Jane Eyre is the protagonist of the novel who grows up with her cruel aunt after being orphaned. She attends Lowood school and later becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall. There she falls in love with the master of the house, Edward Rochester, but their marriage is interrupted by the revelation that Rochester is already married to the insane Bertha Mason. Jane flees and is taken in by the Rivers family. She later discovers that Rochester's wife has died, allowing the two to marry and live happily together at Ferndean Manor.

1. Jane Eyre
Natalia Titula
Group: 1LM3, 105A
2012

2. Oxford University Press
Author: Charlotte Bronte
Novel: Jane Eyre

3. Characters
“I am no bird; and no net
ensnares me: I am a free human
being with an independent will..” .
Jane Eyre is the main hero in the novel.
She was an orphan, her parents died early
and she was brought up by her aunt, Mrs
Reed. During the development of the plot
She faced with many difficulties. But Jane
could to withstand and preserve all the
best in herself.
Religion helped Jane Eyre to get a
mature understanding of life and herself.
She lived relying on the God’s laws. So
Jane was pure-minded and intelligent
person.
The heroine fell in love with Edward
Rochester. This love showed the real
features of Jane such as devotion and
sacrifice to her beloved. In consequence
she saved Mr Rochester from death and
inspired him to new happy life. Ja n e E y r e

4. Mr Ro c h e s t e r
Mr Rochester was an employer of
Jane Eyre and the owner of
Thornfield. He was a rich person. In
youth Edward became a victim of
lie. His father advised him to marry
Bertha Mason. The life with her
was a burden, because she was
mad.
Many literary critics compared Mr
Rochester with a tragic Byronic
hero. It was connected with his
unhappy and difficult life. But at
the end of the novel he became a
sensual, romantic hero. All these
changes happened in his soul when
appeared a “little figure” at
Thornfield.

5. S t Jo h n R iv e r s
“God offers a place in
heaven to all who serve
Him…”
He was a vicar at Morton. In consequence Jane knew that John was her
cousin. His full name was St John Eyre Rivers. He had sisters: Mary and Diana.
St John dedicated his life to God. He was devoted to his work, he helped
the poor and the sick. One day Jane noticed that in spite of his devotion and
love to work, in his eyes was bitterness and disappointed in life. “ He was clearly
not satisfied with his present life”.
St John was Jane’s savior when she escaped from Thornfield, he gave her
shelter. In character of Miss Eyre he found a suitable wife for missionary as he
was. But his plans collapsed because the heart of Jane belonged to Edward.

6. M r s F a ir f a x
Alice Fairfax was a remote relative of
Mr Rochester. She worked a
housekeeper at Thornfield Hall. Mr
Fairfax became a friend of Miss Eyre.
As said housekeeper that she enjoyed
had tea with Jane in the evening.
Also she was a devoted servant of Mr
Rochester because she didn’t give his
secret.

7. Mr Ll o y d Mr s Re e d
Mrs Reed was aunt of Miss Eyre.
He played a great role in Jane’s life.
Her husband Mr Reed was brother
Dr Lloyd helped her to go at Lowood
of Jane’s mother. She was cruel
school.
and wicked woman.
All her love she spent on her own
children. She didn’t love Jane and
always humiliated her. Even before
death Mrs Reed she didn’t
apologize from Jane and died “
keeping her hatred in heart”.

8. C o u s in s
Jo h n R e e d G e o r g ia n a R e e d
She was a daughter of Mrs
Reed and cousin of Jane.
Eliza wasn’t handsome as
her sister Georgiana. When
she grew up she decided to
connect her life with God.
So she joined “a religious
community”.
E l iz a R e e d
She was a daughter of Mrs
He was a son of Mrs Reed
Reed and cousin of Jane.
and cousin of Jane Eyre.
Georgiana was beautiful.
In childhood John was effete
In childhood she was cruelly
and cruel child. He always bit
with Miss Eyre but when they
and offended Jane. His soul
grew up they became friends.
was tragic because John
After death of mother
wasted all his money and
Georgiana went in London
killed himself. It was a serious
where she enjoyed life.
trouble for Mrs Reed.

9. S e t t in g o f t h e n o v e l
The story covers the period during the XIX century. It was a time of reigning
The Queen Victoria. Action takes place in various locations in Northern England.
The novel divides on 5 main locale:
1. Gateshead was a place of Jane’s childhood where she lived until 10 years old.
2. Lowood school. Here Jane was for 8 years, 6 as a pupil and 2 as a teacher.
3.Thornfield Hall was a house of Mr Rochester where she worked as a governess
to Adele.
4.Moor House was a place where Jane lived after her escape from Thornfield.
5.Morton was a village where she worked as a teacher.

10. Pl o t
Jane Eyre was a young girl who was orphan.
Her parents died early when Jane was a baby.
All her early childhood she spent at Gateshead.
Miss Eyre lived with her aunt Mrs Reed. Her
uncle Mr Reed was a brother of Jane’s mother.
It was a single person who really loved and
protected Jane but he died. Mrs Reed didn’t
treat Jane so very well, and her son often bit
and verbally abused her.
Miss Eyre dreamed to leave Gateshead because
she couldn’t live with her wicked relatives.
Finally Mrs Reed sent her at Lowood school.
Jane was glad of it because she thought that
there her life would be better. At school she
made the friends of Helen Burns and Miss
Temple. These two heroines influenced on
Jane’s personality and character. Here she
studied 6 years and the last two she was a
teacher. The life at Lowood was so ordinary that
Jane decided to change it.

11. So Jane found a new job. She left Lowood
and went at Thornfield where she worked
as governess for young french girl Adèle.
Miss Eyre made friend with Mrs Fairfax
who was a housekeeper. One day she met
Mr Rochester who was the owner of
Thornfield Hall. Jane began to spend much
time with Rochester. It grew a great
friendship and affection for each other.
Jane began to realize that she was falling in
love with Edward. When she knew that Mr
Rochester wanted to marry Blanche Ingram
she was depressed. But in reality it was
only a ploy by master in order to cause
jealousy in Jane’s heart.
Suddenly she got a letter from her
cousins that Mrs Reed was ill. Her sickness
was connected with a death of John Reed.
He wasted his money and finally killed
himself. So after aunt’s death Miss Eyre
returned at Thornfield Hall.
When Jane arrived she couldn’t keep her
feeling and confessed in love to him.

12. The news of wedding surprised Mrs
Fairfax. She tried to persuade Jane not
marry with him because he was older
than Miss Eyre. So all attempts were in
vain.
On the day of the marriage ceremony
the rite was interrupted by Mr Mason
and Mr Briggs. Mr Mason said that Mr
Rochester had wife her name Bertha
Mason who was sick by madness. So in
this reason the marriage couldn’t take
place. Now Jane understood what
mystery hid the servants and whose
was that strange laugh.
Jane escaped from Thornfield. She
wandered for 3 days until she wasn’t
taken by vicar. Her state was weak
because she didn’t eat and drink so
long. More later when she felt herself
better she made friends with two ladies
Mary and Diana and one man whose
name was St John who saved her from
death. Jane began to live with them in
Moor House.

13. She developed a great friendship with
Diana, Mary and St. John Rivers, who
was a pastor. After several time St John
found her work as the teacher of a
village-school for peasant girls in
Morton. Soon she knew through St
John that she got a fortune by her
uncle in Madeira who died and that the
Rivers were her cousins. So Jane
decided to divide her fortune equally
between the four of them.
One day St John proposed Jane to
marry him. For his opinion Miss Eyre
was a suitable candidate for missionary
wife. So she agreed because considered
that may be this marriage would help
her to forget about Mr Rochester. But
when Jane heard a voice of Edward she
refused him. The next day she went at
Thornfield. When Miss Eyre arrived she
saw the house in ruins. Here was a fire
after which Bertha Mason died , Mr
Rochester lost his sight and one hand.

14. From the words of Edward’s
servants she knew that after this
event he moved to Ferndean
Manor. He was lived with two
servants, John and Marry.
Jane immediately decided to
go there.
When she arrived Mr
Rochester was happy to hear
her. So after three days they
married. Only love helped him
to become stronger. He began
to see in one eye.
Mary and Diana got married,
St John went to India. Jane
bore a baby to Mr Rochester.
The novel ended with Jane
telling to us that she was
married for ten years. Miss
Eyre was happy to spend her
life loving and helping Mr
Rochester.

15. C o n c l u s io n
I think that Jane Eyre is very exciting novel.
Here you can find love and hatred,
good and evil and etc. Every book persuades
some sense so you should only discover it. I
recommend you to read this book because you
can find something useful things for yourself.
Charlotte Bronte described a woman of that
time. Also she showed how could love change
person, make him better. In character of Jane
Eyre was expressed the desire of most woman to
be free and ,of course, happy. Miss Eyre was a
real example of devoted and loving woman.
The main theme of novel , of course, love. Only
this feeling saves Mr Rochester from full
blindness and depression.
Personally I knew many interesting about the C harlotte B ronte
life of women of that time. It was very interesting
and useful for my education.