Examples Of Isolation In Jane Eyre

Lonely Life: Isolation in Jane Eyre

There are two types of isolation, mental isolation and physical isolation. Physical isolation is when someone is separated from a group of people while mental isolation is when someone feels alone even if they have people around them. Physical isolation can lead to mental isolation (Isolation). The theme of physical and mental isolation is shown all throughout Jane Eyre. This pattern of isolation had a negative effect on Jane Eyre that started at a young age for Jane Eyre and continued along with her until she experienced community and love in her marriage at Ferndean.

Jane loses her parents at a young age, she was first brought to the Reed 's house by her uncle. But when her uncle passed away, her aunt

Jane accidently drops her slate while Mr. Brocklehurst is visiting and he reacts by putting her on a stool and giving a speech to the other students about her. When Jane is standing on the stool she looks out at her peers, she explains "I felt their eyes directed like burning-glasses against my scorched skin" (Bronte 129), at this point Jane is singled out. She is isolated from her peers and then embarrassed in front of them. Mr. Brocklehurst says, "...that this girl, who might be one of God 's own lambs, is a little castaway: not a member of the true flock, but evidently an interloper and an alien" (Bronte 129). Mr. Brocklehurst is telling the other students that Jane does not belong. This creates a social isolation between Jane and the other children because they now have this view of her that she is different from them and does not belong. Mr. Brocklehurt then instructs, "...let no one speak to her during the remainder of the day" (Bronte 131). Mr. Brocklehurst isolates her physically and socially here, he makes her stand away from the rest of the group and then he tells the group to ignore her. This isolation negatively impacts Jane because it prevents her from creating relationships with the other students at

It isn 't until Jane is happily married to Rochester at Ferndean that she has a sense of community. Jane expresses her desire to be with Rochester when she says, "I 'll not leave you on my own accord" (Bronte 546). This is the first time in the novel that Jane expresses content with who she 's with where she is living. Jane describes her marriage by saying, "I am my husband 's life as fully as he is mine. No woman was ever nearer to her mate than I am" (Bronte 554). It is evident that Jane feels a close connection with Rochester, and this is one of the first times in her life that she doesn 't feel isolated from everyone she is with.

The theme of physical and mental isolation is shown all throughout Jane Eyre. This pattern of isolation had a young effect on Jane that started at a young age and continued along with her until she experienced community and love in her marriage at Ferndean. Jane experiences isolation from her cousins at the Reed House when she 's younger. This isolation then follows her as she attends Lowood school and when she becomes a governess at Thornfield. She doesn 't feel a personal connection to anyone until she is happily married at Ferndean. Her isolation left her with self-confidence issues and