Introduction
For
this project I will create an interactive character map of the cast to Jane
Eyre. During this project I will:
·
Research into Jane Eyre and
other characters
·
Artist research from the 40s
to the 50s
·
Create character portraits
·
Interactive character map
Research into Jane Eyre and
other characters
I
have found this very useful character list that has the names of all the
characters and a quick description of their roles within the book, I have
rearranged this list and color-coordinated it so that I can make sense of the
character relationships, and from this I was able to make a map of all the
characters. For my 50s adaptation I don't want to use all of the characters as
I feel some, for example the servants in Gateshead house, would have no context
within its new setting, due to the fact that within the Regency period to
maintain a large stately home large teams of servants were employed to maintain
the house, but in the 1950s this was not needed due to modern conveniences that
could be easily maintained by one person.
Character list
Jane Eyre - The
protagonist and narrator of the novel, Jane is an intelligent, honest,
plain-featured young girl forced to contend with oppression, inequality, and
hardship. Although she meets with a series of individuals who threaten her
autonomy, Jane repeatedly succeeds at asserting herself and maintains her
principles of justice, human dignity, and morality. She also values
intellectual and emotional fulfillment. Her strong belief in gender and social
equality challenges the Victorian prejudices against women and the poor.
John Eyre -
John Eyre is Jane’s uncle, who leaves her his vast fortune of 20,000
pounds. Mrs. Reed Jane's aunt had informed John Eyre, that's Jane died during
her time at Lowood School. It wasn't until Mrs. Reed was on her deathbed, did
she tell Jane of her uncle’s existence, and Jane was then able to inform her
uncle of her aunt’s deception.
Mr.
Eyre- Mr. Eyre Jane's father
contracted typhus after helping the poor, which led to his death and to his wife’s death. After his death Jane was
sent to live with his brother-in-law Mr. Reed Jane's uncle, as he knew that her
uncle would be able to provide for Jane.
Mrs.
Eyre -Mrs. Eyre died from typhus
same as her husband, her only child Jane was then sent to live with her brother
Mr. Reed, his wife and three other children, Mr. And Mrs. Eyre had no idea what
fate would befall Jane after Mr. Reed death, at the mercy of his wife.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Edward Rochester -
Jane’s employer and the master of Thornfield, Rochester is a wealthy,
passionate man with a dark secret that provides much of the novel’s suspense.
Rochester is unconventional, ready to set aside polite manners, propriety, and
consideration of social class in order to interact with Jane frankly and directly.
He is rash and impetuous and has spent much of his adult life roaming about
Europe in an attempt to avoid the consequences of his youthful indiscretions.
His problems are partly the result of his own recklessness, but he is a
sympathetic figure because he has suffered for so long as a result of his early
marriage to Bertha.
Alice Fairfax -
Alice Fairfax is the housekeeper at Thornfield Hall. She is the first to tell
Jane that the mysterious laughter often heard echoing through the halls is, in
fact, the laughter of Grace Poole—a lie that Rochester himself often repeats.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
St. John Rivers -
Along with his sisters, Mary and Diana, St. John (pronounced “Sinjin”) serves
as Jane’s benefactor after she runs away from Thornfield, giving her food and
shelter. The minister at Morton, St. John is cold, reserved, and often
controlling in his interactions with others. Because he is entirely alienated
from his feelings and devoted solely to an austere ambition, St. John serves as
a foil to Edward Rochester.
Diana Rivers -
Diana Rivers is Jane’s cousin, and the sister of St. John and Mary. Diana is a
kind and intelligent person, and she urges Jane not to go to India with St.
John. She serves as a model for Jane of an intellectually gifted and
independent woman.
Mary Rivers -
Mary Rivers is Jane’s cousin, the sister of St. John and Diana. Mary is a kind
and intelligent young woman who is forced to work as a governess after her
father loses his fortune. Like her sister, she serves as a model for Jane of an
independent woman who is also able to maintain close relationships with others
and a sense of meaning in her life.
Uncle Reed -
Uncle Reed is Mrs. Reed’s late husband. In her childhood, Jane believes that
she feels the presence of his ghost. Because he was always fond of Jane and her
mother (his sister), Uncle Reed made his wife promise that she would raise Jane
as her own child. It is a promise that Mrs. Reed does not keep.
Mrs. Reed - Mrs.
Reed is Jane’s cruel aunt, who raises her at Gateshead Hall until Jane is sent
away to school at age ten. Later in her life, Jane attempts reconciliation with
her aunt, but the old woman continues to resent her because her husband had
always loved Jane more than his own children.
Georgiana Reed -
Georgiana Reed is Jane’s cousin and one of Mrs. Reed’s two daughters. The
beautiful Georgiana treats Jane cruelly when they are children, but later in
their lives she befriends her cousin and confides in her. Georgiana attempts to
elope with a man named Lord Edwin Vere, but her sister, Eliza, alerts Mrs. Reed
of the arrangement and sabotages the plan. After Mrs. Reed dies, Georgiana
marries a wealthy man.
Eliza Reed -
Eliza Reed is Jane’s cousin and one of Mrs. Reed’s two daughters (along with
her sister, Georgiana). Not as beautiful as her sister, Eliza devotes herself
somewhat self-righteously to the church and eventually goes to a convent in France
where she becomes the Mother Superior.
John Reed -
John Reed is Jane’s cousin, Mrs. Reed’s son, and brother to Eliza and
Georgiana. John treats Jane with appalling cruelty during their childhood and
later falls into a life of drinking and gambling. John commits suicide midway
through the novel when his mother ceases to pay his debts for him.
Helen Burns -
Helen Burns is Jane’s close friend at the Lowood School. She endures her
miserable life there with a passive dignity that Jane cannot understand. Helen
dies of consumption in Jane’s arms.
Mr. Brocklehurst - The
cruel, hypocritical master of the Lowood School, Mr. Brocklehurst preaches a
doctrine of privation, while stealing from the school to support his luxurious
lifestyle. After a typhus epidemic sweeps Lowood, Brocklehurst’s shifty and
dishonest practices are brought to light and he is publicly discredited.
Maria Temple -
Maria Temple is a kind teacher at Lowood, who treats Jane and Helen with
respect and compassion. Along with Bessie Lee, she serves as one of Jane’s
first positive female role models. Miss Temple helps clear Jane of Mrs. Reed’s
accusations against her.
Miss Scatcherd -
Jane’s sour and vicious teacher at Lowood, Miss Scatcherd behaves with
particular cruelty toward Helen.
Bertha Mason -
Rochester’s clandestine wife, Bertha Mason is a formerly beautiful and wealthy
Creole woman who has become insane, violent, and bestial. She lives locked in a
secret room on the third story of Thornfield and is guarded by Grace Poole,
whose occasional bouts of inebriation sometimes enable Bertha to escape. Bertha
eventually burns down Thornfield, plunging to her death in the flames.
Richard Mason -
Richard Mason is Bertha’s brother. During a visit to Thornfield, he is injured
by his mad sister. After learning of Rochester’s intent to marry Jane, Mason
arrives with the solicitor Briggs in order to thwart the wedding and reveal the
truth of Rochester’s prior marriage.
Grace Poole -
Grace Poole is Bertha Mason’s keeper at Thornfield, whose drunken carelessness
frequently allows Bertha to escape. When Jane first arrives at Thornfield, Mrs.
Fairfax attributes to Grace all evidence of Bertha’s misdeeds.
Mr. Briggs -
John Eyre’s attorney, Mr. Briggs helps Richard Mason prevent Jane’s wedding to
Rochester when he learns of the existence of Bertha Mason, Rochester’s wife.
After John Eyre’s death, Briggs searches for Jane in order to give her
inheritance.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Adèle Varens -
Jane’s pupil at Thornfield, Adèle Varens is a lively though somewhat spoiled
child from France. Rochester brought her to Thornfield after her mother,
Celine, abandoned her. Although Celine was once Rochester’s mistress, he does
not believe himself to be Adèle’s father.
Celine Varens -
Celine Varens is a French opera dancer with whom Rochester once had an affair.
Although Rochester does not believe Celine’s claims that he fathered her
daughter Adèle, he nonetheless brought the girl to England when Celine
abandoned her. Rochester had broken off his relationship with Celine after
learning that Celine was unfaithful to him and interested only in his money.
Sophie -
Sophie is Adèle’s French nurse at Thornfield.
Blanche Ingram -
Blanche Ingram is a beautiful socialite who despises Jane and hopes to marry
Rochester for his money.
Bessie Lee - The
maid at Gateshead, Bessie is the only figure in Jane’s childhood who regularly
treats her kindly, telling her stories and singing her songs. Bessie later
marries Robert Leaven, the Reeds’ coachman.
Mr. Lloyd - Mr.
Lloyd is the Reeds’ apothecary, who suggests that Jane be sent away to school.
Always kind to Jane, Mr. Lloyd writes a letter to Miss Temple confirming Jane’s
story about her childhood and clearing Jane of Mrs. Reed’s charge that she is a
liar.
Rosamond Oliver -
Rosamond is the beautiful daughter of Mr. Oliver, Morton’s wealthiest
inhabitant. Rosamond gives money to the school in Morton where Jane works.
Although she is in love with St. John, she becomes engaged to the wealthy Mr.
Granby.
(I will not be adding these
characters as I feel they don't fit with the adaptation into the new era)
From
this document I want to show the relationships between characters and how they
can be integrated into any era, I feel that if Charlotte Brontë was in the
1950s a she would still be writing about the same things as it was a decade of
struggle for women who at this point were still being denied equality,
As
the struggle for equality was a big part of her female protagonists who were
always strong minded and spirited individuals who long to be considered equal
to men. Also filled the struggles within the 50s would have given Charlotte a
good amount of strife to put her protagonists through, the circumstances of
each era may be different but the human condition remains.
During
the Second World War whilst the men were fighting their workforces back home
were decimated and so women were given new freedoms to be able to work, to do
roles that normally would be considered impossible, it was a chance for women
to have independence and do their bit for their country. But when the war ended
and all the men came home the female workforce were expected to easily fit back
into the kitchen whilst the men resumed their jobs, many men of the era didn't
seem to understand that taking away these new freedoms was an issue, been able
to work alongside men was a step in the right direction for equality where men
and women are considered equal.
Artist research from the 40s
to the 50s
As I want to recreate a 1950s look and style
and to use the same idyllic human form that was used Loomis and other artists in
1950s advertising and propaganda. I also spent a lot of time researching
clothing styles, haircuts, architecture and cars of the time period.
Character portraits
Here
are some examples of the character portrait; I've tried to take into
consideration each of the characters style, and also the influence of Andrew
Loomis.
I will
also include in the character portraits a small bio on the character in the
portrait and their connection to Jane.
Because some places in Jane's life are very relevant
to the characters and story, I have also tried to apply the same art style and used
architecture from the era.
Interactive character map
For the interactive character Map I went through
many variations of the design trying to make it as intuitive and user-friendly as
possible, I want the map to feel more like an interactive portal to the
characters and places. This is the iterative process that I went through, at
first I wanted to make the interactive map in a landscape format, but this was
problematic because it was unclear how to navigate.
Landscape Iterations
Then
decided to take the matter in a portrait format and to lay out design a family
tree style layout with Jane at the top, this alteration made it a lot easier
for the reader to navigate the map, but it was still quite hard to decipher the
connections between Jane and the rest of the cast. By then hold the design
again so that Jane appears in the middle and all the other characters leading
away from her, just like a spider diagram or mind map. I also made two
different line types, one for family and the other relationship, it also
included a key.
For the
design of the map I wanted the lines represent branches spreading from Jane and
to create segmented areas that could also represent periods of her life. For
the user they'll be able to select any character or name of place to explore
their own input on the story of Jane Eyre.
Portrait iteration:
Final portrait iteration:
Bibliography ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Primary research
Andrew Loomis - Loomis Figure Draw, viewed 03/05/12
Andrew
Loomis - Drawing the Head and Hands, viewed 03/05/12
Andrew
Loomis - Creative. Illustration, viewed 03/05/12
Secondary research
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Loomis,
viewed 03/05/12
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/janeeyre/characters.html
viewed 24/04/12
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/janeeyre/section1.html
viewed 04/04/12
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