Ice and Fire in Jane Eyre
|
By Aaron Biterman, John Machi, and Dan Russell. September, 2000. Significance of the Theme of Ice and Fire Fire symbolizes the compelling emotion of the characters. Fire is portrayed throughout the novel to encapsulate the growing passion of the specific characters. On the contrary, ice is used to represent stoicism, the indifference to pleasure or pain. The characters that are symbolized by ice are calm and soothing characters who take whatever life grants them. Important Characters Who Reflect This Theme Jane Eyre (Fire) -Hits John Reed -Yells at Mrs. Reed -Controlling -Against traditions -Stubborn -Feminism First, there is Jane Eyre, clearly the most passionate and zealous individual in the novel. The first lucid example of Eyre's fiery lust is the striking of John Reed, her cousin, at a time when women were not to challenge men. Yet another example of Jane's internal inferno is when she yelled at Mrs. Reed, her aunt, exposing her staunch individualism. Thirdly, when the decent clergyman, St. John Rivers, proposed to Jane, she steadfastly refused, citing lack of love as her rationalization. ("But as his wife -- at his side always, always restrained, and always checked -- forced to keep the fire of my nature continually low, to compel it to burn inwardly and never utter a cry, though the imprisoned flame consumed vital after vital -- this would be unendurable". Contrarily, when Rochester, is around Jane she feels quite different. Jane lets her passion consume her. "'I saw it in your eyes when I first beheld you: their expression and smile did not (again he stopped) did not (he proceeded hastily) strike delight to my very inmost heart for nothing... My cherished preserver, good night' Strange energy was in his voice, strange fire in his look." Helen Burns (Ice) -Accepting -Instructor to Jane Rochester (Fire) -"Vulcan" (p.445) = Roman god of fire -Willing to sacrifice relationship with his wife in order to have real passionate love. -Bedroom fire symbolism -Contrarian The summation of Rochester's character as it pertains to the fire/ice symbolism is truly simple yet quite complex all the same. When Edward is in his bedroom with Jane, the fire in the fireplace grows stronger, once again revealing the paralleled passion of Rochester and Jane. He is also considered to be a "Vulcan". This is significant because Vulcan is the Roman god of fire, just as Rochester is the main male with deep internal and external passions/fire in the novel. What is also interesting is that he is willing to have an affair to quench his thirsty passions for Jane. In conclusion, Rochester states "no contact strikes the fire from you that is in you" (p.198), which reveals his stalwart feelings about the obdurate nature of passion. St. John Rivers (Ice) -Humble missionary -Hides feelings for Rosamond -"White as a glacier" (p.379) -Doesn't think for self -Conforming Ice, the opposite of fire, lacks substance and passion. Due to his devotion to the Church, St. John denies his love for Rosamond, the dazzling daughter of the factory owner. St. John represents ice through his humbling actions. For example, for his vocation, he dedicates his life to being a moralistic missionary. He doesn't think for himself, rather, the Church thinks for him. As such, he is conforming and metaphorically is "like a [frosty white freezing] glacier" (p.379). St. John, pure-lived, conscientious, and zealous, pronounced his sermons, with a quiet, deep voice, a clear sign of his stoicism. Literary Devices Related to Ice and Fire -simile (e.g. "as white as a glacier," p.379) -metaphor (e.g. "I am hot, and fire dissolves ice," p.386) -personification (e.g. "conscience turned tyrant, held passion by the throat," p.299) -imagery (e.g. "pinnacle of an iceberg," p.128) -allusion (e.g. "Vulcan," p.445) -alliteration (e.g. "he controlled his passion perfectly," p.416) |
 |
Essays |