Theme: Death and Loss

Death and Loss is a very frequently expressed theme in Jane Eyre. Throughout the novel Jane loses many people that are close to her. From the very beginning, we meet Jane this is apparent. Upon admission to Lowood Institution, Jane is asked about her parents, who are presumably dead.

"Well, all of the girls here have lost either one or both parents, and this is called an institution for educating orphans" (50).

Not only has Jane lost both of her parents at a very young age, but she is surrounded by other children who are subject to the same feeling of loss. However, the extent of death in the novel is far greater than just her parents. Soon after she arrives at this new school, she meets another girl by the name of Helen whom she bonds with and becomes close to. It does not take long before Helen falls ill and also passes as Jane keeps watch over her (83).

Later on in Jane's life, she leaves Lowood and goes to work at Thornfield, the residence of Mr. Rochester. As time passes she is approached by Robert, Mrs. Reed's carriage driver, informing her of her prior caretaker's ill status. John Reed had already passed and Mrs. Reed was very ill. Mrs. Reed, although rather cruel and unforgiving, was still a part of Jane's life. Feeling obliged, Jane returns to Gateshead where she found a very ill Mrs. Reed. After Jane proposes to let all hard feelings fade, Mrs. Reed denies her this. As she fades away Jane "gazed on [her body] with gloom and pain: nothing soft, nothing sweet, nothing pitying, or hopeful, or subduing did it inspire;..." (244).

Despite Rochester's temporary loss of his vision and his hand in the house fire, Jane ends up living out the life she always wanted despite these hardships.