The plot has been constructed by Brontë in order to allow her to create not only an absorbing and suspenseful narrative, but also, of course, to allow her to explore several themes in interesting and often persuasive ways.
Love
Love is a strong theme throughout the novel, which is essentially a romance; it is also the aspect of the novel which is quintessentially Romantic, with a capital ‘R’, in that the love which Rochester and Jane share is an extreme emotion. Both of them confess to overpowering feelings which cloud their judgement, affect their health and drive their actions (again compare with Wuthering Heights or Austen’s Sense and Sensibility). Naturally, Jane is the one with the strength to prevent this leading to disaster – Rochester is firmly in the grip of his feelings for ‘Jane! My hope – my love – my life!’ This vision of love is very different from the pallid thing which St John Rivers suggests will follow marriage.
Love vs. Autonomy
Jane is initially presented as being a female who has a desperate need to be loved and to belong, after her unhappy childhood spent with the Reeds. It is a need which Brontë creates as seemingly destined to remain unfulfilled, given the early death of her only friend at Lowood, Helen Burns, to whom she confesses ‘if others don’t love me, I would rather die than live’. ...
