Jane Eyre Symbol Tracking Project

"Whatever I do with its cage, I cannot get at it, the savage, beautiful creature! If I tear, if I rend the slight prison, my outrage will only let the captive loose." (chapter 27, page 322)

This is a quote said by Rochester about Jane. He compares Jane to a bird in a cage that he cannot have. This not only shows the strength Jane has, but also the motives behind Rochester.

"One gleam of light lifted into relief a half-submerged mast, on which sat a cormorant, dark and large, with wings flecked with foam; its beak held a gold bracelet set with gems..." (chapter 8, page 129)

"...birds were faithful to their mates; birds were emblems

of love. What was I? In the midst of my pain of heart,

and frantic effort of principle, I abhorred myself. I

had no solace from self-approbation: none even from self

respect. I had injured, wounded, left my master. I was

hateful in my own eyes." (chapter 27, page 325)

In Jane’s first painting that Mr. Rochester examines there is a sea with a sunken ship, and on the mast sits a cormorant with a gold bracelet in its mouth. A cormorant is a seafaring bird snatches its prey within a few seconds of spotting it. It is also greedy and dark. Rochester is often referred to as a "dark" and dangerous man, much like a cormorant. While Rochester represents the cormorant, Jane represents the purity and innocence of the bracelet. Like a cormorant dives in and catches its prey, Rochester swoops in and captures Jane’s purity and innocence before she escapes.

Jane is compared to a bird many times throughout the novel, but she contradicts the comparisons by acknowledging her faults and flaws. This quote is said after Jane finds out about Bertha and decides to run away. Jane recognizes this difference between herself and birds, and is saddened that she cannot be more like them when it comes to love.

Birds

"The water stood in my eyes to hear this avowal of his dependence: just as if a royal eagle, chained to a perch, should be forced to entreat a sparrow to become its purveyor." (chapter 37, page 448)

"...it bemoaned him with bitter pity it demanded him with ceaseless longing; and, impotent as a bird with both wings broken, it still quivered..." (chapter 28, page 330)

"I desired liberty; for liberty I gasped; for liberty I uttered for a prayer; it seemed scattered on the wind then faintly blowing..." (chapter 10, page 88)

This passage occurs whenever Rochester hears Jane approaching, who has chased after him after the fire. This reveals a lot about Rochester's character. The allusion to a royal eagle that is chained seems to show how Rochester is unable to do a lot of things on his own now that he is crippled. This also helps reveal that he needs Jane, the sparrow, to help be his "purveyor." Sparrows are known for being bold. This supports Jane’s courageousness when she leaves Thornfield despite her lack of necessities.

The use of impotence to describe Jane’s heart suggests her suppressed desire to be with Rochester.. Just like a "bird with both wings broken" is unable to fly; Jane is unable to show her true feelings.

Although this passage does not directly mention a bird, it still contains the same symbolism for Jane. Just like birds desire to be free and to fly, Jane desires liberty and freedom from captivity, more specifically, from Mr. Rochester.

In what ways can Jane's characteristics be compared to that of a bird? Furthermore, how are birds applicable to other characters?

"I returned to my book - Bewick's History of British Birds: the letterpress thereof I cared little for, generally speaking; and yet there were certain introductory pages that, child as I was, I could not pass quite as blank. They were those which treat of the haunts of sea-fowl...by them only inhabited..." (Chapter 1, page 11)

This passage takes place after Jane is dismissed from a conversation with Mrs. Reed. Jane, retreating to the window seat, tends to be absorbed in the bird illustrations. By doing this, Jane relates to the feeling of solitude and isolation expressed by Bewick's pictures.

How does Bronte use birds to show Jane's loneliness while at Gateshead?

"...my vacant attention soon found livelier attraction in the spectacle of a little hungry robin, which came and chirruped on the twigs of the leafless cherry-tree..." (chapter 4, page 32)

The poor nutrition at Lowood is foreshadowed with this hungry bird who receives the remains of Jane's breakfast. It also draws attention to Jane's compassion for others, as we see when she offers food to fellow students at school.

"I see at intervals, the glance of a curious sort of bird through the close-set bars of a cage: a vivid, restless, resolute captive is there; were it but free, it would soar cloud-high." (chapter 14, page 143)

How does Bronte use birds to draw parallelism to the poor nutrition at Lowood?

In this passage, Rochester acknowledges Jane's desire for freedom from her captivity. At this point, the readers are starting to understand Rochester is who keeps Jane 'locked up' and restricted from flying.

Windows

The windows in the beginning at Gateshead offer protection from the hostile environment and it also offers a vacation to literature and imagination. These scenes are often duplicated, even when Jane returns to help her dying aunt.

"There was now visible a house or houses - for the building spread far - with many windows, and lights burning in some..." (chapter 5, page 46)

"At intervals, while turning over the leaves of my book, I studied the aspect of that winter afternoon. Afar, it offered a pale blank of mist and cloud; near a scene of wet lawn and storm-beat shrub..." (chapter 1, page 10)

This is the first occurrence of windows in the novel. The "mist and cloud" she sees through the window somewhat is a comparison to her current situation and furthermore foreshadows what is to come. Jane isn't certain about a lot of things, i.e. what she will do when she grows up.

What kind of symbols

do birds and windows serve in Jane Eyre?

"The new part, containing the schoolroom and dormitory, was lit by mullioned and latticed windows, which gave it a church-like aspect..." (chapter 5, page 52)

Jane Eyre

Just like a church offers salvation, shelter, and epiphanies, the windows provide Jane with these same type of feelings.

"...I fell to breathing on the frost-flowers with which the window was fretted, and thus clearing a space in the glass through which I might look out on the grounds, where all was still and petrified under the influence of a hard frost." (chapter 4, page 32)

Birds

Generally, in Jane Eyre, the appearance of birds help to show the development of Jane from a suffering child to a mature, happy woman. Bronte utilizes certain birds (i.e. doves, sparrows) to show Jane's caring and independent character. In addition, other birds, such as eagles, are used for Rochester's controlling and powerful character. Together, birds are also used to symbolize Jane and Rochester's relationship.

Jane clears room at the window in order to view a "still and petrified" scene. She longs for this type of serenity in her life.

"...raised in abstraction to the window, caught sight of a figure just passing..." (chapter 7, page 64)

Through the window, Jane sees Brocklehurst, sending chills up her spine. The window is like a savior for Jane because she is then able to prepare for Brocklehurst's visit.

"Some heavy cloud, swept from the sky by a rising wind, had left the moon bare; and her light, streaming in through a window near, shone full both on us..." (chapter 8, page 73)

Symbol Tracking Project

Windows

"...the staircase window was high and latticed; both it and the long gallery into which the bedroom doors opened looked as if they belonged to a church rather than a house." (chapter 11, page 100)

Again, the windows allude to a church, symbolizing some sort of retribution for Jane.

"When dressed, I sat a long time by the window looking out over the silent grounds and silvered fields and waiting for I knew not what..." (chapter 20, page 213)

In this instance, the window is symbolizing Jane's uncertainty about her and Rochester's relationship.

"So putting my hand in through the open window, I drew the curtain over it, leaving only an opening through which I could take observations..." (chapter 15, page 148)

In this passage, windows allow Jane to observe the couple. They give her insight.

"The door remained shut; darkness only came in through the window." (chapter 16, page 161)

In this passage, Jane is at Rochester's house, awaiting his arrival. Only being able to see darkness through the window foreshadows the obstacles ahead and symbolizes Rochester's character.