Again I looked out: we were passing a church; I saw its
low broad tower against the sky, and its bell was tolling a quarter; I saw a narrow galaxy of lights too, on a hillside,
marking a village or hamlet. About ten minutes after, the
driver got down and opened a pair of gates: we passed
through, and they clashed to behind us. We now slowly
ascended a drive, and came upon the long front of a
house: candlelight gleamed from one curtained bow-
window; all the rest were dark. The car stopped at the
front door; it was opened by a maid-servant; I alighted and
went in.
‘Will you walk this way, ma’am?’ said the girl; and I followed her across a square hall with high doors all round: she ushered me into a room whose double illumination of fire and candle at first dazzled me, contrasting as it did with the darkness to which my eyes had been for two hours inured; when I could see, however, a cosy and agreeable picture presented itself to my view.
Why I chose this excerpt:
Jane Eyre takes place in 19th century England. It starts in Jane's childhood at her aunt's home, Gateshead. Jane then goes to school at Lowood where she graduates and then teaches afterwards for a brief period. But most of the book takes place at her next place of employment and the home of Mr. Rochester, Thornfield. Above is her first description of the grounds.
I chose this excerpt because I believe it symbolically represents Jane's life. Jane's life is miserable, but Thornfield is a place of rebirth for Jane. She has friends who care for her, and she for them. She loves Adel, her student and she falls in love with Mr. Rochester. Despite all of these positive swings she describes the house having "candlelight gleam[ing] from one curtained bow- window; all the rest were dark." Light (generally used as a symbol of hope) is missing from this picture because Jane's life will not markedly improve with this home. She does get happiness out of the things mentioned before, but it doesn't last. Her marriage is ruined by Mr. Rochester's first wife and she abandons Thornfield leaving Adel and her coworker friends behind.
The overall setting of the story, has great affect on the reader. Jane is constantly surrounded by wealthy people yet she rarely gets to benefit from the prosperity around her. Her life is so difficult and the "villains" of this story have it so easy, that it makes it easier for the audience to associate with Jane and hate the "villians".
‘Will you walk this way, ma’am?’ said the girl; and I followed her across a square hall with high doors all round: she ushered me into a room whose double illumination of fire and candle at first dazzled me, contrasting as it did with the darkness to which my eyes had been for two hours inured; when I could see, however, a cosy and agreeable picture presented itself to my view.
Why I chose this excerpt:
Jane Eyre takes place in 19th century England. It starts in Jane's childhood at her aunt's home, Gateshead. Jane then goes to school at Lowood where she graduates and then teaches afterwards for a brief period. But most of the book takes place at her next place of employment and the home of Mr. Rochester, Thornfield. Above is her first description of the grounds.
I chose this excerpt because I believe it symbolically represents Jane's life. Jane's life is miserable, but Thornfield is a place of rebirth for Jane. She has friends who care for her, and she for them. She loves Adel, her student and she falls in love with Mr. Rochester. Despite all of these positive swings she describes the house having "candlelight gleam[ing] from one curtained bow- window; all the rest were dark." Light (generally used as a symbol of hope) is missing from this picture because Jane's life will not markedly improve with this home. She does get happiness out of the things mentioned before, but it doesn't last. Her marriage is ruined by Mr. Rochester's first wife and she abandons Thornfield leaving Adel and her coworker friends behind.
The overall setting of the story, has great affect on the reader. Jane is constantly surrounded by wealthy people yet she rarely gets to benefit from the prosperity around her. Her life is so difficult and the "villains" of this story have it so easy, that it makes it easier for the audience to associate with Jane and hate the "villians".
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