Music has been and always will be a way for a person to release their thoughts and emotions into the world. It keeps the hope alive that someone will hear their lyrics and understand, and make their listener feel less alone. Music is an indefinable force. A force that inspires action, creates unity, and allows a person to face their emotions just like how the musician confronted theirs. Like many others, Jane Eyre braves her emotions through different music styles that parallel her emotions and raises her to action.
After living at Lowood for eight years, Jane Eyre became content with her life with the help of Miss Temple her “mother, governess, and… companion” (Charlotte Bronte 100). Her lack of affection as a child made Jane seek praise, and she received it from Miss Temple by working on her studies and thus becoming a teacher. However, once Miss Temple was married and left Lowood Jane began questioning her life. As she thought back, Jane stated, “I had given in allegiance to duty and order; I was quiet; I believed I was content” (100). Instead of staying content with her life, Jane became “tired of the routine of eight years in one afternoon” (102).
Thus, the first song on Jane’s playlist would be “Weightless” by All Time Low, which states “And I’m so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere” (16). The commentary on feeling like an observer in one’s life parallels Jane’s feelings of restlessness. The music’s lyrics would allow Jane to recognize her feeling as universal, and support her when she moves occupations; thus grant Jane the belief that “Maybe it’s not my weekend / But it’s gonna be my year” (31-32).
This song would continue to support her as she confronts the numerous conflicts moving jobs would cause, bolstering strength for managing Mr. Edward Rochester. Jane Eyre lived a passionate life that lead her to punishment, so she curtailed her emotions and settled for feeling inferior to those around her. So, when she ascertained that Mr. Rochester, her employer and fiance, already had a wife she did not become outwardly emotional, instead when he apologized she “forgave him at the moment and on the spot” (Charlotte Bronte 344). However, Jane has never been a weak woman concerning her morals, Mr. Rochester betrayed her trust by lying to her and if she maintained her relationship with Rochester she would loose respect in herself even if her love in Rochester lingers on.
Therefore, the second song on Jane’s playlist would be “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston, because it correlates with Jane’s longstanding love for Rochester. This thought process is encapsulated by the lyrics “So I’ll go but I know / I’LL think of you every step of the way / And I… will always love you” (Whitney Houston 3-5). Furthermore, Jane believes herself inadequate so when Houston sings “If I should stay / I would only be in your way” (1-2) it would help motivate Jane to leave Thornfeild, the only home she has ever known, along with Rochester.
Finally, having left Thornfield Jane finds herself at the mercy of strangers who took her in when she was desperate. One of the strangers, St John Rivers, a parson has a commanding presence that “acquired a certain influence over me that took away my liberty of mind” (Charlotte Bronte 459). St John manipulated Jane’s need for acceptance into someone who would obey his commands. For example, St John told Jane “to give up German and learn Hindostanee” (458) in order for him to test his control over Jane while telling Jane he wanted a partner to better his Hindostanee.
This illustrates why the third song on Jane’s playlist would be Nevermind Me by Maria Mena. Mena’s lyrics “Nevermind me, nevermind me / I’ll just cast shadows on your wall” (Nevermind me 7-8) describe Jane’s feelings of inadequacy by saying she is a waste of space. However, when St John attempts to beguile Jane into marrying him by stating “You shall be mine: I claim you – not for my pleasure, but for my Sovereign’s service” (Bronte 464), she does not succumb to his desires.
Instead she chooses to resist, and she keeps resisting because he continuously pressures her. Jane confesses that “To have yielded then would have been an error of principle; to have yielded now would have been an error of judgment” (482) therefore cementing her opinions on taking St John for a husband. This is paralleled by the words “What is the game we’re playing? / Should I stick around for more? ” (Nevermind Me 1-2) which Jane would be feeling toward St John and thus motivating Jane to leave St John and reconnect with Rochester.
Choosing the songs for Jane Eyre’s playlist allowed for delving into the thoughts of Jane and the emotions she felt at certain points in her life. Moreover, Charlotte Bronte comments on the life of a woman, which remains static by never allowing a male to change her values, only continues and highlights her belief in her own insecurities. Bronte illustrates that a persons emotions of betrayal, insecurity, and love are universal and symbols of humankind. These emotions can also be portrayed through music, which is why I chose it.
