“
Jane Eyre,” by
Charlotte Bronte, is a typical
Victorian
novel engaging in many characteristics of things such as education,
religion, and culture, which were focused upon at the time. Many
characters are spread throughout the novel although it is the minor
roles that keep the plot flowing. Jane is both inspired and put down
by the minor
characters, which helps her to become a more refined
being. Even though these people are at a loss for dialogue purposes,
they speak to great lengths in the ears of Jane.
At Gateshead, a man by the name of Brocklehurst, who
was not only an “interrogator”(p.29) but also a large featured man,
contributed to the plot by bringing the setting to Lowood. If Aunt
Reed would have never brought him to see Jane, the story would
have remained in the surroundings at Gateshead and the storyline
would dwindle and not be as interesting. Once at Lowood for a long
while, Jane was about to encounter yet another change in scenery,
fore Adele in Thornfield Hall was in need for a governess. Little
Adele, who is a ten-year old French girl, is the motive that Charlotte
Bronte uses in order to bring her character, Jane, to this not yet
accustomed dwelling. It is here where she meets Rochester. On the
day of the wedding it was Mr. Richard Mason who helped to forward
the everlasting episodes, having Jane move away once more to the
Moor House. His sister, Bertha Mason, was the living soul that
changed Jane’s future plans by her being Rochester’s wife already,
and so the plot proceeds. At Moor House, a gothic and mysterious
thing happens and Jane goes back to Thornfield, realizing that Mr. St.
John Rivers is not the man she will marry. The late Mr. Rochester’s
butler who was a “respectable-looking, middle-aged man”(p.456)
came into connection with Jane at the damaged site and continued to
tell her where her beloved had gone. This is the final transaction that
the plot foregoes because it is in Ferndean where the two reunite.
In the Victorian times, novels were often called
autobiographies so that the people looking at it could think of it in
more believable terms. “Jane Eyre” is diverse from some other
novels written at the time because it keeps away from the long
descriptions that were accustomed to. The dialogue in this
period was very formal and precise. People that were going to
schools to become educated in the 1800’s could have probably
related to the way that Charlotte Bronte depicted Mr. Brocklehurst’s
character at Lowood. He brought fourth the poor ways that the
children had to learn by making Jane humiliated in front of her friends
and by being uncaring to the pupils that die at the institution from
various diseases. Religion was dominantly Christianity and it was
believed, as it is now, that if goodness were a part of life, admirable
things would happen when heaven was reached. St. John Rivers
comes into this field as being the one who is very religious because
he wishes to become a missionary.
Women had it unfavorable in this era because everything
that was done was a duty, which they had no objections to. The
males distinguished that it was not correct for a woman to know about
politics so they were not permitted this luxury. Instead, good
housewives were always needed. Smart women showed off their
knowledge by playing the piano, singing, or reciting poetry. Jane is
tortured and tormented by many of the men like Brocklehurst, John
Reed, Mr. Lloyd, and Rochester. Aunt Reed also told her children
that “she is not worthy of notice”(p.23). Her cousin, John Reed,
makes her call him her master and punishes her for nothing and Mr.
Lloyd calls her “a baby after all”(p.19), just to be mean to her.
Rochester is rude to Jane because of his moods and takes his anger
out on her verbally.
Jane is described as being a small and not very pretty
person who grows up gathering morals from each destination and
applying them to the way that she takes on her life. Although she
starts out with a poor life, the tables turn and she is finally happy.
Jane becomes better by becoming rich, married to a loving husband,
and by having a baby, which she will most definitely give it
everything that she was unable to have.
The minor characters all make major influences on Jane
Eyre’s life. If not for these characters, Jane’s life would have been an
unsure road of unknown fate which may or may not have been as
fulfilling for her.