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Prompt: Discuss the archetypes present in the novel and how they
represent the characters, the journey, and symbolic nature of the novel.
How are archetypes are used as the building
blocks for Jane’s journey in the novel.
⦿ Many characters, relationships, and story elements
are elevated from their basic archetype, or have
some kind of deviation from the normal archetype.
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The relationship between Jane and Rochester would fall under
the star crossed lover archetype, but unlike most examples of this
archetype, they eventually get a happy ending.
⦿ “…and him who thus loved me I absolutely worshipped: and I
must renounce love and idol.” (Bronte 341)
⦿ Jane falls under the orphan archetype; and like most members
of this archetype, Jane carries with her a feeling of
abandonment and craves love and affection from others.
However, unlike many orphans who are usually melancholy,
reserved, and dependent on the acceptance of others, Jane
has a fiery and uncompromising spirit which allows her to accept
her difficult situation and actually become more independent
because of it.
⦿ “The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I
am, the more I will respect myself.” (Bronte 342)
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The quest is a journey or trial a hero must undertake
in order to find some object or achieve some goal.
Usually the quest is a difficult sort of adventure
which tests the hero in many different ways and
forces them to adapt or grow in order to fulfill their
goal.
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The main quest in Jane Eyre is Jane’s search for
love, a sense of importance, and independence.
Along the way, Jane develops her sense of morals
and has to make some difficult decisions to stay
true to her morals.
A pivotal moment along Jane’s quest was when
she left Rochester after discovering he was already
married. Even though her marriage to him would
have fulfilled her quest, she forgoes it because
along her journey, she learned how important it
was to stay true to her own morals.
Only once Jane achieves independence and truly
understands what she wants in life does she marry
Rochester.
This archetype is about the loss of
innocence due to a significantly impactful
even in a character’s life.
⦿ The character loses their more innocent
and naïve perspective on life, developing a
more experienced, possibly cynical,
outlook.
⦿ Essentially it is growing up or a coming of
age by being more aware and facing the
reality of things.
⦿ This archetype is common in fiction, pop
culture, and realism.
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A serious impactful pivotal moment that greatly
affected Jane Eyre was the death of Helen Burns
during her time at Lowood.
Helen was her first friend there, and she had the
virtue of being very forgiving and patient.
Helen’s death got rid of Jane’s naiveté and instilled
Helen’s virtues into Jane and a more mature
perspective on life.
“fifteen years after her death [the grave] was only
covered by a grassy mound; but now a gray
marble tablet marks the spot, scribed with her
name, and the word ‘Resurgam’”. (Bronte 75)
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The mother archetype stems from “Mother Nature,” a
personification of nature that has been around since the
goddesses of agricultural bounty of the Mesopotamians and
even before that.
A mother archetype is seen as bigger than life and beyond
mortal faults.
Mother Archetypes usually expose the protagonist to some of
his/her only tender moments and fond memories.
Mother figures also give wise advise to the protagonist and
help him/her through hard times.
Mother figures in Jane Eyre are Bessie (at Gateshead), and
Miss Temple (at Lowood).
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A pivotal moment that exemplifies the
characteristics of a mother archetype was when
Miss Temple believed Jane’s story of her
childhood and cleared Mrs. Reed’s accusations
against her.
● “I resolved, in the depth of my heart, that I would be
most moderate … I told her all the story of my sad
childhood… Thus restrained and simplified, it sounded
more credible: I felt as I went on that Miss Temple fully
believed me” (Bronte 63).
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Miss Temple is shown as being above the lies of
Mrs. Reed and her faith in Jane encourages Jane
to go on to become a teacher, and later a
governess. Her attention calms Jane and helps
her to better control her fervent emotions.
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The villain archetype acts in evil in order
to stop the hero, or main character from
reaching their quest or destiny.
Villains usually represent sin, greed, or
wrath.
They face death, ironically brought by
their own flaws.
● A pivotal moment that shows the cruel and unjustly decisions of Mrs.
Reed, the villain, was when she locked Jane in the red room causing
Jane to grow her anger towards the Reed’s and it makes her finally
see how harshly they mistreated her.
● “Silence! This violence is all most repulsive:" and so, no doubt, she felt
it. I was a precocious actress in her eyes; she sincerely looked on me
as a compound of virulent passions, mean spirit, and dangerous
duplicity.” (Bronte 13)
● Mrs. Reed basically deprives Jane of love, care, family, and fortune
for selfish reasons. Her hatred towards Jane increases as Jane finally
has the courage to stand up for herself when she is about to leave
for Lowood.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/images/jane_eyre_reed.jpg
http://www.muhsd.k12.ca.us/cms/lib5/CA01001051/Centricity/Domain/520/English%203/Unit%20
1%20--%20Early%20American%20Lit/ArchetypesandSymbols.pdf
http://kelleysherojourney.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/the-orphan-archetype/
http://storify.com/LEYANNIE/jane-eyre-by-charlotte-bronte-archetypes
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090731121245AAxxq2j
http://www.iofilm.co.uk/pix/features/lord_of_the_rings_the_fellowship_of_the_rings_2.jpg
http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18gs2gxwzx49zjpg/original.jpg
http://www.celebritytypes.com/misc_pictures/carl-jung.jpg