Realism In Jane Eyre

Bronte 's Jane Eyre transcends the genres of literature to depict the emotional and character development of its protagonist. Although no overall genre dominates the novel exclusively, the vivid use of setting contributes towards the portrayal of Bronte’s bildungsroman (Realisms, 92) and defines the protagonist’s struggles as she grapples with her inner-self, and the social expectations of her gender.

The novel incorporates Jane’s frequent conflicts, oppression, isolation and self-examination as she defends her identity and independence. Set amongst five separate locations, Bronte’s skilful use of literal and metaphorical landscapes, nature, and imagery, skilfully intertwines with the plot and denotes each phrase of her maturity. To deliberate

The winter scene is picturesque but Jane is as cold physically as her aunt and cousins are mentally, emotionally, and socially. Bronte describes, ‘clear panes of glass protecting, but not separating’ her heroine from the cold and windy November afternoon (1, 1, p.8). Jane is an outsider, alienated from her family, and banished from joining them around the warmth of the hearth. (Realisms, 88). The portrayal of fire within, snow without is a recurrent motif throughout the novel (Realisms, 88) which is representative of Jane’s desire to belong. Ultimately, this passage depicts situational irony, and highlights two of the primary themes of the novel, namely gender difference and class conflict. Therefore, despite been surrounded by family, and the trappings of wealth, Jane is an interloper, treated cruelly and is deprived of love, as those who have everything reject

The chapter highlights the austere conditions under which the pupils live, ‘we were obliged to dispense with the ceremony of washing, the water pitchers were frozen, the wind whistled through the crevices of the bedroom.’(1.52). This situation denotes that poverty helps Jane to differentiate priorities from wants. Bronte uses food and hunger to reveal how people treat each other. The lack of food and starving children represents the cruelty and hypocrisy of religion. Jane’s friend Helen, who is a victim of unjust cruelty, teaches Jane to control her outbursts and to be virtuous, forgiving and calm. Again, situation irony is present as Lowood is a place of severe want-but is a place where Jane’s needs are