Dreaming is a natural part of our being and it can predict many things and also go deep into your past. Dreams are often related to life memories and situations that your conscious mind might not even remember or be aware of, therefore dreams is something that is uncontrollable and unpredictable. The novel, Jane Eyre, has various references to the dreams of Jane and this tells the reader a bit more about the plot itself but also allows the reader to touch upon the narrative point of view.
The first reference in the novel is in Chapter 3: "The next thing I remember is, waking up with a feeling as if I had had a frightful nightmare, and seeing before me a terrible red glare, crossed with thick black bars." This is the moment Jane wakes up after she passed out in the red-room, and carries on to be a touching chapter through the manner in which Jane and Bessie's relationship develops.
The first reference we have to any of Jane's paintings is when Bessie visits her in LowoodLowood and Jane replies: "'That is one of my paintings over the chimney-piece.' It was a landscape in water colours, of which I had made a present to the superintendent, in acknowledgment of her longing just before she leaves for her job as governess. Bessie questions her about all her qualifications and skills she had gained through all her years in mediation with the committee on my behalf, and which she had framed and glazed."(79). Bessie makes the first judgment of one of her pictures in the novel, which was one of positive response.
The next time we read of any of Jane's paintings is when Rochester comes across some of them when Adele brings them to him. At first he did not want to believe that it was hers and could not see how she found the time to do them, "He deliberately scrutinised each sketch and painting."(106). Rochester seemed very impressed with them as he was in disbelief that she could make such beautiful art, this then makes it clear to the reader that Jane had some true skills and talent as to drawing and painting.
Then there is the reference to the assignment that is given to Jane to draw as her 'sentence':"'take your palette, mix your freshest, finest, clearest tints; choose your most delicate camel-hair pencils; delineate carefully the loveliest face you can imagine; paint it in your softest shades and sweetest hues"(137). Which serves of prove that it was a challenge given to Jane as to test what she could do and to see if she could do her best by creating something beautiful.
The next time we read of some of Jane's paintings is when she perceives the stature and look of Blanche and Mary, "First I wished to see whether her appearance accorded with Mrs. Fairfax's description; secondly, whether it at all resemble the fancy miniature I had painted of her; and thirdly - it will out! - whether it were such as I should fancy likely to suit Mr. Rochester's taste."(146-147).
Jane then continues to have a few strange dreams as to someone tearing up her veil before her and Rochester's wedding, she then grows suspicious as to what the meaning of all these strange dreams, noises and situations are. This is some proof of Jane's subconscious that is picking up on certain things she consciously is trying to ignore or just does not realise. Jane then asks Rochester as to what all these things mean, and he then promises to tell her after they are married for one year. This makes Jane even more uncomfortable because she is now certain that something is really not in place. This allows the reader to also become suspicious and to be intrigued by the complex and unresolved mystery that Rochester is keeping form Jane.
At Jane and Rochester's wedding it all becomes clear that Rochester is in fact already married to someone else but Rochester immediately then tries to explain and justify all that he has kept from her. Jane's reaction is something the reader only understands due to the fact that the narrative's point of view allows for it. Jane's subconscious allowed for some of the clues as to what the mystery was and therefore it also becomes a relief to the reader to know what the secret is.
The paintings in Jane Eyre is proof of Jane's capabilities, talents, and point of view of people but it also allows a ground for Rochester to challenge and test Jane. Jane's dreams are proof of her emotions and a preview as to what goes on in her subconscious, it also allows the reader to have a wider understanding of what the plot introduces and therefore is of much more importance to the reader than to the characters.
Charlotte Bronte made clever use of paintings and dreams to introduce the reader to another side of Jane and also to provide the reader with certain clues as to what the novel was attempting to portray.
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