Skip to main content

What are some examples of "escape" in Jane Eyre?

The theme of "escape" or its opposite, imprisonment, is pretty dominant in Jane Eyre. Here are some examples:


Jane, at the beginning of the book, enforces a kind of self-imprisonment by hiding in the window seat from John Reed; later, as a result of being "found out"  she is imprisoned in the Red Room. She enacts her "escape" from Gateshead by terrorizing Mrs. Reed and getting sent to Lowood. Lowood is another kind of imprisonment, one...

The theme of "escape" or its opposite, imprisonment, is pretty dominant in Jane Eyre. Here are some examples:


Jane, at the beginning of the book, enforces a kind of self-imprisonment by hiding in the window seat from John Reed; later, as a result of being "found out"  she is imprisoned in the Red Room. She enacts her "escape" from Gateshead by terrorizing Mrs. Reed and getting sent to Lowood. Lowood is another kind of imprisonment, one which Jane is able to escape by advertising for a position as a governess. 


Rochester is imprisoned by his marriage to Bertha. He looks to Jane as a way of escaping Bertha; her goodness will excuse his abandonment of Bertha, although Jane leaves him when she finds out the truth of his marriage.


Bertha, of course, is physically imprisoned in the attic, and metaphorically imprisoned by her illness; her physical escape comes from the fire at Thornfield, and her symbolic escape comes when death releases her from insanity.


Jane, for her part, thinks Thornfield is a haven at first, but it turns into a prison when she finds out about Bertha. Her escape this time comes from running away, but her place of safety, Moor House, becomes another kind of prison, through the influence of St. John. Jane's escape this time is brought by Rochester, or his voice, which she miraculously hears calling her name at the moment when she must decide whether to marry St. John or not.


In fact, the whole novel can be seen as a pattern of imprisonments and escapes!

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...