Jane Eyre Blog #5

How does this novel relfect history, behavior and social issues of the time period and setting? What is the book's thematic and symbolic significance? Jane Eyre reflects history in the eighteen-hundreds by the way the characters dress. Mr. Brocklehurst's daughter went to Lowood for a visitand described the girls as, "'plain...with their long pinafores, and little Holland pockets outside their frocks.'" (pg:43 p:1). Holland is a type of fabric, like linen. The behavior in this book reflect the eighteen-hundreds because, like in the book, everyone was very proper; especially the women. Women were allowed to go to school, but they did not learn the things we learn in school today. They were taught t read, be elegant and proper, sew and crochet, and a little bit of math. They were not allowed to have the same jobs as men. The social issues in Jane Eyre were mainly between classes, just as they were in the eighteen-hundreds. Lower class and higher class people rarely socialized unless a lower class person was working for a higher class person. Needless to say, lower class people really were not treated fairly. I think Jane Eyre's symbolic and thematic significance is probably fear and courage. The red-room represents both because it shows very early that Jane will have many struggles, but, like in the red-room, she will show fear, but with fear comes courage and she will be able to go on to do great things.