Use of Elemental Imagery in Jane Eyre The use of elemental imagery in Jane Eyre, sustained throughout the novel both metaphorically and literally, is one of Charlotte's major stylistic devices Bronte. The natural opposition of the two elements of water and fire ("the war of the earthly elements", as Jane says) highlights the need for the titular heroine to find a balance between points identified as extremes. However, as David Lodge observes, "we should be mistaken in seeking a rigidly schematic system of elementary images and references in Jane Eyre." The images of fire and water in the novel have their own changing associations, which are reflected in the characters of Jane, Rochester and St John Rivers. The broad suitability of images shows that they can be both destructive forces and agents of renewal. Using them as both allows Brontë to show the extent to which the characters have learned to reconcile the romantic desire for passion with the need for restraint, for it is only in this way that true personal individuality can be realized. And it can be said that this search for personal individuality, in which one is judged by one's character, and not by society's usual way of judging based on title, money or beauty, is the core of the novel. It is instructive to note that fire, used metaphorically, is used almost exclusively to describe Jane and Rochester. Fire is associated with passion, and it is imperative that characters learn that, although passion is a precious quality, without which any relationship would be cold and dead, it is not the only component of a relationship; other qualities such as mutual respect and honesty must be present. “Fire is a good servant, but a bad master,” as the old proverb says. The fire within both sides creates... the center of the card......Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1991David Lodge, Fire and Eyre: The War of the Earthly Elements by Charlotte BrontëGates, Barbara Timm, ed. Critical essays on Charlotte Bronte. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1990. Jane Eyre. Dir. Franco Zeffirelli. Perf. William Hurt, Charlotte Gainsborough and Anna Paquin. 1996Kadish, Doris. The literature of images: narrative landscape from Julie to Jane Eyre. New Brunswick: Rutgers UP, 1986.Lodge, Scott. “Fire and Eyre: The War of the Earthly Elements by Charlotte Bronte.” The Brontes: a collection of critical essays. Ed. Ian Gregor. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1970. 110-36.McLaughlin, MB “Past or Future Mindscapes: Images in Jane Eyre.” Victorian Newsletter 41 (1972): 22-24.Solomon, Eric. "Jane Eyre: Fire and Water." University English 25 (1964): 215-217.