Jane Eyre Journals

Isabel Vazquez
Mrs. Bosch
AP English Lit.
26 September 2008
Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bronte
Journal #1
“Folds of scarlet drapery shut in my view in my right hand; to the left were the clear planes of glass, protecting, but not separating me from the drear November day… a pale blank if mist and cloud; near, a scene of wet lawn and storm-beat shrub, with ceaseless rain sweeping away wildly before a long and lamentable blast.” (Bronte 10)
I found this quote in the interesting because it is at the exposition of the novel and the character is introduced to us as a child who is obviously shunned by those around her. In this particular situation, Jane is accused of behaving rudely. Although the accusations might be just, there still lingers that resentment towards the abusive family. Jane then takes a book from the bookcase and seats herself on the window seat. Comparing her emotions with the melancholic weather of the outside world. For a child of only 10, she shows to be capable of thinking outside the box and (I think) foreshadows her yearning to go beyond herself and drive her out of the situation she is currently in, or prevent her from ever being in a similar situation where she is put to be the submissive person.
Journal #2
Bessie: “Poor Miss Jane is to be pitied, too, Abbot”
Abbot: “Yes, if she were a nice, pretty child, one might compassion her for her forlornness; but one really cannot care for such a little toad as that.” (Bronte 28)
For the third or fourth time the average look of Jane mentioned. Before it has been Jane who thinks herself to be average and suspects that is why she is treated differently, but now some one else is saying that if she were prettier, she would feel more compassionate towards her if she were as beautiful as her cousin Georgina. Little do they know that Jane is awake and listening to every word. Its not clear (to me) weather or not Jane is affected by the negative comments made about her in regards to her physical appearance but I believe that it would wound anybody’s self-esteem.
Journal #3
“To this crib I always took my doll; human beings must always love something, and in the dearth of worthier objects of affection, I contrived to find a pleasure in loving and cherishing a faded graven image, shabby as a miniature scarecrow.” (Bronte 31)
In this passage, I pity Jane and I see that she does in fact want to be normal (in a way) like most other children are. That she would resort to becoming attached to an object mimicking a human form also emphasized on how lonely she feels in this house, and how truly deprived of love she is.
Journal #4
“I must keep in good health and not die.” Jane (Bronte 34)
This is one of my favorite quotes so far. It just shows how smart of a child she is. When Mr. Brocklehurst asks Jane what is a good way to prevent from burning in hell she replies to not die. I don’t know if her sarcasm is smart or if she’s just mean.
Journal #5
“A child cannot quarrel with its elders, as I had done, cannot give it furious feelings uncontrolled play as I had given mine, without experiencing a afterwards the pang of remorse and the chill of reaction.” (Bronte 40)
After Jane has won a battle with her Aunt Reed she should be pleased and she temporarily is, but then she begins to feel guilty about what she did, (although she is continuously degraded by her). Her reaction about the entire situation sets her apart. Any normal person in her place would be glad to have defended themselves in a way. Including her cousins who in which case would show no remorse and little worries in regards to how Mrs. Reed felt. Even if she is their mother.
Journal #6
“My mission is to mortify in these girls the lust of the flesh; to teach them to clothe themselves with shame-facedness and sobriety, not with braided hair and costly apparel”
“The elderly lady was enveloped in a costly velvet shawl, trimmed with ermine, and she wore a false front of French curls.” (Bronte 67)
The following describes Mrs. Brocklehurst, wife of Mr. Brocklehurst. Through her description one sees her as a lady who is materialistic which is probably so. This is ridiculous because Mr. Brocklehurst was just in the middle of telling Miss Temple that the girl with the naturally curly hair must shave is off. Mr. Brocklehurst, who is a clergyman and so religious, is a hypocrite.
Journal #7
“It was such a pleasant evening, so serene, so warm… How sad to be lying on a sick bed, and to be in danger of dying! This world is pleasant- it would be called from it, and go who knows where? …. ‘Where is Helen Burns?’” (Bronte 82)
In this passage, Jane is admiring the beauty of nature which she finds strange of herself, when Helen Burns goes through her mind and knows from this that she is on her death bed. Here is a sort of supernatural sense here, just as there was when Jane believed to have seen a ghost when she was locked in the red room. If she is directly connected to Helen or if is just to the spiritual world I am not sure.
Journal #8
“…There are no ghost, then?” (Bronte 109)
“… For the laugh was as tragic, as preternatural as I have ever heard; and, but it was high noon, and that no circumstances of ghostliness accompanied the curious cachinnation…” (Bronte 110)
Here Jane is asking Mrs. Fairfax if there are any ghosts in the room they are in at the moment, the woman replies with a humorous ‘no’. But when Jane hears Grace Pool in the next room laughing, she automatically assumes it is a spirit laughing. Again the supernatural theme is brought up. Also, it is possible that if Jane goes into a situation with her mind in another place, she is able to convince herself. E.g. If Jane would have heard the woman laughing when her mind was not set on the supernatural, she would have just thought it was as it was. She shows to be manipulated by her own thoughts. Trait?
Journal #9
“Nature did it.” (Bronte 138)
Mr. Rochester
Here for the second time, the blame of ones faults is placed on nature and not the person to whom the faults belong to. The first justification of human faults was made by Mrs. Fairfax, who was coincidentally speaking of Mr. Rochester. Or… perhaps it is a denial that Mr. Rochester has caused what situations he is in. ??
Journal #10
“I knew her instantly by her little foot… as she skipped from the carriage step… when a figure jumped from the carriage after her; cloaked also; but that was a spurred heel which now passed under the arched porte cochere of the hotel.” (Bronte 144)
Mr. Rochester is confessing to Jane that he found his lady with another man. This is strange because she is working for him, and it is also controversial because it is a man speaking to a woman about such intimate issues. Charlotte Bronte is bold like her sister Emily Bronte.
Journal #11
“I tried again to sleep… just then it seemed my chamber-door was touched… ‘who is there?’ Nothing answered. I was chilled with fear.” (Bronte 150)
Again, the supernatural is swerving around Jane. She is scared and imagines to have heard something at her door. The way she thinks to herself ‘nothing answered’ shows that she was not expecting a human reply, and was supposing it was a spirit who was outside the door. The supernatural is mentioned multiple times so far in this novel.
Journal #12
“I knew you would do me good in some way, at some time;- I saw it in your eyes when I first beheld you; their expression and smile did not- did not strike delight to my very inmost heart for nothing.” (Bronte 154)
He likes her





Journal #13
“What does she want?” asked Mrs. Eshton.
“‘To tell the gentry their fortunes,’ she says, ma’am; and she swears she must and will do it.”
(Bronte 194)




Journal #14
“Your fortune is yet doubtful… Chance has meted you a measure of happiness… It depends on yourself to stretch out your hand, and take it up…..” (Bronte 202)
I have already read past this in the novel so my view has changed. but I had the same basic idea after. Jane has the ability to change things around her, especially if the __________ is about her.
Journal #15
“You had no right to be born; for you make no use of life… After my mother is dead I wash my hands of you.” (Bronte 238)
Out of nowhere Eliza is suddenly delivering this speech directed towards Georgiana. The whole time she is basically saying that Georgiana is a very selfish and useless person. The whole while her sister just sits there and takes that. Their relationship now is very tense, even in a time where most people would be united because the imminent loss of a parent. Their actions towards each other at a time like this show they obviously don’t care for one another, Eliza is jealous of her sister, perhaps its just the way she can get a hold of things because of her beauty. And proves that they never really had a close bond with their mother. Because they were ‘higher class’ they were probably just some spoiled little children.
Journal #16
“Eliza took the veil, and it is at this date superior of the covenant where she passed the period of her novitiate; and which she endowed with her fortune.” (Bronte 244)
This struck me because… I have heard of insanely religious people who are taken advantage of by their own religion. Here Eliza, the sister who I do not find charming or special in any way and she is made superior of something. What she inherited from her mother was given to a place of worship. I don’t exactly know but it is very strange.
Journal #17
“I ask you to pass through life at my side- to be my second self and my best earthly companion.”…
“Do you doubt me Jane?”
“Entirely.”
“Have you no faith in me?”
“Not a wit.”
(Bronte 256-7)
Here Mr. Rochester as asking Jane to be his wife and she is taking the proposition totally the wrong way. She believes that the whole time Mr. Rochester was planning the wedding that it was for a union between him and miss Ingram. Mr. Rochester is a very cunning man, so when he tells her to marry him she thinks it is a joke. But the actual joke was that she would believe he is marrying someone entirely different. This passage shows the humorous personality of Mr. Rochester. The way Jane believes she is unworthy of love shows what she thinks of herself.
Journal Entry 18
“Ten years since I flew through Europe half mad; with disgust, hate and rage, as my companions: now I should revisit it healed and cleansed, with an angel as my very comforter.” (Bronte 262)
Mr. Rochester remains a very mysterious character. It is known that he hardly frequents his home in ______ and that he travels the world. At first glance it may look like a peaceful thing, but here he is saying that he was ‘half mad’. why would he travel in such a state? What could cause him to feel like that in the first place? It is just added on to the mysterious secrets of Rochester and Thornfield.
Journal Entry #19
“Is it really for love that he is going to marry you?”
‘I was so hurt by her coldness and skepticism that the tears rose to my eyes.’
(Bronte 266-7)
Mrs. Fairfax is a mean old lady. Jane is excitedly telling her that they are to be married and she responds her with doubt. Again I believe in the mystery that lies with her master and that it is known by her. The way Jane react instinctively makes it seem that she knows that something is going to go wrong with her relationship
Journal Entry #20
“…I dreamed it would be nameless bliss,
as I loved, loved to be,
As to this object did I press
As blind as eagerly…” (Bronte 273)
This was actually an excerpt of a song, and the pieces as a whole serves as a reflection to what Jane is going to feel. But at the moment show what she is feeling. Right when things begin to look good for Jane, you just know that they aren’t going to stay that way because Bronte overly does it, and the book has more than 200 pages left. Back on subject… Jane is right now loving Rochester to no end, she is not afraid to show her love now because she feels she is safe where she is. In the song they speak of eager blindness… JANE.
Journal #21
“In other peoples presence I was, as formally, differential and quiet; any other line of conduct being uncalled for: it was only in the evening conferences I thus thwarted and afflicted him. He continued to sent for me punctually at the moment the clock struck seven; though when I appeared before him now, he had no such honeyed terms as “love” and “darling” on his lips; the best words at my service were “provoking puppet” “malicious elf” ….” (Bronte 276)
This is stupid. So Jane wants to be in a relationship with Rochester and now that they are going to be
“married” it’s still the same hideout kind of thing. It feels like she is having an affair with all of her sneaking around. Of like they are hiding from Adele or something. I cant think of how to explain my feelings of this. THEY’RE CREEPS
Journal #22
“Descending the Laurel walk I faced the wreck of a chestnut tree; it stood up, black and riven; the trunk split down the centre, gasped ghastly. The cloven half were not broken from each other, for the firm base and the strong roots kept them unsundered. Below; though community of vitality was destroyed-the sap could flow no more; their great boughs on each side were dead, and the next winters tempest would be sure to fell one or both to earth: as yet, however, they might be said to form one tree- a ruin, but an entire ruin.” (Bronte 278)
Omg I so feel like this is Rochester! She’s waiting out for him is she not? And what a coincidence that this stupid tree sounds like a big buff man named Rochester. The tree is carrying a giant load isn’t it? (The dead branches) And Rochester is no angel, he has many secrets, you can tell by the way he is characterized (or something, I apologize if I use the wring literary terms.)So does this mean that Rochester would die without Jane? Too much juicy stuff for me to handle!!
Journal #23
“A puerile tear dimmed in my eye while I looked- a tear of disappointment and impatience; ashamed of it, I wiped it away. I lingered; the moon shut herself wholly within her chamber and drew close her curtain of dense cloud: the night grew dark; rain came driving fast on the gale.”
(Bronte 279)
Jane here looks like she is really beginning to doubt that she will actually be married with Mr. Edward Rochester. Umm… it’s just that sometimes Jane kinda hints at not believing in herself (if that makes any sense) and here it seems like she’s not actually lying to herself by letting out the tear. Jane is human but its like she is often in dental, I believe like any normal human would be. This moment of her true humanity is very beautiful.
Journal #24
“Of the foul German spectre-the Vampyre.”
(Bronte 286)
This is very strange. So Jane sees a creepy person in her room destroying her stuff and of course in all Jane-Eyre-style she ties it with the supernatural. Since I already read the book I don’t really know what to say about it. Maybe she just gets an evil vibe from this evil being. It’s Bertha!!!
Journal #25
“Snarl as I would, you showed no surprise, fear, annoyance, or displeasure at my moroseness; you watched me, and now and then smiled at me with a simple yet sagacious grace I cannot describe.” (Bronte 316)
Awe… the selfish bastard really does love her. The way he was saying this straight up to her was so precious. So yeah its cute on his part, but on hers? Was what she was doing a sacrifice or is this just the way she is? I have to consider that she (like other women) have been oppressed in life and living in the places she has would traumatize anyone. So is Rochester in love with the victim she is? If so does he himself want to victimize her more?


Journal #26
“My daughter, flee temptation!”
“Mother, I will”
(Bronte 322)
There was a whole long explanation to how this got here but basically it the dialogue between what Jane is seeing that is important. Here she is not only having a vision of her “mother” (the virgin Mary) hearing her and speaking to her, which makes the entire ordeal so much more realistic to her. Perhaps this way she can truly stick to what she is telling her delusion… she will flee.

Journal #27
“A light sprang up… this light was my forlorn hope: I must gain it.”
(333)
Here crazy little Jane is wondering in the streets when she sees a light that she believes to be her savior, which is probably true because she is out all alone. Oh and she’s going a bit psycho lately, because she is so near death. Oh! This is like a near death experience to her, her in the streets seeing a light that symbolizes everything important to her, which right now is her own self being. That’s it.
Journal #28
“as she patted the dogs head… I saw a glow rise to the master’s face. I saw his solemn eye melt with sudden fire, and flicker with his restless emotion.”
(Bronte 336)
Wow, St. John does have a soul. I mean thoughts and feelings of his own, not only what he’s supposed to have. But this gives me the impression that he is a hollow man. He likes this BEAUTIFUL lady, and blushes when she looks at him, but is she a great woman..? And, what is wrong with the way that he feels about her that he can’t be with her? The way he feels about her must be dirty, and so he tries not lead her on. Anyways, its his stupid fault.
Journal #29
“Jane! Jane! Jane!”
(Bronte 423)
Damn! I already read this but I knew I swear I did. When I read this the first time I knew Rochester was actually calling Jane. In such as confusing situation where Jane is being given an alternative Rochester, who is her true love, is calling for her. To me it’s not like an owners call but more like a partners calling.

Journal #30
“My master, he has forewarned me. Daily he announces more distinctly,- ‘surely I come quickly!’ and hourly I more eagerly respond, -‘Amen; even so come, Lord Jesus!”
-St. John (Bronte 456)
This quote is so beautiful. No matter how stupid I think he is for not following the love he felt, he is satisfied where he is. I see no signs of dissatisfaction in what he is doing. He is accepting that his life was cut shorter than it would have been. And the complete devotion he has to his religion is beautiful. Bronte is throwing this message across that is so inspiring. I don’t really know what to say besides its inspiringly beautiful.