Jane Eyre Rain Analysis

Effects of Rainfall in Jane Eyre In the novel Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë uses the literary symbol of rainfall to display the suffering of her characters as well as their transformation as time goes on. Because Jane Eyre serves as the main character, Brontë’s use of rain mirrors Jane’s actions more than that of her other characters. Nonetheless, rain still plays a role as an important symbol in relation to the treatment of Jane by additional characters such as Rochester.

Brontë utilizes rain as a symbol in Jane Eyre to function as an indicator of transformation as well as emotional well being for Jane and Rochester. Brontë’s use of rain parallels, to an extent, the definition that Thomas Foster provides in his book How to Read Literature

Brontë also uses the intensity of the rain to display what her characters, especially Jane, feel during the transformation process. When Jane lives at Gateshead, a heavy rain falls with a “ceaseless, lamentable blast” (Brontë 60) and the “rain [beats] strongly against the panes” (Brontë 346). The intensity of the rain further highlights the volume and magnitude of the abuse that Jane faces at Gateshead as well as the suffering that perpetually plagues her. At Lowood the rain continues to “fall in torrents” (Brontë 79) and at Thornfield the rain serves as “assaulting, relentless [and] harsh” (Brontë 190). In each location the relentless rain represents a significant overall theme of intense suffering such as when John Reed throws a book at Jane. When “the volume was flung, it hit me, and I fell, striking my head against the door and cutting it. The cut bled, the pain was sharp: my terror had passed its climax” (Brontë 8). The violent suffering that Jane endures reflects the constant subservience along with feelings of hatred that are spewed towards her throughout her lifetime. Brontë uses the rain’s intensity as described above to highlight the sheer quantity of abuse and sadness as well as assist in describing Jane Eyre’s life story and transformation. Brontë uses rain in the scene where Jane reunites with the blind Rochester to indicate transformation in Jane’s life as well as a change in Rochester’s life. Here, Rochester “stands quiet and mute in the rain” (Bronte 636) until Jane encounters him. While Brontë uses rain to depict suffering in Jane as opposed to Rochester, a transition in Rochester still occurs. When Jane reunites with Rochester inside the cottage, Rochester abstains from dominating Jane or controlling every department of her life. Instead, Jane takes the lead role in the marriage because Rochester is blind as well as helpless. During their marriage,