Jane Eyre Summary

Jane Eyre is a novel by Charlotte Brontë about an orphaned young woman in nineteenth-century England.

  • Jane Eyre is raised by her cruel and wealthy relatives before being sent to Lowood, a charitable school with miserable conditions.
  • Jane eventually becomes a governess and finds a position at Thornfield, the eerie home of the enigmatic Edward Rochester, with whom she falls in love.
  • Mr. Rochester returns Jane's feelings and asks Jane to marry him, but a shocking revelation prevents the marriage from taking place.
  • Jane flees Thornfield but eventually returns to reconcile with Mr. Rochester.

Summary

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Plot Summary of Jane Eyre:

Jane Eyre begins at Gateshead Hall, where a young orphan named Jane Eyre lives with her aunt, Mrs. Reed, and three cousins. Though Jane’s relations are wealthy, they treat her cruelly and never let her forget that she only avoids poverty through their charity. As the relationship between Jane and the Reeds deteriorates, Mrs. Reed decides to send Jane away to Lowood school, a charitable institution. Before Jane departs, Mrs. Reed warns Mr. Brocklehurst, the manager of Lowood, that Jane is a liar. Deeply offended by her aunt’s deceit, young Jane vows never to forgive her.

The conditions at Lowood school are harsh. Mr. Brocklehurst is cruel and hypocritical, forcing the students to remain humble by making their own clothes and sharing beds while his own daughters live in luxury. The girls are given meager portions of often inedible food, and their living quarters are freezing cold.

Despite these difficulties, Jane manages to find a friend in Helen Burns, a fellow student; however, Helen dies during a typhus outbreak at the school, leaving Jane devastated. After the typhus epidemic, the unsanitary and grim conditions at the school are publicly revealed, and Lowood is put under new management. Jane stays at the school for six more years as a student and two years as a teacher before setting off for a new job as a governess at Thornfield Hall.

At Thornfield, Jane’s pupil is a young French girl named Adèle. Adèle is the ward of Mr. Edward Rochester, the enigmatic and often-absent owner of Thornfield. When Jane finally meets Mr. Rochester, she finds herself intrigued by his peculiar personality and blunt honesty. Likewise, Mr. Rochester is fascinated by Jane’s forthright nature and strong convictions. Strange events occur during Jane’s stay at Thornfield: eerie laughs can be heard at night, a mysterious fire is started, and a guest is stabbed in the night. Mr. Rochester begins to court a local beauty named Blanche Ingram, upsetting Jane, who recognizes her own growing feelings for him.

Jane travels to Gateshead to visit Mrs. Reed, who is now on her deathbed. While there, Jane is elated to learn that she has a living uncle, John Eyre, who wishes to know her. After Mrs. Reed dies, Jane returns to her post at Thornfield, where preparations are underway for Mr. Rochester to wed. She is shocked, however, when Mr. Rochester proposes to her rather than Blanche Ingram.

Jane joyfully accepts his proposal, but their wedding is interrupted when a man objects, announcing, to Jane's horror, that Mr. Rochester is already married. Mr. Rochester confesses that he is married and that he conceals his first wife, Bertha, in the attic of Thornfield. Bertha is mad, and it is she who is responsible for the strange sounds and occurrences at Thornfield. Jane is devastated, and despite Mr. Rochester’s pleas for her to stay, she flees Thornfield under the cover of night.

Jane wanders for several days until, nearly starving. She is then taken in by a clergyman named St. John Rivers and his two sisters. Jane comes to love the sisters, though she remains slightly intimidated by St. John. During this period, Jane learns that her uncle has died and left her his fortune. She splits this evenly between herself and the Rivers family—who she has discovered are her cousins.

St. John urges Jane to marry him and come with him to India as a missionary’s wife, but Jane, knowing he does not actually love her, refuses. After hearing Mr. Rochester’s voice on the wind, Jane takes it as a sign and decides to visit Thornfield.

When Jane arrives at Thornfield, she is shocked to find a charred ruin standing in its place. A local innkeeper relays that Bertha Rochester set the hall on fire after escaping from her confinement one evening. As the hall burned, Bertha leaped from the roof to her death.

Mr. Rochester took great pains to rescue everyone inside and, as a result, lost his hand and his eyesight in the fire. Jane goes to visit Mr. Rochester and the two reconcile. Jane and Mr. Rochester marry, and his eyesight gradually recovers enough that he can see their firstborn son.

Top Ten Plot Points: 

  1. Jane Eyre lives with her cruel aunt and cousins who constantly remind her of their charity.
  2. Mrs. Reed sends Jane away to Lowood school due to their deteriorating relationship.
  3. At Lowood, Jane encounters harsh conditions, a cruel manager, and befriends Helen Burns.
  4. Helen dies during a typhus outbreak, leaving Jane devastated.
  5. The unsanitary conditions at Lowood are exposed, leading to new management.
  6. Jane stays at Lowood as a student and teacher before becoming a governess at Thornfield Hall.
  7. Jane meets Mr. Rochester, the enigmatic owner of Thornfield, and they are intrigued by each other.
  8. Strange events occur at Thornfield, including eerie laughs, a mysterious fire, and a stabbing.
  9. Mr. Rochester proposes to Jane, but their wedding is interrupted when it is revealed he is already married.
  10. Jane leaves Thornfield, wanders until she is taken in by St. John Rivers and his sisters, and eventually reunites with Mr. Rochester after a fire destroys Thornfield.

Expert Q&A

What is the main idea of Jane Eyre and its purpose?

The main idea of Jane Eyre is the power of love and the journey to self-actualization. Jane's resilience and determination to follow her heart highlight love's conquering power, while her quest for independence and recognition of her intellect emphasize the struggle for gender equality. Charlotte Brontë likely wrote the novel to challenge societal norms surrounding marriage and demonstrate women's intellectual and emotional capacities.

Is Jane Eyre considered a Gothic novel?

While Jane Eyre contains significant Gothic elements, such as the imposing homes, the mystery of the "madwoman in the attic," and gothic overtones in the Thornfield chapters, it is not solely a Gothic novel. It also incorporates elements of a bildungsroman, a Victorian romance, and realism. Charlotte Bronte blends multiple genres, making it difficult to label the novel as purely Gothic.

Is the title Jane Eyre significant?

The title Jane Eyre is significant because it presents the novel as an autobiography, lending it an air of authenticity and acceptability in a time when women's writings were undervalued. Though fictional, the novel includes autobiographical elements of Charlotte Brontë's life and explores the inner life and societal views of women, challenging contemporary gender norms.

Is Jane Eyre based on a true story?

Jane Eyre is not a true story, but Jane's experience at school and her work as a governess were certainly influenced by Charlotte Brontë's own experiences.

Discuss the plot structure of Jane Eyre.

The plot structure of Jane Eyre is straightforward, following Jane's life from childhood to adulthood. The novel, narrated in first person, begins with Jane's challenging youth with unpleasant relatives, her time at an orphanage, and her work as a governess, leading to a pivotal moment at the altar. The story progresses through her struggles, including a critical plot twist involving Mr. Rochester's secret marriage, culminating in her eventual happy union with him.

How does Jane Eyre demonstrate Brontë's imagination?

Charlotte Brontë's imagination is vividly demonstrated in Jane Eyre through the protagonist's rich inner world and the novel's gothic elements. Jane's vivid imagination is evident when she believes she sees her uncle's ghost, showing her ability to escape reality mentally. Brontë also crafts the dramatic fate of Bertha, Mr. Rochester's wife, who dies after setting Thornfield on fire, showcasing Brontë's creative and imaginative storytelling.

How are Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre similar?

Charlotte Brontë and Jane Eyre share several similarities. Both were raised by religious aunts and attended religious schools where they experienced loss; Charlotte lost sisters, while Jane lost a friend. Both became governesses and faced marriage proposals from ministers they did not love, ultimately refusing. Brontë did marry a minister, while Jane married Mr. Rochester. Both were socially genteel yet financially insecure, and their paths to economic security were limited by societal norms.

Autobiographical Influence in Jane Eyre

Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre is deeply autobiographical, reflecting many aspects of her life. Both Jane and Brontë lost their mothers early and experienced harsh conditions at religious schools leading to the death of siblings. Jane's experiences as a governess and her struggles against societal norms mirror Brontë's challenges in a male-dominated society. Themes of independence and social criticism in the novel echo Brontë's personal ambitions and frustrations, making Jane Eyre a rich tapestry of her life and emotions.

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