Jane Eyre Idea

The film Jane Eyre directed by Cary Fukunga reinterprets a classic novel. The novel is one of many numerous interpretations of it's timeless ideas. Set in 1840, Fukunga's film presents a non-linear timeline of Jane Eyre's life, punctuated with flashbacks to earlier life. One idea worth learning in the text as a whole is about being an independent person when society and social expectations weigh on you to act a general way. It is your own morals, needs and wants that define you as who you are and the director positions the viewer to reflect on this idea through symbols, cinematography, lighting and dialogue.

The cinematography and lighting positions the viewer to consider the idea that our lives are shaped by social expectation and our relationships but ultimately it is out personal aspirations and moral resolve that define us. The director has chosen camerawork and lighting to position the viewer to understand that Jane is socially and personally isolated and that her personal journey involves the search for family and her place in the world. For example, when there is no man in the house, the camera shots are all close-ups and very closed in. But when it is heard that Mr. Rochester is returning, utter chaos is upturned in the house and the camerawork shows us this by using tracking shots and pans of the room such as when all the servants are in the kitchen. This positions the viewer to see how in the olden times, the point of woman was to be an accessory to a man. The expectation of a lady was to marry and provide for a male. Woman weren't really considered people, everything happened when there was a man around. Another example of camerawork is when the Ingram family is brought back to Mr. Rochester's home. The director starts with an over-shoulder closeup of Jane, the background blurry. Then the point of focus changes into the background - which is of Miss. Ingram. This camerawork demonstrates Jane's isolation from the rest of the group - how it is Jane, and the others. Then there is a slow zoom of Jane's solitary form which allows the reader to see how Jane is personally isolated from herself too. This zoom has an effect of off-reality for the viewer showing that Jane is all by herself with no one to hold her onto reality. Another example is when the director uses lighting to demonstrate her isolation. The lighting throughout the first part of the film is mainly just from a candle. By choosing this lighting, when Jane carries the candle, the viewer is positioned to see how Jane is encased in her own light. The dim lighting of the candle only throws enough light for Jane herself. This gives the feeling of isolation from everybody else. Further, after Mr. Rochester confesses his love for Jane and proposes to her there is a montage of shots. Small slideshows of a series of happy memories. The lighting is also very light, symbolizing their happiness despite social expectation. This scene demonstrates how Rochester and Jane both continue to live their lives for their own morals and wants, rather than considering other's expectations. In the 1800s it was rare for a marriage between the upper and lower class, and was very frowned upon. The point of marriage back then, was for money. But Jane looked for her own path of love, and she found it. The viewer can see this through the sunny and natural lighting outside, and montage of events. This idea was worth mentioning in the text as a whole because even in society today many teens struggle to find themselves in a society where expectations are so thick. This idea reaches out to a lot of viewers as they can learn that isolation happens to the best of us, and that eventually they will find someone who accepts them for who they are. Deviating from the normal and expectations of society is part of finding yourself and creating who you are as a person. Many teenagers can relate to this idea, which is why the idea is worth learning about. It can teach the people of society today about finding themselves away from expectations.

The dialogue supports the development of the idea that our lives are shaped by social expectation and our relationships, but ultimately it is our own personal aspirations and our moral resolve that define us. For example, when speaks Mrs Fairfax speaks of how Leah and Blair are very nice people, "but they are servants, one cannot talk to them in terms of equality." This bit of speech informs the reader that social classes did not mix in the 1800s. Servants only conversed with servants, upper class men and woman only conversed with other upper class men and woman. This was the social expectation and one not many dared to disobey. Another example is when Jane could not find a dress to wear to the gathering of Rochester and the Ingram family. Mrs Fairfax replied, "but who will notice?". This is another indication for the viewer to see how different class people were not treated equally. The worth of the person back then, was based on how rich you were. The unwritten social rules were that