The Meteorologist Metaphor :: essays research papers

The Meteorologist Metaphor Jane Eyre is a novel filled with rich metaphors and foreshadowing that is as detailed as the characters that make up the pages. These metaphors are used to create imagery; but more importantly, Charlotte Bronte makes use of reoccurring metaphors that come together to form themes and symbolism. Think of the novel as a Jello mold. A Jello mold becomes much more interesting and tasty if it has random fruits scattered throughout trapped within the sweet gelatin. These fruits do for the Jello, what metaphors do for a novel. However, if there is one fruit that continuously is found within the Jello, say... bananas, than those bananas become more than just flavor enhancers. The bananas become a â€Å"theme† of the Jello, a â€Å"theme† that could be individually studied if the Jello was allowed to melt. Now I will attempt to melt the Jello that is Jane Eyre. In this case, weather is the bananas. Obviously I’m not as skilled at using metaphors as Charlotte Bronte. In Jane Eyre, good weather is Bronte’s tool used to foreshadow positive events or moods. Similarly, poor weather is her tool used in setting the tone for negative events or moods. This technique is exercised throughout the entire novel, alerting the readers of the upcoming atmosphere. Jane’s mood is, to a degree, determined by the weather mentioned. For example, after Jane was publicly and falsely accused of being a liar by Mr. Brocklehurst, an upcoming positive event is predicted when Jane describes her surroundings: Some heavy clouds swept from the sky by a rising wind, had left the moon bare; and her light streaming in through a window near, shone full both on us and on the approaching figure, which we at once recognize as Miss Temple. (79) After this sentence was read, Miss Temple invited the two girls to her room and treated them with cake and tea, which brings Jane comfort from the public humiliation she had recently endured. Another example of this is Jane’s first morning at Thornfield. A positive mood is foreshadowed when Jane describes the weather as such: The chamber looked such a bright little place to me as the sun shone in between the gay blue chintz window and carpeted floor, so unlike the bare planks and strained plaster of Lowood, that my spirit rose at the view. (105) This not only foreshadows the positive mood of Jane, but also the experience she will have in the near future living in Thornfield.