*note: submitted on time 11:00 p.m.
Jane’s art transitions through the course of the novel, depending on her frame of mind and the people she is surrounded by. At first we are introduced to her paintings that are in watercolor but have no concrete subject or theme. Rather they have symbolic references as the imagery is centered on certain bodily aspects, an arm, a corpse, a torso and elements of nature such as constellations, hilltops and water elements. During the time that she makes these paintings Jane’s subconscious is absorbed with feelings of displacement and loneliness. As the novel progresses the art work itself becomes more focused on certain themes and so it can be seen as pretty straightforward in explaining her frame of mind whereas the symbolism is now transferred through the materials she uses.
Jane attempts to extinguish her feelings for Rochester by using art as a means of control rather than an expression of passion. She creates first a portrait of herself with chalk and later uses pastels. Her portrait reflects on how she sees herself as being a lowly governess in an environment that houses aristocratic and exotic figures. This brings out her internal strife with herself based on her social class and her physical appearance as compared to Blanche Ingram. Here, Jane does not use symbolic figures, she simply writes, “'Portrait of a Governess, disconnected, poor, and plain.”The representation of Blanche Ingram is poles apart from that of Jane herself. Her use of materials in the two portraits isn’t just interesting because it highlights the exoticism of “camel hair” paintbrushes compared to an ordinary piece of chalk but the textures of the materials symbolize Jane’s life and personality compared to Blanche’s. Chalk is a simple, inexpensive material that creates a sort of roughness whereas water color is more fluid and has to be handled more delicately. Focusing on just this difference between the two materials one can assume a lot more about the way Jane views herself and is represented in the novel, compared to Blanche Ingram. Blanche Ingram represents a connection to the oriental world that only the aristocratic class has the privilege of accessing.
Through the analysis of Jane’s art work, we can also argue that the whole concept of art holds a different meaning for Jane in comparison to what it would mean to Rochester or even Blanche Ingram. Her difference in class establishes the fact that art is a part of her occupation and so she uses it as a means of control at this point, it no longer reflects her subconscious thoughts. Rather, she uses it to control or manipulate her feelings in a way that would help her adapt to her surroundings and come to peace with them.
Jane’s art transitions through the course of the novel, depending on her frame of mind and the people she is surrounded by. At first we are introduced to her paintings that are in watercolor but have no concrete subject or theme. Rather they have symbolic references as the imagery is centered on certain bodily aspects, an arm, a corpse, a torso and elements of nature such as constellations, hilltops and water elements. During the time that she makes these paintings Jane’s subconscious is absorbed with feelings of displacement and loneliness. As the novel progresses the art work itself becomes more focused on certain themes and so it can be seen as pretty straightforward in explaining her frame of mind whereas the symbolism is now transferred through the materials she uses.
Jane attempts to extinguish her feelings for Rochester by using art as a means of control rather than an expression of passion. She creates first a portrait of herself with chalk and later uses pastels. Her portrait reflects on how she sees herself as being a lowly governess in an environment that houses aristocratic and exotic figures. This brings out her internal strife with herself based on her social class and her physical appearance as compared to Blanche Ingram. Here, Jane does not use symbolic figures, she simply writes, “'Portrait of a Governess, disconnected, poor, and plain.”The representation of Blanche Ingram is poles apart from that of Jane herself. Her use of materials in the two portraits isn’t just interesting because it highlights the exoticism of “camel hair” paintbrushes compared to an ordinary piece of chalk but the textures of the materials symbolize Jane’s life and personality compared to Blanche’s. Chalk is a simple, inexpensive material that creates a sort of roughness whereas water color is more fluid and has to be handled more delicately. Focusing on just this difference between the two materials one can assume a lot more about the way Jane views herself and is represented in the novel, compared to Blanche Ingram. Blanche Ingram represents a connection to the oriental world that only the aristocratic class has the privilege of accessing.
Through the analysis of Jane’s art work, we can also argue that the whole concept of art holds a different meaning for Jane in comparison to what it would mean to Rochester or even Blanche Ingram. Her difference in class establishes the fact that art is a part of her occupation and so she uses it as a means of control at this point, it no longer reflects her subconscious thoughts. Rather, she uses it to control or manipulate her feelings in a way that would help her adapt to her surroundings and come to peace with them.
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