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How Does Charlotte Bronte Use Bird Imagery In Jane Eyre

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Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre is enriched with natural imagery, specifically metaphors comparing people to birds. Bronte uses this metaphor to illustrate a character’s behavior and feelings, where a bird represents a certain personality type. The use of bird imagery was common in Victorian art and poetry; such comparisons were typically used to reflect women’s diminished role in Victorian society. However, Bronte used them to challenge the stereotypes of the time and depict her characters as rebels of the era. By tracking the bird imagery in Jane Eyre, we can follow Jane’s development from an unhappy child into a mature, independent woman. In moments of crisis, Jane struggles between Passion and Reason while Bronte deploys recurring imagery …show more content…

She compares Jane and Rochester to birds. These comparisons were used in other novels, art works, and fashion of the Victorian era to represent the role of women in society and portray the conventional victorian female. However, Bronte uses the metaphor to demonstrate the differences between her characters and what were the traditions of the time. “The conventional victorian female was exampled through the use of animal representation in fashion, art and literature of the time. The bird, for example was symbolic of the victorian female. In victorian art you will find a lot of paintings representing nature and particularly, birds amongst nests or dainty floral settings. The colours were often vibrant and the style very feminine, as if the birds were glamourised. Not to mention, many paintings depicted birds nestling in their nests and feeding their chicks, thus representative of a woman’s maternal nature.” Author of The Representations of Animals in the Victorian era states that the interjection of these birds in pieces of artwork were common and they held a significance pertaining to women and what they were supposed to achieve in the Victorian …show more content…

The exchange between Jane and Rochester proves that Jane has no business being told what she should and shouldn't do. “Jane, be still; don't struggle so like a wild, frantic bird, that is rending its own plumage in its desperation.” “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being, with an independent will; which I now exert to leave you.” “And your will shall decide your destiny,” he said: “I offer you my hand, my heart, and a share of all my possessions.” (Chapter 23) She is not the typical Victorian bird, indeed! No woman would dare speak to a man in such an assertive tone. The classical lady would remain submissive and keep her opinion hidden from others in order to please and impress. Not Jane Eyre. She is bold and does not believe in refraining from speaking her

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