Quotes

• "Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless?"

  Jane believing Rochester's marrying Blanche Ingram. Uses a list to emphasizes the depth of her feeling. "Soulless" also suggests the equality she wants with Rochester their souls being as one.
• "I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will, which I now exert to leave you."


  Jane, to Rochester just before he proposes. Repeated use of the bird motif - which changes through the novel. Jane's quest for independence, seeing men and women as "people" not different to one another. Language of being imprisoned - ensnares - as she is often feeling trapped e.g. the red Room, Lowood.
• "Universal parent"


  Helen consoling Jane before her death, explaining God is their universal parent and is someone who is there for her after her death. Theme of religion.
• "gingham/silk"

  Rochester tries to make Jane a woman of his class by using the juxtaposition of the two materials. He tries to give her silk, but Jane wishes to wear gingham and doesn't want to be changed for Rochester
• "Do you think I am an automaton with no feelings?"

  When Jane believes that Rochester is going to marry Blanche Ingram. Shows Jane's passion for Rochester. Rhetorical question shows she feels she is an equal to Rochester as she isn't afraid to stand up to him.
• "Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel"

  Jane is saying that Rochester is not better than her because he hides his feelings and she shouldn't be perceived as less than him and weak because she is a woman. AO3 - women are not supposed to show off and express themselves
• "Because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?"

  Rochester claims a woman could only qualify as his "bride" if she was also his "equal" and "likeness."
• "Jane! Jane! Jane!"

  After St. Johns proposal Jane hears a voice, which causes her to go back to Rochester. Theme of supernatural.
• "He is not to them what he is to me"

  Seeing Rochester among his high-class houseguests, Jane realizes that he has more in common with her than he does with them. Despite Jane's and Rochester's different class backgrounds.
• "forced to keep the fire of my nature continually low, to compel it to burn inwardly and never utter a cry, though the imprisoned flame consumed vital after vital—this would be unendurable."

  This shows examples of the theme of fire and ice. Jane believes she would not be able to be herself through marrying St John and it would be 'unendurable'.
• "As his sister, I might accompany him—not as his wife: I will tell him so."

  she doesn't want to be St Johns wife as there is no love, if she was with Rochester she would be happy.
• "Reader, I married him"

  Happy ending, addresses the reader to make it more personal, the I suggests she has more authority than women of the times.
• "Enough of love will follow"

  St John in his proposal. Shows the contrast between Jane and St John's attitudes towards love and how St John's dedication to religion means that he does not feel he needs to be in love to get married.
• "Have you read the psalms?"

  Religious theme - the implication that reading the Bible is enough, but Brocklehurst doesn't behave in a religious way.
• "Are you warm, darling?"

  This is where Helen is dying but rather than worrying about herself she is concerned about Jane. She acts as a motherly figure for Jane and shows her selflessness and her innocence. AO3 - very much the ideal of Victorian chidren
• I have now been married ten years. I know what it is to live entirely for and with what I love best on earth.

  This is one of the last passages in Jane Eyre. It summarises the 'happy ending' of the book but some people believe Jane is no longer her own person after marrying Rochester.
• I like Revelations.

  Jane's reply to Brocklehurst as he asks her what she reads from the bible. This emphasises Jane's rebellious nature as a child and her independence throughout the novel.
• She bit me. She worried me like a tigress, when Rochester got the knife from her...She sucked the blood: she said she'd drain my heart.

  Said by Richard Mason after Bertha attacked him. Shows supernatural and vampiric imagery of Bertha.
• ending the bookwith St Johns death

  Jane is trying to convince the reader that she made the right choice in marrying Rochester by telling them St John is dead
• Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel

  Jane Eyre. Shows 19th century views towards women and how Jane does not conform to the stereotypes.
• What it was, whether beast or human being, one could not, at first sight tell: it grovelled, seemingly on all fours: it snatched and growled like some strange wild animal

  Jane on seeing Bertha in the attic - she is monstrous, and after years of being locked she has gotten worse. Shows how (mentally) ill Bertha is
• I care for myself. The more solitary, the friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself

  Jane when Rochester is trying to get her to stay after the failed wedding. Shows she is independent.
• Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness is not religion.

  Bronte's preface to Jane Eyre. Criticises Brocklehurst.
• Friends always forget those whom fortune forsakes

  Jane when leaving Thornfield. Shows Jane is independent.
• Thornfield burning down

  Symbolism of all of Rochester's sins (Celine, locking up Bertha), and all his demons leaving. Marriage with Jane after the burning down is his reward.