In Charlotte Bronte’s, Jane Eyre, the mood of the novel is greatly affected by the weather and the location of the events. The different settings, which go along with the separate phases of Jane Eyre’s life, can serve as supporting details in relation to the characters feelings and behaviors. Consequently, gloomy weather can be a signal for somber and disappointing times ahead for Jane and those around her. The same can be said for sunny and warm weather brining happier times. Throughout the novel, the depictions of the weather and the location also serve as a method of foreshadowing. When different scenes begin with descriptions they oftentimes inform the reader of what is to come. Bronte makes this a very affective literary tool because the characters and the weather and the setting all work together and play off of each other in the development of the novel.
The weather that is incorporated into the storyline provides a way to show the mood or tone of certain points in the novel. For example, at Gateshead “The cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so somber, and rain so penetrating” (Pg. 1); this opened the novel with a gloomy tone. This description of the weather informs the reader of the mood of Jane and the behavior of the Reeds towards her. The dreary winter weather is used to forecast unhappy times at Gateshead with the Reeds. In addition, sunny and warm weather appears at Lowood to bring about positive times (Pg. 67-68). This relates to the plot because the conditions at Lowood improve. The weather change sets a brighter tone for the novel after the countless deaths that occurred only weeks earlier at Lowood.
Location is also a strong way to keep the plot moving by affecting the mood. For example, Lowood School brings long days with strict rules and commitments (Pg. 52). The harsh conditions and plain setting lead to unhappy and sick students. The mood is further affected by the secluded upbringing of the children and the isolated lifestyle. Likewise, Thornfield affects the mood of the novel because it brings forth many emotions such as mystery, loneliness, and romance (Pg. 99, 100-101, 160-161). Thornfield is large and mysterious which leads to suspicion and many questions. Mr. Rochester makes the somewhat gloomy and lonely house pleasant. Charlotte Bronte’s precise use of weather and location as setting made Jane Eyre appeal on a higher level largely because of the thorough descriptions. (451).
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Jillian, Bronte was a "mood" writer in many ways (as was her sister, the author of Wuthering Heights). So your ability to chart relationships between the weather and the mood of a particular scene seems like a natural way to look at a Romantic novel like this one. You could certainly develop this idea further, looking more closely at specific examples and connecting them to those larger issues of mood and tone, in your essay if you wish to do so. Meanwhile, power ahead to the end of the novel and let me know what you are thinking of writing.
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