Jane Eyre is a novel by Charlotte Bronte, published in 1847. Jane, the main character of the story, was orphaned at birth and takes many journeys through her lifetime; journeying for both literal and metaphorical purposes. Jane’s journey is made up of events that she encounters throughout her life which shape who she becomes. Jane’s time at Lowood, her different jobs as a governess, and the characters she meets along the way all make up Jane’s journey. Jane learns from every event that occurs to her, whether it be good or bad, and grows into a person that is kind-hearted and strong-willed.
Jane must endure many years of abuse from the Reeds but finds comfort in nature, which becomes Jane’s escape throughout her life. Jane Eyre opens with Jane as an orphan who has been passed around between families because nobody wants to care for her. The first family Jane goes to live with treats Jane poorly; they feed and clothe Jane poorly and treat her like anand girl rather than an individual. Jane often escapes to the forest surrounding her home at Gateshead because it is the only place Jane can get away from her mistreatment.
Jane feels that she belongs in nature, which Jane describes as “…I saw a robin hop upon a blossomed branch of elder-tree, within sight of my window. Nothing ever exercised on me so strong an influence as this little incident”(Bronte 220). Jane views herself as one with nature and often thinks about how much easier living outside would be than being inside all day where she must endure mistreatment by those who are supposed to care for her. When Jane grows up she goes to Lowood School where the students are starving because they are poor quality food, which Jane feels is similar to how Jane herself was being treated at Gateshead.
Jane quickly befriends Helen Burns, who Jane considers her only friend at the school because Jane’s treatment by other students is just as bad as what Jane experienced before. Jane takes comfort in nature again while she is at Lowood School because she describes it to be “…like a glimpse of fairyland- so improbable did it seem – that I half doubted whether I was awake” (Bronte 222). Jane also says “I saw trees waving in the moonlight, and I longed to wander forth; my heart yearned for the living creatures that had been denied me; I preferred their society to that of my brother traitors” (Bronte 222).
Jane has a strong connection with nature and often escapes to it when she is experiencing difficult situations. Jane also uses nature as comfort when she first begins her time as a governess and feels alone because the children at the house where Jane works pay Jane no attention nor do they thank Jane for what Jane does for them on a daily basis; which Jane says “I had no human being to commune with; I saw none I liked; none who could like me” (Bronte 176).
Jane takes solace in the purity of nature and views it as something bright that exists, even during times that are dark or sad. Jane Eyre starts off as an orphan who is mistreated by those around her but Jane quickly learns how to survive because Jane makes the best of every situation. Jane’s connection with nature throughout her life helps Jane become a stronger person and connects Jane to something beautiful, even during times that are difficult. Jane often finds comfort in nature when she is mistreated, whether it be at Gateshead or Lowood School.
Jane also uses nature as a means for escape after Jane becomes a governess because Jane feels alone, both at Thornfield Hall and Moor House. Through each event that occurs in Jane’s life she learns to grow into someone who is kind-hearted and strong-willed which allows Jane to have a positive relationship with those around her. Jane’s time at Lowood School certainly has an impact on Jane’s life because Jane learns how to survive in a world where Jane is mistreated and Jane comes out of Lowood School with a strong sense of self.
Jane Eyre is a novel about the connection between nature and Jane’s character development throughout Jane’s life. In conclusion, Jane’s relationship with nature changes throughout her life from when she was an orphan child mistreated by adults around her at Gateshead Hall, to when Jane becomes a governess at Moor House and then Thornfield Hall, until finally Jane marries Mr. Rochester at Ferndean. In all four instances, Jane gains strength through being close to nature and views herself as being one with it.
She feels both comforted and liberated through her connection with nature. Jane’s relationship to nature is also dualistic in that Jane both longs for a peaceful escape from society, as well as Jane’s fear of being out on the moors alone after things go wrong at Thornfield Hall. This novel shows how Jane Eyre uses nature as a way of coping with life’s challenges and dealing with loneliness, fear, or anger.
Jane is able to see beauty even during difficult times because of her strong connection to nature which helps Jane become stronger than those who mistreat her. As Jane grows older she learns how to survive in an unfair world filled with people who treat Jane badly but Jane never gives up hope that there will be someone good who treats Jane right. Jane’s relationship with nature helps Jane become stronger than those who try to put Jane down and Jane often finds herself escaping into the wildness of nature when she is feeling sad or lonely.
Jane’s connection to nature also gives her hope because Jane knows that even though it might be dark now, something good will happen again. Jane’s character development throughout Jane Eyre is closely connected to her relationship with nature. Jane changes through each event in her life which allows Jane to have a positive relationship with those around Jane and finally marry Mr. Rochester at Ferndean after all the trials they both go through together.
