Jane Eyre Quotes

• I am a free human being with an independent will'


  Jane lives in a time where women are usually dependent on men however jane is determined to be her own person. At the end of the novel she is emotionally and financially independent
• Jane goes from 'absolutely destitute' to 'quite an heiress'


  She experiences both ends of the social hierarchy however her principles remain the same calling to question whether the value Victorian society put on status is misplaced and in fact character is more important.
• less than a servant'


  how Jane is viewed when she lived with the reeds
• "Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless?"


  Jane gets peeved when Mr Rochester suggests that she has no feelings for him, but she doesn't actually believe he is saying poor people have no soul. Unlike most people he does not place heavy value on social class.
• "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.
• "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
• Jane is 'ungovernable' and 'savage' and Bertha expresses herself with a 'fierce cry' and gazes 'wildly'


  The description of Jane has some parallels with how Betha mason acts. Both women are trapped in their situations and their wild mannerisms could be a response to such unfair treatment.
• I have faith: I am going to God'


  Helen burns dies peacefully as she believes she is going to heaven. She answers Jane's questions and acts as a guide to her , teaching her about faith.
• cheerful fire'


  motif of fire used to describe Mrs. Fairfax's room. Huge contrast to Gateshead and Lowood (excluding Helen and Miss Temple). Jane is now valued
• for liberty I gasp'


  Jane has now received an 'excellent education' and without Miss Temple at Lowood feels trapped and wishes for freedom.
• St. John says 'I am cold' and Jane replies 'I am hot, and fire dissolves ice'


  St. John is a foil to Jane, they are both moral but have contrasting principles. However Jane is lead by passion and St. John is willing to deny himself earthly pleasures for God
• an agony of inward contempt masters me'


  Mr Rochester is troubled
• Mr Rochester stepped out of his disguise'


  Mr Rochester is secretive an not what he initially seems
• firm, faithful and devoted'


  St. John rivers is religious and single minded
• it snatched and growled like some strange wild animal'

  Bertha Mason is violent and wild
• he had not imagined a women who would dare speak so'


  Jane's passion is shocking to people
• malicious elf'


  Mr Rochester uses supernatural imagery to describe Jane and also accuses her of putting a curse on his horse.
• demonic laugh'


  Jane hears this and it is blamed on Grace Poole but it is later discovered that this is Bertha Mason, the deranged wife of Mr Rochester
• the faults of her class'


  Blanche Ingram thinks that Jane is inferior due to her social class as well as criticizing Jane's looks
• I saw it in your eyes the first time I beheld you'


  Mr Rochester talking about Jane's eyes being a directly accessing his heart. The motif of eyes is used to show their connection, and when Jane leaves Mr Rochester he loses his sight.
• his presence in a room was more cheering than the brightest fire'


  Mr Rochester both satisfies Jane's need for comfort but her passion also with the motif of fire.
• Mr Rochester loses interest in beautiful women who have 'neither hearts nor souls'


  Mr Rochester claims to be interested in character over beauty, similarly to St. John who choses not to marry the beautiful Miss Oliver as they have no shared goals and she is not practical. Bronte emphasizes that not everyone in society is motivated by physical appearance.
• both possessed faces full of distinction and intelligence'


  Jane gets on very well with the Rivers sisters and finds a likeness between them and herself. Shows Jane's value on intelligence as she admires characters who are intelligent. Bronte believed that education, especially of women, was important.
• glowing peat fire'


  fire at more house, jane is comforted
• good fire'


  fire in Miss Temple's office, Jane feels comfort
• don't keep me too long; the fire scorches me'

  Fire can have alternative symbolism to comfort, homeliness or passion. It can also represent danger. Also seen regarding the character Bertha mason
• brown eyes with benignant light'

  Jane can tell that Miss Temple is good from her eyes, this is a reoccurring theme
• aspect of an angel'

  Helen burns serves god and is a spiritual guide to Jane
• the grim face at the top was like a carved mask'


  Jane describes Mr Brocklehurst at Gateshead as inhuman and as presenting a façade. He's ugly and cruel and is hypocritical for having a fancy family when he lectures about plainness
• the bible bids us return good for evil'

  Helen's Christian attitude towards life
• sullied my innocent flower'

  if jane would have wrongfully married mr rochester
• a corridor in some bluebeard's castle'


  description of the attic corridor at Thornfield which is foreshadowing, blue beard is a story where a man who keeps marrying a procession of virgin brides and killing them, the last wife in the sequence opens the cupboard door and finds all the wives. reflecting and foreshadowing the character Bertha
• intemperate and unchaste'


  description of bertha before she went mad suggesting she drank a lot and slept with other men.
• I am a bird; and no net ensnares me'


  Jane has been caged throughout the novel and in leaving Mr. Rochester's house she breaks free; she quite literally takes flight. In rejecting the image of a small caged bird, she is able to experience true freedom. Aspects of Jane's character parallel those of Bertha Mason, Mr. Rochester's true wife, who is physically caged and restrained in the attic. By leaving Mr. Rochester, Jane exercises a freedom that Bertha never could and shows him that she is not 'a wild, frantic bird' but a 'free human being'. Therefore, bird imagery provides the framework for Jane's journey to freedom.
• "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 and spirital connection between jane and rochester.
• "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.