Quotes p2 Flashcards
(28 cards)
Gateshead quote about red room
“A bed supported on massive pillars of mahogany, hung with curtains of deep red demask… this room was chill, because it seldom had a fire; it was silent, because remote from the nursery and kitchen.”
- extended metaphor fire and ice
- about growing up (seldom nursery)
- ‘pillar’ CA important building, red room is significant/important. They don’t just uphold they enclose like a prison
Gateshead quote about soul
“My soul began to expand, to exult, with the strangest sense of freedom, of triumph, I had ever felt. It seemed as if an invisible bond had burst, and that I had struggled for unhoped-for liberty.”
- Mr. Brocklehurst uses Christian language to condemn a child, illustrating how religion is misused for control and shame.
-dehumanisation (alien, interloper)
- ‘Interloper’ word implies invasion and disruption, suggesting Jane is not just unwelcome, but dangerous. To make her seem like a moral outsider, despite her innocence.
Thornfield about freedom
“I desired liberty; for liberty I gasped; for liberty I uttered a prayer; it seemed scattered on the wind, faintly blowing”
- repetition of “for liberty” shows rising emotional intensity
The structure mirrors a kind of desperate crescendo, followed by a collapse — the final phrase reflects disillusionment and powerlessness.
-“Prayer” because jane didn’t believe in god and had a strained relationship with the idea of him as well but she still used the word prayer and this shows how desperate she is for liberty and to be free.
Thornfield about women and equality
“Women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer”
- shows Jane speaking not only for herself, but for all women, making this an early feminist manifesto.
- Her tone is both rational and passionate, appealing to logic
- “Stagnation” literally refers to still water that does not move — it becomes stale, lifeless, even toxic. In this context, it vividly conveys the mental and emotional decay caused by denying women meaningful activity.
Thornfield about governess
“half of them detestable and the rest ridiculous, and all incubi - were they not mama”
- Blanche’s words reflect Victorian class prejudice and female rivalry. She looks down on governesses as beneath her
- “mama” adds a tone of false innocence, as if seeking approval for her cruelty.
- ‘incubi’ metaphor to describe governesses as parasitic or oppressive presences
Thornfield jane defends herself
“Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! I have as much soul as you, and full as much heart!”
- Jane powerfully rejects the idea that social class, appearance, or gender diminish her inner worth.
- rhetorical question challenges Victorian norms that tied value to wealth and beauty.
- ‘soul’ In the context of 19th-century England, Jane’s claim to a “soul” is radically democratic and feminist — insisting that human worth is not defined by class or gender.
Thornfield freedom
“I am no bird and no net ensnares me, I am a free human being with an independent will”
- Jane uses powerful metaphor to reject any form of emotional or social captivity: “no bird” and “no net” represent the gendered constraints placed on women.
- It shows that her love for Rochester is not one of submission, but of mutual respect and equality.
- The word “bird” in Jane’s speech symbolizes both freedom and fragility, but also the potential for captivity. Birds, while free to fly, can easily be confined in cages. Bertha is described as “a bird in a cage” by Rochester. She is physically and mentally imprisoned,
Thornfield vicious
“Mr Rochester flung me behind him; the lunatic sprang and grappled his throat viciously, and laid her teeth to his cheek”
- The imagery of teeth and grazing the cheek can show how Bertha and Rochester once had an intimate relationship
- The imagery of teeth and grazing the cheek reinforces the animalistic and dehumanizing portrayal of Bertha, stripping her of any humanity and aligning her more closely with the monstrous
- The word “lunatic” historically refers to someone whose mental health was believed to be tied to the phases of the moon, implying a lack of rationality or control. The use of “lunatic” to describe Bertha contributes to her dehumanization in the novel, reducing her to a figure of uncontrollable madness.
Thornfield plants
“You are no ruin, sir—no lightning-struck tree: you are green and vigorous. Plants will grow about your roots.”
- Jane contrasts Rochester with a lightning-struck tree, a symbol of damage and desolation, implying that while he may have suffered, he is not irreparably ruined. links back to when the struck tree foreshadowed the disruption and destruction of Jane and Rochester’s relationship.
- The metaphor of plants growing around his roots symbolizes Jane’s role in Rochester’s emotional recovery. Just as plants find nourishment in the roots of a tree, Jane offers nurturing love and support that allows him to heal and regain strength.
- The word “vigorous” suggests strength, health, and vitality — qualities that are central to Rochester’s character. It contrasts with ideas of weakness, decay, or ruin. The choice of “vigorous” not only speaks to his physical health but also suggests that his moral compass and ability to love are still intact
Thornfield robot
“Do you think I am an automaton?—a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup?”
- The morsel of bread and drop of living water symbolize the essential emotional nourishment Jane needs
- By saying that these things are “snatched” and “dashed,” Jane emphasizes the violence and cruelty of Rochester’s actions, which deny her the basic human experiences of love and care.
- “automaton” refers to a mechanical figure or robot, often with no real emotions or consciousness. By using this term, Jane is rejecting the idea that she is emotionally numb or capable of enduring hardship without protest. It evokes alienation and dehumanization, suggesting that treating her like an object would strip her of the very essence of what it means to be human
Gateshead cold, eyes
“Her eye of ice continued to dwell freezingly on mine”
this is a metaphor referring to Mrs Reeds gaze upon Jane being icy and cold. this related to the fire and icy extended metaphor in the book as a whole where cold settings and things shows janes lack of love and isolation
CA - The word “ice” metaphorically captures emotional coldness, detachment, and even cruelty.
It suggests a gaze that is not only void of warmth or compassion, but also unmoving and inhuman, almost lifeless — evoking discomfort or intimidation.
Lowood Helen
“Are you warm, darling?” fire and ice imagery Helen asking jane if she’s warm symbolizes Helen asking if jane feels love as Helen passes away this is a heart-warming scene that really cements Helens character. Helen Burns serves as a foil to Jane Eyre, highlighting the differences in their approaches to life and suffering. Helen’s character embodies submissiveness, acceptance, and a strong Christian faith, which contrasts sharply with Jane’s fiery temperament and desire for justice and happiness in the present life.
Helen Burns’ role as a foil to Jane is crucial in illustrating the different ways one can face adversity and the impact of these approaches on personal growth and character development.
CA - Warmth is often associated with being alive, energetic, or spiritually present. In literature, warmth is frequently linked to romantic or familial closeness, representing genuine connection. Warmth often symbolizes emotional security, such as in warm memories or a warm embrace.
Thornfield bird captive
“the glance of a curious sort of bird through the close-set bars of a cage, a vivid, restless, captive”
Metaphor of the Caged Bird: This metaphor highlights Jane’s sense of confinement — both socially (as a governess, financially dependent and class-bound) and emotionally (as a young woman being drawn to a powerful man).
Restlessness and Vividness: Jane is not a passive or broken prisoner. The adjectives “vivid” and “restless” emphasize her intellectual energy, her independence of thought, and her spirit, despite the metaphorical cage society puts her in.
Foreshadowing: The image foreshadows her internal struggle throughout the novel — torn between her desire for love and her need for autonomy. It also connects to other bird imagery (like “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me”), reinforcing the theme of freedom vs. constraint
Thornfield angel
“I am not an angel,” I asserted; “and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself.”
- In Victorian society, the “angel in the house” was the model of feminine virtue: obedient, gentle, passive. Jane pushes back against this restrictive image, showing her refusal to conform to gender expectations
- When she says, “I will not be one till I die,” she accepts that she’s human — capable of flaws and passions
- “angel” traditionally connotes purity, perfection, and selflessness—traits often idealized in Victorian women.
Thornfield animal, Bertha
“What it was, whether beast or human being… the clothed hyena rose up.”
- By questioning whether the figure is a “beast or human being,” the novel creates a moment of Gothic horror, tapping into fears of the monstrous feminine. It also reflects how society (and Rochester) strips Bertha of her humanity
- Bertha can be read as Jane’s dark double — a manifestation of what happens when a woman is denied voice, agency, and identity.
- “hyena” in this scene is not just about Bertha’s appearance but also serves to dehumanize her, turning her into something less than human, something wild and dangerous, and symbolizing the repression of female desire and the punishment for deviating from social norms.
Gateshead actress
“I was a precocious actress in her eyes; I had to smile when repulsed.”
- The phrase “precocious actress” emphasizes that Jane was forced into an unnatural role at a very young age.
- The phrase “smile when repulsed” is particularly telling. Jane is being forced to hide her hurt and resentment with a smile,
- “actress” in this quote is highly significant. In Victorian England, an actress was often viewed with suspicion and was not considered a respectable profession, as women were expected to be modest and passive. This word choice highlights the performative aspect of Jane’s
Lowood God
“God is my father; God is my friend: I love Him; I believe He loves me.”
- The quote is significant because it reflects Helen’s deep, unwavering religious faith and her acceptance of suffering as part of God’s will.
- “I love Him; I believe He loves me”: This part of the quote reveals Helen’s reciprocal relationship with God. Her love for God is based on faith, trust, and belief in His goodness not by fear of going to hell which Bronte criticizes because a Christian shouldn’t be good out of fear but love for God.
- “father” is crucial to understanding Helen’s view of God. In the Victorian context, a father was seen as the head of the household, a figure of authority and protection. By calling God her “father,” Helen is expressing a trust in God as a figure of authority who guides her through suffering.
Lowood Miss temple
“You shall be publicly cleared from every imputation… and stand in the position of a girl well-conducted and well-trained.”
- Miss Temple the kind teacher at Lowood School who is a positive influence on Jane. She represents integrity and compassion in an otherwise oppressive environment. imputation means the act of imputing or charging; attribution; ascription; also, anything imputed or charged.(Mr Brocklehurst charged her/ said she was a liar)
Gateshead dependant orphan
“You have no business to take our books; you are a dependent, mama says; you have no money…”
- John Reed says this to jane. this quote shows the Victorian periods view on class and social standings of an orphan with him calling her a “dependant” and saying she shouldn’t be able to reed their books (get it! bazinga). this shows how the Reeds (Victorian society) look down on jane.
Thornfield
“She removed my veil from its place; she held it up, gazed at it long, and then she tore it in two.”
- Bertha as Jane’s mirror: Bertha wears Jane’s bridal veil, symbolizing her role as a shadow-self or repressed double - a physical embodiment of Jane’s suppressed fears about marriage, entrapment, and loss of identity.
Gothic doubling: The scene uses classic Gothic doubling, where Bertha reflects Jane’s own passionate and rebellious nature - but unrestrained and exiled.
Split female identity: Jane is rational, composed, and socially acceptable; Bertha is emotional, sexual, and “mad” - but they represent two sides of Victorian womanhood.
Thornfield Byronic hero
“I began to experience remorse, repentance; the wish for reconcilement to my Maker. I began sometimes to pray: very brief prayers they were, but very sincere.”
- Dark past & inner torment: Rochester is haunted by his mistakes (Bertha, past lovers) and seeks redemption — a classic Byronic trait.
Isolated & brooding: Like many Byronic heroes (e.g., Byron’s Manfred), he is emotionally distant, morally complex, and deeply introspective.
Passionate & rebellious: He breaks social and moral codes in pursuit of love, willing to risk scandal for Jane.
Thornfield Grace Poole
“she was a woman of marked character, with something about her that made me feel her presence was not a comforting one.”
-Mysterious aura: Grace Poole’s presence creates unease, even though she is a servant who seems harmless at first. Her anger and strange glow suggest that there is something hidden and unsettling beneath the surface.
Symbol of secrets: Grace Poole’s role as Bertha’s keeper reflects how dark secrets (like Bertha’s existence) are concealed within Thornfield. She represents the dangers lurking in the background, with her ability to maintain the façade of normalcy while something truly terrifying is happening just out of sight.
this is how Grace Poole embodies how secrets are maintained and how danger is often hidden in plain
Thornfield Janes inner worth
“She is a fine woman, and I will marry her if I can. But I don’t care for her, and I don’t believe she cares for me. I would rather marry you than any woman I have ever seen.”
- Social Class & Prejudice: Blanche Ingram is portrayed as a woman obsessed with wealth, beauty, and status. Her vanity is made clear through her attempts to manipulate Rochester into marriage. She represents the aristocracy’s superficiality and the social norms of the time that value outward appearance over inner qualities.
Contrast with Jane: The quote highlights Rochester’s true feelings for Jane, despite Blanche’s social superiority. Jane, unlike Blanche, has inner worth, and Rochester acknowledges that Jane’s virtue, honesty, and character are more important to him than any external qualities.
Moor house family?
“Diana and Mary treated me as if I were their sister, and I felt in their company as if I had found at last a home.”
- Diana and Mary rivers the sisters at the Moor house who help Jane with her feminine side and how they have accepted jane for who she is.
