Literary Devices: Chestnut Tree Symbolism

"I faced the wreck of the chestnut-tree; it stood up, black and riven: the trunk, split down the centre, gasped ghastly. The cloven halves were not broken from each other, for the firm base and strong roots kept them unsundered below; though the community of vitality was destroyed - the sap could flow no more: their great boughs on each side were dead, and next winter's tempests would be sure to fell one or both to earth: as yet,  however, they might be said to form one tree - a ruin, but an entire ruin" (280).

The chestnut tree is hit by lightning on the night that Mr. Rochester and Jane get engaged (261). The chestnut tree symbolizes Jane and Mr. Rochester's relationship, and is foreshadowing to what's ahead for them. The halves of the tree are apart but still connected by a firm base. Mr. Rochester and Jane are apart for a whole year, yet still manage to find each other again because their love is so strong. While they were apart, they both felt incredibly sad, just as the two halves of the tree were dead. Over the year they were apart, Mr. Rochester becomes crippled, which is similar to one of the halves falling down over winter. Their relationship, or the future of it at this point, is a ruin, but it is a whole one. They will be split apart and face many challenges, but they will still be one "tree", together, even though they're broken.