Anonymous
Anonymous
English III Honors
April 27, 2015
Mr. Phelan
The Name Game
Brontë’s Symbolic Use of Names in Jane Eyre
Very often the first impression that a person receives regarding a character or setting is
the name which has been bestowed upon them. These titles often cease to provoke a second
thought, however when more closely examined, they can expand a reader’s understanding and
appreciation for the story and its thematic elements. In Charlotte Brontë’s novel, Jane Eyre,
nomenclature is expertly used to add deeper layers to the array of intriguing characters and
settings. The names of the many places Jane visits on her journey each represent a point in her
life and her progression to adulthood. The start of her journey, the low points in her life, and the
many conflicts she encounters are all characterized by the locations at which they occur. The
people who Jane comes in contact with also have names reminiscent of their personalities and
their effect on her. Also, the stories title accomplishes more than simply stating the name of the
main character; it implies many of her characteristics. The use of names and titles in Jane Eyre,
appointed to characters, places, and the novel itself, can be thoroughly examined for the way it
presents multiple meanings to the reader and supports the themes the author wishes to convey.
Throughout the course of the story, Jane traverses the English landscape, visiting many
places which have certain effects on the development of her character and experiences. The first
of these many places is Gateshead, the manor at which Jane is raised by her resentful aunt after
the death of her parents. When the article Jane Eyre: Developing by Setting states that, “Jane’s
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stage in life while she resides at Gateshead reveals a strong desire to escape,” it is implying that
Gateshead represents the beginning of Jane’s journey and also her desire to escape from the
cruelty of its inhabitants. The use of the words “gate” and “head” also imply the start of the
story. After Gateshead, Jane is enrolled at a dreary boarding school called Lowood. Lowood
serves the purpose of showing a low point in Jane’s life, resulting from the incessant cold,
dreadful food, and barbaric practices that occur at the institution. The death of Jane’s first friend,
Helen Burns, also plays a part in Jane’s depression. After Lowood, it seems that life for Jane can
only improve, and it does once she is granted the position of governess at the prestigious
Thornfield Manor. Thornfield’s name can be compared to the physical composition of a rose. At
first it seems wonderful and full of beauty; however underneath the “flower” lies its thorns. Once
these thorns pierce the skin, the wounds will be deep. The beauty Jane sees in Thornfield is
brought upon her by Mr. Rochester, the eccentric master of the house with whom Jane shares a
romantic bond. However, his dark secret or his “thorn”, is his deranged wife Bertha who remains
hidden in the attic like a feral creature. Jane is not the only one who sees Thornfield for its dual
personalities. Mr. Rochester comments at one point that he, “... likes Thornfield, its antiquity…
and yet how long has [he] abhorred the very thought of it, shunned it like a great plague-house? ”
(Brontë 130). Finally there is Moor House or Marsh End, the place where Jane stays after fleeing
in despair from Thornfield. Marsh End is significant because it is the place where Jane’s journey
to a mature and independent woman ends. Here she discovers her true feelings and is able to
finally come to terms with her relationships. The name Moor House also implies a double
meaning, described in Jane Eyre: Developing by Setting when it states, “Mooring also, according
to the dictionary, means a stabilized place or object on which something can be secured.” Jane is
finally secured and finds her balance this house, hence the use of the word “moor.”
Anonymous
As Jane ventures to all of these places, she encounters the many people who inhabit
them. Just as the names of the places serve to outline their effects on Jane’s feelings, the large
assortments of people that Jane meets throughout her adventures serve not only just as separate
entities with which she can interact, but also as representations of her inner forces and the effect
they have on her actions. The first character to show a very strong effect on Jane is Helen Burns,
a very religious girl from Lowood. Helen’s name is significant for its religious implication of the
word “hell”, and her name backwards can be pronounced as “Burns en Hell”. This fits Helen
because of her strict following of religious teachings and her attempts to have Jane follow them
as well. When describing Helen, Identity and Independence in Jane Eyre states that, “Helen
teaches Jane to come to terms with the past and to not dwell on injustices of the past, to be
happier in the present,” showing her overall persona. Jane also comes in contact with Miss
Temple, a woman that she practically worships. Jane says that, “she had stood me in the steed of
mother, governess, and, latterly, companion” (Brontë 72). Miss Temple is the first person in
Jane’s life to act as a caring higher figure, so she is like a “temple” to Jane. Later, Jane meets St.
John Rivers, a missionary, at Marsh End, and he attempts to make a move on her. His name is
significant not only in its Biblical reference of John the Baptist, but also with him inadvertently
being like a river and pushing Jane to move on with her life and go back to Mr. Rochester. St.
John and many other characters play major roles in helping Jane through her journey to
adulthood and independence.
Not only are the names within Jane Eyre important, but also the title of the novel. The
title is very simple, stating only the name of the main character, however the fact that this is all
the title consists of helps to imply the theme of Jane’s independence. The title is only about Jane
but so is the story, which shows her life and the many conflicts she must sort out on her way to
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maturity. Identity and Independence in Jane Eyre discusses the novel’s coming of age
classification when stating, “Jane Eyre is a Bildungsroman; it is a novel that narrates the story of
protagonist’s growth and internal development on her search for a meaningful existence in
society.” When discussed, the novel and its main character can often be confused, and it is
difficult to say where the story is different from Jane, since it is written as her own narrative.
Jane’s name itself is often related to in the phrase “plain Jane”, which is how Jane is at the
beginning of the story, just a simple girl tossed around by society. As the story progresses and
Jane starts to be more in tune with herself and the world around her, she denounces this old self.
When speaking to Mr. Rochester, Jane gets very defensive about this and says, “Do you think,
because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!”
(Brontë 272). At the end of her trifles, Jane realizes that she is the most influential character in
her own story. This is why the title does not include any other names of characters or places or
any references to the plot.
An entirely new layer is added to the story through Brontë’s clever nomenclature as
expressed through the settings, characters, and title. Every person or place that has touched
Jane’s life in some way are all parts of a greater force which propels the fortunes and tribulations
of life. These pieces of the story shape Jane from a lost and lonely orphan girl into a selfsufficient, brave, and intelligent young woman. By feeding the reader these extra details, Brontë
opens up intuitive ways of analyzing the novel and relating it to real life situations. Also, the fact
that these people and places all are representations make Jane all the more relatable as a
protagonist going through life and growing up. All this is created through names, which are
simple words to designate an object, but also powerful tools for creating a chain of recognition in
the mind.
Anonymous
Works Cited
Brontë, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Bantam Dell, 1981. Print.
Webber, Rachel. "Jane Eyre: Developing By Setting." Victorian Women Writers. N.p.,
17 Sept. 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.
Andersson, Angela. Identity and Independince in Jane Eyre. Mid Sweden University, 4 Apr.
2011.