Research task 4

Find and mark all descriptions of Jane’s dreams and paintings in the novel. Why are they included in her autobiography? What do they tell us about Jane, i.e. how do they contribute to characterisation? How do they operate as a narrative?

References of Jane’s paintings are found on...-Page 78: “That is one of my paintings over the chimney-piece.”
-Page 106, 107, 108: “Adele showed me some sketches this morning which she said were yours.”
-Page 110: “and had sent for my portfolio”
-Page 137: “and draw in chalk your own picture”
-Page 199: “One morning I fell to sketching a face”
-Page 314: “Had I done these pictures?”
-Page 315: “them I got my palette and pencils”

References to Jane’s dreams are found on...-Page 188: “that had not brought with it a dream of a infant”
-Page 207: “I dreamt of Miss Ingram all that night”
-Page 240, 241: “I continued in dreams the idea of a dark and gusty night.”
-Page 272: “I dreamt I lay in the red-room at Gateshead”
-Page 312: “I used to rush into strange dreams at night

Jane’s dreams play a significant role in explaining, to her, as well as to the reader, what her thoughts are occupied with. Her dreams act as a narrative to direct to the reader what emotions is hidden behind her morbid facial expression. It is a way to improve the reader’s understanding of her insecurities, her fears and the baggage she still carries with her from her past. Her imagination, being a noticeable part of her personality but also greatly fed by the books she has read, has a great influence on these dreams. Being a reader, shows her inquisitive mind; a mind maybe too inquisitive seeing as it fails to rest to rest at night. Jane’s nature is to wonder, to observe and to attempt at unravelling the ways of her society. The emphasize on her dreams help to correctly describe her personality and the previously referred to characteristics.
Furthermore, her love for painting also contributes to her eccentric personality. Through her paintings she is able to express her thoughts and feelings; otherwise kept bottled up.