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Jane Eyre
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Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre is a novel that incorporates many literary devices to help exemplify meanings and themes. One of these is symbolism. The symbols used throughout the novel exist in different situations and are used to coincide with different ideas. One of the most effective uses of symbolism in Jane Eyre is to foretell the events that occur in the book. The reader may observe that the author continuously interlinks symbolism with foreshadowing. Symbolism and foreshadowing are both constant themes in the novel. The symbol usually hints at what’s going to happen later in the book. For example, Bronte uses birds to represent freedom, which is what Jane has always wished for and finally finds by the end of the novel. Although there is no one dominant symbol in the novel, the most significant (and the most noticeable) symbol would have to be fire. Fire is constantly reoccurring along the course of events. Fire is often associated with human vitality, while damp and cold are associated with death. A lot of narration is spent on the fire in Miss Temple’s room. The stress isn’t only on the physical comfort of fire, but also on fire as a symbol of friendship, kindness, acceptance, and comfort. “How we longed for the light and heat of a blazing fire when we got back…” (Pg.73 Vol.1) Fire can also signify passion and emotions, (like Jane and Mr. Rochester’s passion and feelings for each other). The chestnut tree struck by lightning into two halves symbolizes the fact that Jane and Mr. Rochester are to separate. The incident in which Bertha rips apart Jan’s wedding veil symbolizes Mr. Rochester’s betrayal of his wife and Jane; and it also suggests that something may go wrong at their wedding and that the wedding was doomed.
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