Question

Within Jane Eyre, the fact that Jane is an orphan connects to which of the novel’s themes? Explain the connections. Your answer should be at least 100 words.

Answer 1

The search for love is a major theme in Jane Eyre. The fact that Jane is an orphan connects to this theme, as it could be said Jane is constantly on a search for love during the novel.

Sadly, it is a difficult search. Helen dies, Miss Temple gets married, and even Mr. Rochester has a wife hidden in the attic. By the end of the novel, her search for love is fulfilled.

Answer 2

The fact that Jane is an orphan connects to the theme of the search for love. However, it also connects to the theme of finding love in a way that does not compromise your individuality and integrity.

Jane is desperate to be loved, and she feels that she has never been truly loved because of her experience as an orphan. However, she is also strong and independent, and throughout the novel, she struggles to manage both desires. Jane wants to be valued for who she is, and her desire to protect herself leads her to refuse Rochester's proposal, as he would compromise her integrity. St. John, however, offers the opposite. Integrity and meaning, but no love. The need to balance out these two emotions is the driving force of the novel.