The Role of Painting in Jane Eyre Adrienn Szőnyi College

In Charlotte Brontë’s novel, Jane Eyre the protagonist paints four pictures during the plot. These paintings carry meanings in themselves. In addition, the act of painting is important for the main character, since it means her a way of escaping from the real world at least for the time of the creation. The four images represent different stages of her life. This activity shows her thoughts and emotions that she does not share with anyone. It also happens that she wants to help others by encouraging them through her pictures. Although Jane does not have so much good matters in her life, painting is one of the few phenomenon that makes her happy and it is an activity which makes her feel that she controls her own destiny, and which means an escape from the real life’s issues.

First and foremost, even in her childhood books with beautiful pictures in them meant a way of being safe. She travelled in her mind to the places that she saw in those images. This phenomenon is present when she becomes a young adult, too. However, this time she is the one who creates those paintings. While she is painting, she can be her true self and can be free. Jane considers this art as “one of the keenest pleasures she has ever known” (Brontë 127)....