Introduction
Jane Eyre is a classic and famous novel by Charlotte Brontë. This literary piece describes the titular character’s life and comments on the hardships and challenges Jane must overcome to find love and a home. The theme of home is central to the novel because the protagonist’s life events led her to continuously search for a place where she could feel safe and happy. Jane lived in different houses and had the opportunity to create her own home with St. John Rivers, but she then understood what a home could mean emotionally.
Jane’s Life Course in Brontë’s Novel
At the beginning of the novel, Jane is a 10-year-old orphan who is living with her aunt and cousins. The house at Gateshead Hall was never beneficial to the protagonist because the relatives were cruel and mistreated Jane (Brontë, 2009). Even though she needed trust and support, the girl did not witness these qualities in that house. Consequently, she could not consider that environment her home, which made her desperate and unhappy.
The second essential moment in Jane’s life occurred when she was sent to Lowood school. It was a boarding and charity school for orphans and distressed children (Brontë, 2009). There, the protagonist met many individuals in similar living situations, but the setting was harsh for them because girls were frequently mistreated at that institution. Those conditions did not meet Jane’s expectations and requirements for the desired home, but they helped her build confidence and strength to overcome difficulties.
In her early adulthood, Jane decided to leave Lowood to improve her life. She reached Thornfield Hall and found work as a governess there. Her task was to look after Adèle, the daughter of a French dancer with whom she had a good relationship.
In addition to that, Jane developed a strong affection with Mrs. Alice Fairfax, who was a kindly housekeeper. However, that location was productive for Jane, as she met and fell in love with Mr. Edward Rochester, a wealthy and dashing man. That fact is significant for the protagonist, as she wants to be with him and create a shared home.
Rochester eventually reciprocates Jane’s feelings and proposes to her (Brontë, 2009). This proposal was a blessing for the woman because she loved Mr. Rochester and found the trust and safety she needed from him. However, the dreams of marriage and an ideal home disappeared when Jane learned that Edward was still married and that his wife was locked on the third floor of the mansion. That discovery was shocking and devastating to the protagonist, who decided to leave Thornfield.
Her new destination was at Moor House, where the Rivers sisters, Diana and Mary, and their brother, St. John, harbored starving Jane and saved her from death. The Rivers accepted the protagonist and offered her emotional and physical support. As a result, Jane was loved and respected in this house, and that event provided her with hope for a better future.
In addition, as St. John becomes better acquainted with Jane, he proposes marriage to her (Brontë, 2009). It was the second time the woman had the opportunity to build a family and create the home she had always needed. However, that proposal helped Jane understand that he sought emotional connection and affection rather than a physical home.
Jane rejected St. John’s proposal because she loved Mr. Rochester and decided to return to Thornfield. There, she found the estate burnt down because Mr. Rochester’s wife had set it on fire and jumped from the roof (Brontë, 2009). Due to the fire, the man lost his hand and eyesight, and he revealed that he missed Jane after her escape.
Throughout her life, Jane had looked for a home, but when she discovered that Rochester’s house was destroyed, she did not worry. She loved Edward and wanted to live with him, irrespective of the house. That is why Jane agreed to marry Mr. Rochester, and the new family arranged their home in Ferndean Manor, an old house in the woods. They lived happily and blissfully so that Edward regained sight in one eye and could see their newborn son.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the novel demonstrates that the home is not only a physical setting but also a place for people and their feelings. Jane Eyre wanted a house, but managed to cope with the task once she realized that love was the only requirement. At that time, she found a home metaphorically when she reunited with Mr. Rochester.
Since the two loved each other, they were ready to live in any condition, because their relationship was full of warmth, support, and other positive feelings that benefited them. This story is revealing because it shows that people do not need physical objects or financial resources to be happy. A loving family is the most important factor that helps individuals withstand life’s challenges. Since Jane and Edward found a home in each other, they represent hope for others.
Reference
Brontë, C. (2009). Jane Eyre. Collector’s Library.