Characterization (Jane and Rochester) and symbols

Jane Eyre is the central character; the other characters are merely influential people. Jane is part of a lower social class, but she is committed, strong-willed, and appreciates moral values. Her integrity is constantly tested as Jane has to balance various conflicts in order to ultimately find happiness. Bertha can symbolize Jane’s problems. She is the central obstacle preventing Jane and Rochester’s union and happiness. Bertha is also an example of the confined Victorian wife.

Mr. Rochester, a reckless and troubled character, deals with an internal torment of his past impulsive nature centered around his mad wife. Jane is attracted to Rochester because she senses a common spirit between them, and he offers her a home and lasting love. Even though Jane does not want to sacrifice her identity, she does want love. At first, Jane refuses a life as his mistress but eventually opens up to him as he makes her fall in love with him. Jane’s solidity of character is affected by Rochester’s impetuous and eccentric nature. Jane eventually dismisses some of her goals and her economic independence for love. I think Jane was justified in not marrying Rochester at first because it would have thrown off the balance of her quest to find a medium between moral integrity and her sought love. Jane should not have to give up a piece of herself if she is entering into a sincere, loving relationship. Rochester has his wife locked up a flight of stairs away and lies to Jane about his secret, which gives her further justification. Jane goes back to Rochester after experiencing a healthy, stable, happy relationship that lacked love. She visited the other side of the scale for a while as she taught and searched for faith. However, Jane still felt empty and had to go back to Rochester in order to find a true happiness through the entity of love.

The red room is a symbol in the novel that exemplifies the obstacles Jane must conquer in order to find freedom, a sense of belonging, and happiness. The red room symbolizes Jane’s spiritual and religious imprisonment at the beginning. Jane feels socially underprivileged and is stuck behind the barriers in a woman’s life. Although Jane is eventually freed from the room, she deals with social and romantic exclusion and financial issues.