Names

• Rochester 


  Stately name, connected to a stone fortress, emphasises his unyielding, forceful nature, comfort and stability for Jane
• Reed


  Stiff and inflexible, rigid plants. How they act towards Jane
• Rivers


  Contrast with the rigidity of the Reeds, Rivers denotes freedom, autonomy, purity and journey. The Rivers are instrumental in Jane's journey to self sufficiency
• Gateshead


  The beginning of her journey, like a gate
• Lowood


  "Low" suggests that this is a low time in Jane's life, and the "low" status that she upholds as she is tortured
• Thornfield


  Isolated like a field, pain and punishment through "thorn", biblical connection to the crown of thorns
• Moor House / Marsh End


  "Moor" denotes docking and stability, this is where Jane gets her inheritance

  "End" nearing the end of her journey
• Ferndean Manor


  Ferns are a symbol of fertility and new beginnings, eden like paradise where Jane is finally equal to Rochester
• Whitcross


  Jane reaches a crossroad, literally and symbolically in the sense that she has to make the decision to leave Rochester for good
• Jane Eyre


  Jane - not ostentatious, simplicity, lower class

  Eyre - avian connotations (freedom) and pronunciation similar to "heir", foreshadowing her uncle's death and her fortune
• Helen Burns


  Helen and Burns have connotations of light, guiding, shining light that gives hope to Jane
• Miss Temple


  Religious imagery, divine, sanctuary
• Mr Brockelhurst


  Doesn't know his first name, immediate fear, brockelhurst is linked to a badger set, aggressive predatory creature
• Mason


  Stonemason, craftsman, lower class
• Blanche Ingram


  Blanche means white, french, noble, pure but without substance