Jane+Eyre+Outline

// *I’m in the process of finding exact page number since I found these quotes through a PDF //


 * Thesis: ** Bronte utilizes mirrors in Jane Eyre to reveal Jane’s self-reflections which are contorted by Victorian society and her external surroundings. Jane’s connection with mirrors offer insight to the flawed beliefs of the Victorian Era concerning roles of women, class divisions, and the consequences of passion. Both the mirrors and Jane evolve as she completes her quest for independence; however, the mirrors are also spiritual pathways, allowing supernatural elements to haunt Jane’s perceived attitude of herself. These reflections demonstrate her altering attitude toward herself, a physical juxtaposition with the female foils of Jane, and an inner truth that reveals her similar nature to the madwoman in the attic.


 * TS 1: **__ Bronte demonstrates the harsh class division in the Victorian Era: revealing Jane’s evolution as she struggles with her beliefs and the ideals forced upon her. __
 * __Gateshead__: **“Go and stand by the door, out of the way of the mirror and the windows”, “to wipe from the mirrors . . . [a] week’s quiet dust . . .”**
 * Mirrors begin obscure and dark during Jane’s time on Gatehead. She feels of an interloper race, disgraced by others for her passion and perceived wickedness. She doesn’t peer into mirrors to view her physical appearance since she was taught that she was plain and unworthy of the Reed’s “considerate” treatment.


 * __Thornfield:__ **“sparkling Bohemian glass, ruby red; and between the windows large mirrors repeated the general blending of snow and fire”, “such as polishing of mirrors and lustres”**
 * For the first time, mirrors evolve from dark impenetrable glass to beautiful and warm objects. She feels at home at Thornfield, greatly contrasting her attitude toward the torture she felt at Gateshead and the cold nature of Lowood. The mirrors blend snow and fire, two opposite counterparts, which represent Jane;s changing attitude and foreshadowing her relationship with the wildly passionate Mr. Rochester.
 * The polishing of mirrors for the arriving party at Thornfield demonstrates the class division in Jane’s society. For Jane’s arrival, the servants didn’t clean the manor due to her low class status. Although Rochester may disagree with his class system, he follows it in the beginning, treating Jane as a lowly servant while having the servants scrutinize the manor for his party of noble friends.


 * __Moor House:__**“Dark handsome new carpets and curtains, an arrangement of some carefully selected antique ornaments in porcelain and bronze, new coverings, and mirrors…”, “the walnutwood table was like a looking-glass”**
 * At Thornfield, the mirrors reflect fire and passion for Jane’s arrival which greatly opposes her first impression of the mirrors at Moor House. This environment is based on reason and family affection versus wild passionate love. The mirror she notices is a table, a tool in which John uses to read from the Bible and to study for his impending trip to India. Jane’s beliefs evolve into logical rationales versus whims based on instinct. Furthermore, she is the one who cleans the mirrors while cleaning up Moor House, showing her seize of control as she takes action. At Thornfield, the servants did this while she just stood in the background of the environment, letting Rochester take control of her and her choices as she crumbled further into a subservient role.


 * TS 2: **__ Jane uses mirrors as a way to spiritually reflect on her external surroundings whereas other females in the Victorian Era use them to demonstrate their beauty which is their only way of control. Bronte also enhances the view that Bertha is Jane’s doppelganger; Jane could have followed in Bertha’s path if it weren’t for the constraint of Lowood. __
 * ** “An abrupt command from Georgiana to let her playthings alone (for the tiny chairs and mirrors . . . [w]ere her property”, “his devotions shall not be shared between me and the shape he sees in his mirror” **
 * Georgianna is obsessed with her physical appearance, relying on it for power and control over both the servants of her house and husbands in the future. The servants look past her lying, cruel demeanor because she looks like a beautiful angel. Blanche is also incredibly beautiful but shallow which juxtaposes Jane’s intellect and plain nature. She asserts dominance over Rochester, using her looks to claim him as her own. He allows her, following after her opinions and advice while forcing Jane to a lesser and subservient role. Both females use mirrors to view their beautiful appearances whereas Jane sees her soul through the mirrors which act as spiritual doorways.


 * ** “I saw the reflection of the visage and feature quite distinctly in the dark oblong glass”, “ I saw a robed and veiled figure, so unlike my usual self that it seemed almost the image of a stranger” **
 * Bronte further demonstrates the closely tied relationship between Bertha and Jane. Jane sees Bertha through a subjective lens. Whereas most people view mirrors as being objective, the mirrors in Jane Eyre are tainted with bias from Jane’s external surroundings and how they affect her opinion of herself and others around her. She sees Bertha as a monster because that is whats he was told to believe by Rochester. Instead of asking what made her mad, she blindly agreed to her assertion that she was crazy and capable of great evil. The morning after she sees Bertha, Jane refuses to look in the mirror as if she’s afraid to see her reflection. When she does, she doesn't recognize herself and sees a veiled stranger, eerily similar to the description of Bertha from the night before.


 * TS 3: **__ Jane feels like an outsider among the Reed family and society; the mirrors replicate these feelings by connecting Jane’s world with the supernatural world since it further demonstrates the difference between her and the stereotypical mentality of the women in Victorian society. __
 * ** “With subdued, broken reflections varying the gloss of its panels” **
 * Jane’s experience in the Red Room will continue to haunt her through her journey, resurfacing again in the third story of Thornfield. She believes that the room her uncle died in is truly haunted; the supernatural elements of the novel begin here. The mirror remains dark and obscure, resembling the isolation that Jane feels at Gateshead.


 * ** “a great looking-glass between them repeated the vacant majesty of the bed and room. I was not quite sure whether they had locked the door; and when I dared move, I got up and went to see. Alas! yes: no jail was ever more secure. Returning, I had to cross before the looking-glass; my fascinated glance involuntarily explored the depth it revealed. All looked colder and darker in that visionary hollow than in reality: and the strange little figure there gazing at me, with a white face and arms specking the gloom, and glittering eyes of fear moving where all else was still, had the effect of a real spirit: I thought it like one of the tiny phantoms, half fairy, half imp . . .” **
 * Jane sees herself as a supernatural creature, depicting how she views herself due to the influence of the Reeds. The Reed Family constantly emotionally tortures Jane and abandons her. She has never felt love from another human being; she sees herself as a supernatural creature, feared and hated by society.


 * ** “At that moment I saw the reflection of her visage . . . [fearful and ghastly . . . [a] Vampyre” **
 * Jane sees both herself and Bertha as supernatural creatures. However, Jane depicts herself as a quieter and less frightening creature whereas Bertha is depicted as a raging monstrosity. Bronte demonstrates the parallels between the two due to their passion, except Jane has the approved, intellectual passion; Bertha’s passion is later shown as wild and untameable. Vampires, witches, and outsiders had the same meaning in Victorian society; they were all feared and hunted. During her childhood, Jane sees herself as one of the fabled creatures; however, the constraint and control of Lowood along with Helen’s philosophy changed Jane’s path. Instead of the mad vampire, she becomes a loving wife.