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Jane Eyre: the plot
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Charlotte Bronte's novel follows Jane from unloved orphan to independent woman. The story moves through five main places.
Gateshead and Lowood
Gateshead: orphaned Jane lives with her cruel aunt, Mrs Reed, and is bullied by her cousin John. She is locked in the frightening red-room.
Lowood: a harsh charity school run by Mr Brocklehurst. Jane's friend Helen Burns dies. Jane later becomes a teacher there.
Lowood: a harsh charity school run by Mr Brocklehurst. Jane's friend Helen Burns dies. Jane later becomes a teacher there.
Thornfield
Jane becomes governess to Adele at Thornfield Hall and falls in love with its master, Mr Rochester.
Strange things happen: laughter in the night and a fire in Rochester's bed.
Rochester proposes, but at the wedding it is revealed that he is already married to Bertha Mason, who is kept locked in the attic. Jane leaves.
Strange things happen: laughter in the night and a fire in Rochester's bed.
Rochester proposes, but at the wedding it is revealed that he is already married to Bertha Mason, who is kept locked in the attic. Jane leaves.
Moor House and Ferndean
Jane, starving, is taken in by St John Rivers and his sisters, who turn out to be her cousins. She inherits money from an uncle.
St John asks her to marry him and go to India as a missionary. She refuses, after hearing Rochester's voice calling her.
She returns to find Thornfield burnt down by Bertha, who has died. Rochester is blind and has lost a hand. At Ferndean they marry: "Reader, I married him."
St John asks her to marry him and go to India as a missionary. She refuses, after hearing Rochester's voice calling her.
She returns to find Thornfield burnt down by Bertha, who has died. Rochester is blind and has lost a hand. At Ferndean they marry: "Reader, I married him."
Why does Jane leave Thornfield after the failed wedding?
- Rochester is already married to Bertha.
- Staying would mean becoming his mistress.
- Jane refuses to give up her principles and self-respect, however much she loves him.
Answer: To keep her moral principles and self-respect rather than live with a married man.
Gateshead (red-room), Lowood (Helen Burns), Thornfield (Rochester, Bertha, failed wedding), Moor House (St John, inheritance), Ferndean (marriage to Rochester).
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