How Do Literary Devices Influence Social Commentary?

Accessed from: http://www.greenwichlibrary.org/blog/teen_central/janeeyre-thumb-323x500-9866.jpg

After reading paragraphs 8-54 from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, I decided to explore how the author used language to influence social commentary. Throughout the chapter, she uses a variety of literary devices such as diction, syntax, similes, metaphors, irony, and Christian allusions. The chapter revolves around three main characters: Miss Temple, Mr. Brocklehurst, and Jane Eyre. The setting is in a school classroom on a one afternoon. Mr. Brocklehurst enters the room and starts talking to Miss Temple, the teacher. The chapter is narrated through the eyes of Jane. You can tell that she is not very fond of Mr. Brocklehurst because she uses this diction, "his absence was a relief to me"(Bronte, Paragraph 9)."A long stride measured the schoolroom, and presently beside Miss Temple, who herself had risen", is an example of diction the author uses through Jane's interpretation of Mr. Brocklehurst as a figure of authority (Bronte, Paragraph 10). Jane uses a metaphor to describe Mr. Brocklehurst as "piece of architecture". I thought this was interesting because I have never heard of a human being described as architecture and so this signifies that he is a part of a rich social class, but is an arrogant, snobby, person.

The characterization of Miss Temple portrays her as a fragile figure who succumbs to authority and also tries to stand up for the children. For example, when Mr. Brocklehurst starts pointing out the wrongs of what is going on with the students in the classroom and tells her how it really should be, Miss Temple responds with, "Your directions shall be attended to, sir" (Bronte, Paragraph 15). Mr. Brocklehurst uses Christian allusions to describe what his mission of raising the girls a certain way is. "You are aware that my plan in bringing up these girls is, not to accustom them to habits of luxury and indulgence, but to render them hardy, patient, self-denying." "Oh, madam, when you put bread and cheese, instead of burnt porridge, into these children's mouths, you may indeed feed their vile bodies, but you little think how you starve their immortal souls!" This example refers to the wrong-doing of Miss Temple in feeding the children luxurious things such as lunch when they did not have any breakfast.

The girls are also required to keep their hair straight and plain, without any style and this is also a religious allusion that the human body is natural. I noticed that the register of language which was used throughout the chapter was in an older style. There were words such as remonstrate which I did not understand at first as well as the syntax of words that were not what I was used to reading. An example of this syntax is, "Of my own accord I could not have stirred; I was paralysed: but the two great girls who sit on each side of me, set me on my legs and pushed me towards the dread judge"(Bronte, Paragraph 39). An example of a simile is, "The kind whisper went to my heart like a dagger" (Bronte, Paragraph 41). This was significant to the connection between Jane and Miss Temple because just before Jane was called out by Mr. Brocklehurst, Miss Temple had whispered to Jane saying that she knew it was an accident. This affected Jane emotionally because she appreciated Miss Temple in her act of kindness.

The irony of the chapter centers on the Brocklehurst family. They come barging into the classroom wearing stylish clothing, furs around their necks, hair in curls, looking very wealthy. These are all things that go against what Mr. Brocklehurst has been preaching for the girls in the classroom to act and appear as. This irony influences social commentary of the Brocklehursts' as members of the upper-class of their society; people who do not respect the poor and do whatever they please without caring. The use of similes show the power of Mr. Brocklehurst's words in emotionally affecting Jane. Syntax influences social commentary by allowing the reader to realize how language had hidden meanings to relate to societal issues during the time period. For example, after reading the chapter, I assumed that the society was controlled by the upper-class and that the school girls were being forced to become conformed to a way of living that made them appear as an "outcast society" from the rest of the characters in the story. I automatically thought in my head, "this isn't right...it's not just" because when I look at the society I live in today, I realize that we are given the chance to live in a world of equality and are entitled to rights. With Jane being an orphan child, she really didn't have a choice of choosing where to live and so she becomes a victim of society.