Eyre Our protagonistOur protagonist Orphaned as a childOrphaned as a child Becomes governess at Becomes governess at

ThornfieldThornfield A feisty young child, who A feisty young child, who

grows into a strong grows into a strong woman.woman.

Embodies the English Embodies the English working-class woman.working-class woman.

Will marry . . . . ?Will marry . . . . ?

Byronic HeroByronic Hero This term is created by This term is created by

the famous poet George the famous poet George Gordon, Lord Byron.Gordon, Lord Byron.

Characteristics are…Characteristics are…ProudProudGloomyGloomyMysteriousMysteriousPassionatePassionate*Jane’s love interest is an *Jane’s love interest is an

example of this typeexample of this type

Reed FamilyReed Family Jane’s family on her Jane’s family on her

father’s sidefather’s side Mrs. Reed is Jane’s cruel Mrs. Reed is Jane’s cruel

aunt who sends Jane to aunt who sends Jane to Lowood; she locks Jane in Lowood; she locks Jane in the “Red Room” for the “Red Room” for punishmentpunishment

John, Eliza, and Georgiana John, Eliza, and Georgiana are Jane’s spoiled cousins; are Jane’s spoiled cousins; they are rude and selfish; they are rude and selfish; they either torment Jane they either torment Jane or ignore heror ignore her

IntroductionIntroduction

Jane Eyre is an orphan in 1800s England. Jane’s parents died of Jane’s parents died of

typhus when she was a typhus when she was a baby. baby.

Mrs. Reed, her aunt, has agreed to raise her, but she and her three children treat treat Jane cruelJane cruellly.y.

Yet, Mrs. Reed expects Jane to be thankful.

Jane Eyre: IntroductionJane Eyre: Introduction

When Jane tries to stand up for herself, her aunt is furious.

She calls Jane an ungrateful child and sends her away to a boarding school called Lowood.

Jane Eyre: IntroductionJane Eyre: Introduction

At Lowood the girls . . .

• sleep two to a bed,

• get up before dawn,

• bathe in ice-cold water,

• get burnt porridge for breakfast,

• and are taught to suffer in silence.

TyphusTyphus• Jane Eyre’s Lowood suffers an outbreak of typhus, a disease

that

• is spread by fleas, ticks, and lice

• causes headaches, chills, rashes, and fevers that last up to three weeks

• Both tuberculosis and typhus are diseases associated with crowded, unsanitary conditions.

• The threat of catching one of these diseases is a major concern for the characters in Jane Eyre.

Social ClassSocial Class

Jane often feels inadequate compared to many Jane often feels inadequate compared to many of the other main characters in the novel.of the other main characters in the novel.

Class segregates Jane from her cousins on both Class segregates Jane from her cousins on both sides, although it is more obvious on the sides, although it is more obvious on the Reed side. Reed side.

Jane feels that her love for ?? (you’ll see) is Jane feels that her love for ?? (you’ll see) is wrong because she isn’t from the same class.wrong because she isn’t from the same class.

Jane has to compete with a woman who is the Jane has to compete with a woman who is the class opposite of Jane.class opposite of Jane.

Mother FiguresMother Figures

In her search for love, Jane also looks In her search for love, Jane also looks for the mother figure that she missed for the mother figure that she missed as a child.as a child.

Jane finds the characteristics she is Jane finds the characteristics she is looking for in several of the novel’s looking for in several of the novel’s characterscharacters

Red RoomRed Room

The room at Gateshead The room at Gateshead where Uncle Reed died, where Uncle Reed died, and where Jane was and where Jane was locked up to be locked up to be punished.punished.

This punishment haunted This punishment haunted Jane for the rest of her Jane for the rest of her life.life.

Memories of the night in Memories of the night in the Red Room occur the Red Room occur when Jane is at a when Jane is at a crossroads in her life.crossroads in her life.