1. By: Dustin Nguyen Period 1 Mrs. Rice
Presentation
By: Dustin Nguyen
Period 1 Mrs. Rice

2. Prompt 15
“Search on character names to see how their presence comes and goes throughout the book. What can you say about the movement of plot or the focus on various characters based on this analysis?”
Translation: How do characters appear in the novel, and what does their presence do to the plot/story?

3. Questions Relevance to Class
Since the novel Jane Eyre revolves around the character Jane’s growth as an individual, the introduction of characters and their presence in the novel helps to push Jane and therefore the plot and story along. This pertains to the class because it is an example of a technique that authors commonly use to propel their novel: using characters as conflicts or catalysts of change.

4. Main Character/Narrator
Jane Eyre
Jane is the protagonist and narrator for the book, and therefore her actions, experiences, and thoughts are carried out through the novel as the driving factor and most dominant force. Her presence is always known and prominent, and the plot revolves around her growth as the main character.

5. Defining Characters - Characters include: (In order of appearance)
I classify defining characters as characters who affect Janes life in a significant way. Characters who push the novel forward by provoking adaptations or growth from Jane and move the plot along. Since the plot is all about Jane’s growth in a stronger and independent woman, these characters provide the supplement for the events that propel Jane’s character into her final destination. They vary in terms of importance, as some can be considered “main” characters, but all contribute equally in pushing the novel forward.
- Characters include: (In order of appearance)
Mrs. Reed
Mr. Brocklehurst
Edward Rochester
St. John

6. Defining Characters (Cont.)
Explanations for why these characters are considered defining
Mrs. Reed – As Jane’s legal guardian at the beginning of the book, Mrs. Reed is a established as a defining character because her actions towards Jane. Through her exerted will, Mrs. Reed sets the starting point and defining characteristics of Jane before any growth or any plot development has happened. The environment and situation that has been set by Mrs. Reed defines the main character for the audience and provides room for Jane to grow. Her presence is only significant for two times, at the beginning of the novel, and at the middle, where she explains her actions and why she created such a situation for Jane like the one at the beginning which helps Jane to grow and move past a traumatic childhood experience, moving the plot further along. (Prime Example: Jane’s final traumatic moment being locked in the Red Room by Mrs. Reeds order)
Mr. Brocklehurst – In reference to the order that the characters appear, Mr. Brocklehurst is second chronologically and second in terms of creating a bad situation that requires Jane to grow and adapt. His physical presence in the novel is very limited, as he is only present for some moments at Jane’s stay in Lowood, but his character, and influence on the running of the school, contributes to the horrible situation that Jane must adapt to, and similarly pushes the novel forward just as Mrs. Reed did, giving him a similar strength of presence. His presence acts as another quick push for Jane, to boost her growth. (Prime Example: Mr. Brocklehurst calling Jane out to embarrass her in front of the other girls)

7. Quotes for Mrs. Reed and Mr. Brocklehurst
I am glad you are no relation of mine. I will never call you aunt again as long as I live. I will never come to visit you when I am grown up; and if any one asks me how I liked you, and how you treated me, I will say the very thought of you makes me sick, and that you treated me with miserable cruelty You think I have no feelings, and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness; but I cannot live so: and you have no pity. I shall remember how you thrust me back into the red-room. 
- This quote is from Jane to Mrs. Reed before leaving for Lowood, explaining her true feelings towards Mrs. Reed and revealing the pain and torment that she has caused Jane, which is prompting her to grow.
"I have a Master to serve whose kingdom is not of this world: my mission is to mortify in these girls the lusts of the flesh; to teach them to clothe themselves with shame-facedness and sobriety, not with braided hair and costly apparel; and each of the young persons before us has a string of hair twisted in plaits which vanity itself might have woven: these, I repeat, must be cut off; think of the time wasted, of—“
- This quote is from Mr. Brocklehurst, revealing the terrible person and an example of some of the terrible conditions that he placed the girls under at Lowood.

8. Defining Characters (Cont.)
Edward Rochester – Mr. Rochester acts as the most important defining character for Jane. Through his establishment as an employer and a potential lover for Jane, her character is pushed to a new level of growth. With her initial stay at Thornhill, Rochester's manor, Jane is given a new set level of standards in life. This level is much higher than the ones she had previously experienced, and gives her more character growth and boosts some defining traits of her, such as confidence and comfort. With her stay at Thornhill, she grows closer to Rochester, and gains some level of independence and strength by exerting herself against him, and not being walked all over, like before. His presence in the novel sparks Jane’s leveling of a standard of living, but also sparks the final push of inner peace within Jane and pushes her to become a finalized version of herself, strong and independent. (Prime Example: Mr. Rochester sparking Jane’s desire to leave by finally revealing the secret of his hidden, insane wife)
St. John – With the presence of St. John, Jane is given a final chance to really see who she is and who she wants to be. His character and presence appears at the very end for a decent amount of time, and acts as an aura for change. Because St. John is the opposite of Rochester, the presence that he has is equal, but different in it’s approach. Due to the fact that he wants something different from Jane, it allows her to question what she wants in life, and complete her independence and growth. His presence is the final stepping stone for Jane in the novel. (Prime Example: St. John telling Jane about her inherited money, and newly acquired financial independence)

9. Question Prompt
Novels and plays often include scenes of weddings, funerals, parties, and other social occasions. Such scenes may reveal the values of the characters and the society in which they live. Select a scene in the novel and discuss the contribution the scene makes to the meaning of the work as a whole.
- The wedding of Rochester and Jane, where everything essentially went bad for their relationship (temporarily), completely changed the viewpoint of Rochester in Jane’s eyes. He was made out to be a fraud, and a unfaithful man, and this revelation tore Jane and Rochester apart and even prompted Jane to leave. As it pertains to my prompt however, this move by Rochester (also classified as a part of his presence) caused Jane to depart towards her final destination where she would find herself, and complete her growth with the addition of financial independence.

10. Pivotal Moments
(Insert previous moment and explanation about Jane and Rochester's wedding)
Jane’s locking up in the red room was a pivotal moment in the novel because that was essentially the final straw for Jane in terms of remaining stagnant at the stage which she was at in the beginning of the novel. (It was also a part of Mrs. Reeds presence on the novel, and the effect that it had on Jane’s growth.) After the traumatic experience in the Red Room, Jane began her journey away from her starting point and began growing as a character, meeting all the other characters whose presence’s helped her grow.

11. Citations and Source info
Shmoop Character List
Jane Eyre Book chapters: 1, 6, 7, 26, 33
Bing Images