Importance of Art in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre Essay -- Jane Eyre E

Importance of Art in Jane Eyre      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is said that art is like a mirror to the soul, a way to see what the artist is feeling deep down in their heart.   It is as if their most personal thoughts and ideas are reflected in their work, either consciously or unconsciously.   Charlotte Brontà « utilizes this fact in her imagery and portrait of Jane Eyre.   Color and vivid description play a vital role explaining the process of emotional and physical maturation throughout the novel, from young Jane's recollection of the red room in Gateshead to her final reminiscence of Ferndean's gloomy facade. There is no better example of this process than Jane's own artistic abilities as they progress through life.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To best examine and explore the progress of Jane's emotional and temperamental development, it is important to construct a frame of reference, to have a base from which to work towards her final character. Her childhood home, Gateshead provides the groundwork of her emotional/character being, which at the beginning of the story is an isolated creature, devoid of loving and nurturing contact and shunned by humanity.   Two excerpts from her stay at Gateshead illustrate this fact, her reading of Bewick's "History of British Birds," and her punishment for striking Master John, the stay in the red room of Gateshead.   In the opening scene, Jane is found perusing a copy of Bewick's "History of British Birds," concentrating on the descriptions of the certain landscapes in which some of the birds live.   Her words paint a mental picture, one that represents her childhood,    "Of these death-white realms I formed an idea of my o... ...ituality from Helen Burns" is by no means meaningless, but it lacks depth.   To present another facet into the story, imagery reflects the conditions of Jane's life, conferring a tangible and viable outlet for her imagination, and a vehicle to her soul.   As her life develops, so does her ability, and the enjoyment she receives from this talent.   Truly, Jane Eyre would still be a great novel in the absence of the painting, but it would make it that much harder to touch the fabric of it's character's being.       Bibliography    Brontà «, Charlotte.   Jane Eyre.   Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press, 1996.    Endnotes    1) Charlotte Brontà «, Jane Eyre (Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press, 1996), p. 21.    2) Brontà «, p. 131.    3) Brontà «, p.132.    4) Brontà «, p. 233.