Statement of Intent
Independent Study Project
Jane Eyre

There are many themes within Jane Eyre including religion, order and education. However the greatest one of all is love. This is why the topic for my ISP is the effect love has on the story and the reader in Jane Eyre. I chose this topic simply because while reading the novel I found that love had a crucial role in the novel. It seemed to have the richest descriptions and most alluring imagery. Therefore in this ISP I will demonstrate how love is the most important theme in Jane Eyre, as it greatly affects the plot, is present in many forms throughout the whole book and gives the story a deeper connection to its readers than any other themes.

The major points in my essay are:

In Jane Eyre there are many important themes including order, education, love and religion. Education is important because Jane is a governess and enjoys learning throughout the book. Order is important because it restricts Jane from being happy at the Reed mansion and restricts her passionate nature. Religion is important because it is the main reason she left Thronfeild. But none of these themes has such a major role in continuing the plot then love
.
Love is present in many forms throughout the novel such as when she is staying at the Reeds, at Lowood, at Moor House and at Thornfeild. Since it is seen in so many different forms, it is easy for anyone to connect with it.

Throughout the novel Jane never revokes her love for Mr. Rochester. The narrator, an older Jane, assures the reader frequently of her thoughts and love toward Mr. Rochester.

My essay’s most challenging aspect will be to research and discover if the reader in the time of Jane Eyre would have enjoyed the theme of love, or the book at all. I believe this is important because the connection the reader has with a story is what allows a book to be effective and successful. This will be difficult because unlike today, there was no social media to indicate everyone’s every thought and feeling in the 1800s.

Initial Works cited list
Jane Eyre

Primary Source:

Brontë, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Complete and unabridged. ed. London: Puffin Books, 1994. Print.

Secondary Source:

"19th Century England Social Hierarchy." Hierarchy. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 June 2014. <http://www.hierarchystructure.com/19th-century-england-social-hierarchy/>.

"A Young Lady, of Good Family and Education, Desires an Engagement as Governess." Family in Society: Essential Primary Sources. Ed. K. Lerner, Brenda Lerner, and Adrienne Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 231-233. Global Issues In Context. Web. 26 June 2014.

Bell, Millicent. "The Tale of a Governess." American Scholar 65.2 (1996): 263. History Reference Center. Web. 26 June 2014.

Easton, Jane, and Buzan, Tony. A guide to Jane Eyre. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1999. Print.

Ellis, Sarah Stickney. The Women of England: Their Social Duties and Domestic Habits.
London: Fisher, Son, & Co., 1839.

Kelchner, Heidi. "Jane Eyre." Masterplots II: Women’S Literature Series (1995): 1-3. Literary Reference Center. Web. 26 June 2014

Srivastava, Gouri. Women's higher education in the 19th century. New Delhi: Concept Pub. Co., 2000.Print.

“United Kingdom." CultureGrams Online Edition. ProQuest, 2014. Web. 26 Jun 2014.

Wilks, Mandy . "Literary Analysis Themes in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte." by Mandy Wilks. Hellium Inc., 24 Jan. 2011. Web. 26 June 2014.
<http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/literary-analysis-themes-in-jane-eyre-by-
charlotte-bronte-15367/>.