How Jane Eyre Develops Over the Course of the Novel
Created by Gianna Gianni on Tue, 12/14/2021 - 20:58
My group decided to focus upon how women write women.
Jane Eyre is completely different than characters that male authors present because she thinks for herself, and does not really rely upon a man to guide her throughout her life. In this timeline, instead of years, I will explain by chapter how in which she develops because she does have different characteristics in comparison to what a male author would have written about her.
The way I set this timeline up, means that it follows by chapters, so please ignore the date in which is at the top of each piece of the timeline.
Timeline
Chronological table
| Date | Event | Created by | Associated Places | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1847 |
The First Look at Jane Eyre, Chapters 1-5Within the first four paragraphs, Jane Eyre has already spoken. This goes to show how she is already showing that she has words and thoughts of her own, which is already quite different than how a man would write her during this time period. Not to mention, Jane is only ten at this point, but she is considered less than a servant. Although she is obident within this chapter because of the abuse she endures, she also does stand up for herself after the fact. Jane does show that she wants to be educated because she was reading a book, and also then goes on about her own opinions of the characters within the novel as well. She then tells the doctor how she wishes to go to school as well, and when Mr. Brocklehurts comes to examine Jane Eyre she gives honest opinions and thoughts. During the fifth chapter, Jane is sent to school at Lowood by herself at a young age as well. |
Gianna Gianni | ||
| Feb 1847 |
Jane Eyre's Evolution Chapters 6-10Jane was in school at this point, but she still dared to speak up against teachers. At this point in the novel, she did not have any close friends, as she had just gotten there, and the only person she truly talked to was Bessie back at her Aunts house where she was a servant. She then started to open up to Helen Burns within conversation. Jane then has to get punished by Mr. Brocklehurt, and even called her a liar in front of all of her classmates. Even though he is head of the school, the young girls of Lowood do not pay him much mind. Miss Temple then comforts Jane after the incident as does Helen, and Jane finally has people supporting her which is unlike what a man would write about a girl in a novel, especially in this era. Jane then learns Helen is ill, and Helen then passes away when Jane was with her. Bessie then went to visit Jane to ensure she was okay and furthered their relationship even after so manu years. |
Gianna Gianni | ||
| Mar 1847 |
Jane Eyre After Lowood Chapters 11-15When Jane Eyre gets to Thornfield, she gets treated the best she ever had been treated. She converses with Mr. Fairfax, and she is respectful, and he is respecful to her as she is not her true boss. She is still having coversations with men, which is definitely different in comparison to how a man would write her still. She is treated with respect from all those she has come into contact with which is still very different. She is also allowed to ask questions at this point without reprecussions. Even when Jane Eyre unknowingly meets Mr. Rochester, he is somewhat kind to her, and she is able to talk to him freely at this point. However, when get goes into Thornfield, he asks her a multitude of questions to throw her off, however she answers honestly and kindly regardless. She understood the authority of Mr. Rochester, but she was never overshadowed by the presence of him as well. Also within these chapters, Jane does not focus on apperance for herself or Mr. Rochester, which is a key difference in how male authors would have written this story as well. When the fire happens, Jane is the one to save the people in Thornfield, not Mr. Rochester, which furthers her evolution as a character. |
Gianna Gianni | ||
| Apr 1847 |
Jane Eyre Progression Chapters 16-20After the fire, Jane became increasingly curious about Mr. Rochester and his whereabouts. This is strange because at this time, a woman did not have any buisness asking questions about a man, especially a man that is her boss. Jane asked questions about women he had been seen at with parties as well, suggesting she might be jealous and interested in Mr. Rochester in a relationship type way. After more than a week of her master's absence she tries to forget about whatever feelings she had in order to just do her job for her salary. Although when Mr. Rochester returns from his absence, he seems more fond of her, but she requests to sleep early because she feels ill. Jane however is unable to "unlove" Mr. Rochester which is strange because women are not supposed to feel for a man, and honor it. |
Gianna Gianni | ||
| May 1847 |
Visiting Jane's Past Home, Chapters 21-25Jane Eyre's Aunt was ill, and therefore she left Thornfield, for what was supposed to be for a week. When she talked to her ill Aunt, at first she was still extremely rude, but instead of being hateful, Jane decided just to leave and come back to talk to her aunt when she was not in such a mindspace and excused herself. When she finally returned to talk to her aunt after avoiding her, her aunt explained why she was so rude, and Jane even accepted her apology and stayed by her side until her death. This shows how Jane is still devleoping as a character, where as if she would have been wirtten by a man, she would have probably been desceased. When she returned, she expressed her feelings for Mr. Rochester and stood up for what she cared about, and as a result, she ended up getting engaged to Mr. Rochester. She then talks back to Mr. Rochester about how she thinks he will be as a husband which is undoubtably unheard of. |
Gianna Gianni | ||
| Jun 1847 |
Jane is Supposed to Be Married, Chapters 26 - 30Jane is finally getting her wish to be married to Mr. Rochester, but when they reach the church, they cannot wed. Jane is blindsided by the fact he is in fact already married and his wife is still alive. Jane then became upset over this news and almost even planned to leave, which is notable because women of this time were not allowed to make such rash choices. Mr. Rochester is then the one pleading for love when that is also unheard of at this time. Still, Jane is so extremely headstrong that she leaves at the late of night. She then takes initiative to search for food and housing as she is by herself surviving as she did once before. She then finds refuge with Mr. St John with her new name, Jane Elliot. |
Gianna Gianni | ||
| Jul 1847 |
A New Beginning of Sorts Chapters 31-35Jane further shows how independent she is as a character by getting her own home as well as teaching at a village-school with her own students. She came leaps and bounds to where she was as a young girl. She is different in the fact she really is relying upon no man to have a life. She has her own community as well, where no one knows her as a wife, they only know her as Jane Elliot, her own woman. She then learns of the fortune in which was left for her and how the people she has grown to love were actually her family. She had made it by herself. She then refuses to marry St. John because it was not for love even though he said they could travel together. She is holding true on her morals. |
Gianna Gianni | ||
| Aug 1847 |
The Ending Chapters 36-38Jane Eyre set out to see Mr. Rochester at Thornfield to follow her heart. She then was shocked at the fact he is now blind, and his estate was burned to the ground because of his now dead wife. She then set off to see him at Ferndean. She then talks to him about how she is independent and is her own mistress, which confuses Mr. Rochester since it is quite unheard of. She also speaks up once again to explain marriage does not mean a thing to her. However she ended up marrying Mr. Rochester out of love regardless. |
Gianna Gianni |