Examining Religion In Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre is a novel almost ahead of its time in terms of when it was written and the ideas it conveys when one reads it. The pages read a story of a young woman who refuses to fall into the “social norms” of the time, and in the process becomes a natural heroine within her own tale. It is through the development of this character that Charlotte Bronte challenges the picture of a nineteenth century woman. Jane is a bright, fiery, passionate young woman who is left to her own devices within a family that does not want her and makes it very known from the start. However, it is through this unfortunate circumstance that Jane finds her own spirit and begins her journey towards much more.

In Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte intertwines various religious ideas in her mid-nineteenth century English setting. Throughout the novel, Jane Eyre blends various religious insights which she has learned from different sources. While Jane was young, she had only a Biblical textbook outlook on life combined with the miserable emotional conditions of her surroundings. This in turn led to Jane being quite mean with Mrs. Reed. When Jane eventually goes off to Lowood and meets Helen Burns, she learns of her religious philosophy far more than the words would mean. Over the course of many years Jane then applies the basis of Helen's religious philosophy and adjusts it for herself in relation to the

Faith and religion rests in the core of Jane’s character and actions, but also causes tension with her independence. At Lowood, she struggles to reconcile her desire to rebel against oppression and injustice with the words of Helen saying to submit like Christ. She chooses to submit, experiencing an “extraordinary sensation”, feeling “as if she was a martyr” (67). Through her submissions, she learns to be virtuous. This virtue is challenged when she must choose either to be Rochester’s mistress, or to forsake the man she loves, jeopardizing her happiness. Abiding by God’s law, she leaves, believing that “God directed [her] to a correct choice” (366). Jane faces her fiercest tension when she faces St. John’s proposal to marry him and become a missionary’s wife. She desires to continue in God’s will, telling St. John that “I will give my heart to God”, but knows that marrying him goes against her every desire. She wishes to be free from St. John; she desires her independence. She nearly submits, were she “but convinced that it is God’s will” that she marry St. John (426). She prays for Heaven to “show [her] the path” (426). Jane truly seeks God’s will, and in return, “seemed to penetrate very near a Mighty Spirit” (427). Her devotion to God is rewarded as she prays in her “different way to St. John’s” (427). God releases Jane from a life married to St. John and allows her to return to Rochester and become his wife. Jane’s faith in God allows her to make virtuous

Religion and the supernatural both play a huge role in developing the theme of independence in Jane Eyre. Almost every major plot sequence in which religion or the supernatural appear is eventually used to strengthen Jane’s independence and lead her onto a new setting. For instance, in the first setting at Gateshead, the first supernatural event occurs, when Jane believes she sees a ghost. This event helps to support the cause of Jane getting away from Gateshead to earn a bit more independence at Lowood. The first real instance of religion in the story does the same thing at Lowood. She can see that she does not want to follow the examples of either Brocklehurst or Helen Burns when it comes to Christianity, and this partly influences her to

Throughout the novel, Jane Eyre, Jane encounters a number of characters that bring to light different religious reflections. These reflections can be observed through her discussion about religious matters with other individuals. On the onset of the novel, Jane was asked how she could avoid going to Hell. In response to this deep question, instead of turning to religious ideals, Jane simply stated “I must keep in good health, and not die” (Brontë 31). In contrast, later in the novel, Jane turns to prayer in her time of need. Through each of these encounters, Jane seems to be shaped and molded in her concepts of religion, both internally and externally. As characters like Helen Burns and St. John step into Jane’s life, she sees a strong level

It seems obvious that Jane is a true Christian and supports these ideals, for it is much harder for her to refuse John’s hand in marriage, representing religion, than Rochester’s hand in marriage, representing desire. Rivers even tries to trick Jane into the marriage by saying, “ … and do not forget that if you reject it, it is not me you deny, but God” (Bronte 471). Charlotte Brontë emphasizes the fact that Jane was very conflicted in this decision, but follows her instinct in the end. Furthermore, Jane approaches Christianity with the idea of a loving God, like Helen, rather than an

An immediately evident parallel in Jane Eyre and A Portrait of the Artist of the Young Man is the presence of religion as both a moral pressure and rigid outline for society. Both protagonists struggle to find the middle ground between worldly satisfaction and moral purity. Stephen Dedalus’ fluctuation between devotion and denial for the Catholic church, as well as Jane Eyre’s rejection of certain aspects of religion and acceptance of others, reveal that humans naturally find moderation in everything they do and that everyone uses their own personal experiences to define society and limit their universe, rather than accepting preconceived ideas, such as those presented by religion.

Whether it be in relation to foreshadowing, atmosphere or deeper understanding. By including Judas in Jane's life, betrayal and sin are expected to come about, and by having Jane recite st. Matthew, the concept of purity clashes and contrasts with the underlying fascism present in Christian faith. Furthermore, Jane's idea of morality set by Christianity comes between her and her happiness. Though Christianity is supposed to symbolize purity, innocence, and freedom, the examples provided portray the religion as a constraint and a bearer of bad

The theme of religion is present throughout all of the book, but most notably during the Lowood section due to the varying forms of Christianity seen in different characters. While Jane struggles to find her own interpretation of Christianity, she is subjected to a few characters including Helen Burns and Mr. Brocklehurst, who pose very different ideals and ways of acting for her to consider. On one hand we have Mr. Brocklehurst, who is extremely cruel and does terrible things to children under the guise of cleansing their weakness, yet he treats his own family like royalty, showing his true hypocrisy and the fault of his ways. Jane very obviously does not want to take up this form of Christianity, so she looks to another source, Helen. Helen

For example the character Helen Burns is a person who has a positive impact on Jane’s life and shows Christianity in a better light. Helen preaches forgiveness and tolerance saying “Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you and despitefully use you (58).” This shows the positive view on Christianity that Brontë has by showing the forgiving and selfless nature the religion gives people. Helen and her views shape Jane’s life and religious views in a very powerful and significant way. They go on to be the factor that allows Jane to forgive Mrs. Reed and be a better person. Even when we see another form of extreme Christianity in St. John, Jane still applauds his commitment, even though she finds herself unable to share a life with him. It can be shown that she respects him very much in that the novel ends with his words, “My Master, has forewarned me. Daily He announces more distinctly, ‘Surely I come quickly!’ and hourly I more eagerly respond, ‘Amen; even so, come, Lord Jesus (493)!” With the novel ending on this note Brontë is showing how much Jane respects her cousin and his mission which in turn shows how much Brontë respects the faith and what missionaries

Throughout Jane Eyre, protagonist, Jane struggles to balance her moral duty and her worldly pleasures. As she encounters various religious influences she begins to construct her own spiritual ideals about faith, principle and their moral consequences. The first religious influence she encounters, Mr. Brocklehurst, illustrates the hypocrisies and duplicity of the 19th century church. He is a devout christian who adopts the Evangelical ideal of corruption of humankind and the need for Christ’s salvation. “I have a Master to serve whose kingdom is not of this world: my mission is to mortify in these girls the lusts of the flesh; to teach them to clothe themselves with shame-facedness and sobriety, not with braided hair and costly apparel; each of the young persons before us has a string of hair twisted in plaits which vanity itself might have woven: these, I repeat must be cut off..” (Brontë, 64, ch. 7). Mr.

However, in A Lost Hope I focused on Helen’s meek, forbearing side of Christianity, which endorses almsgiving and kindness, because it ties in with the value of selflessness and also has a large influence on Jane in the original novel. Although protestantism was the prevalent religion in Britain during the Victorian era and is the common religion in Jane Eyre, my research has indicated that catholicism was strong within the ANZAC nurses. I have conveyed this in my appropriation through the character of Helen Burns in particular. having a set of rosary beads around her neck at all times, retaining the notion from the original text that Helen had strong connection with God, and in the end Jane is the one carrying the rosary, symbolising Helen’s influence on Jane’s religious life. Helen turns to God when she is ill and recites Ephesians 1:11: “After all, the bible says: “God always does what he plans, and that’s why he appointed Christ to choose us.”

Although Jane is not strictly a hypocritical Christian such as Mr. Brocklehurst or a symbol of the New Testament like Helen Burns, Jane manages to find middle ground for herself. Jane’s final views on religion indicate Jane’s faith and God and the knowledge and strength of her own destiny and free will that she places in his hands. This becomes more evident closer to the end of the novel when Jane’s dedication in her creed hinder and alter her life’s once clear set track as well as impacting the expected plot of the novel. This includes when Jane prays to God when her wedding is stopped by Mr. Mason in chapter twenty six or when, how she thanks God for giving her the power to leave her love, Mr. Rochester, so she can live a moral life through

Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre is presented in the Victorian Period of England. It is a novel which tells the story of a child's maturation into adulthood. Jane's developing personality has been shaped by her rough childhood. She has been influenced by many people and experiences. As a woman of her time, Jane has had to deal with the strain of physical appearance. This has a great effect on her mental thinking and decision making. Jane Eyre's cognitive and physical attributes have been affected by her environment throughout her life.

Jane Eyre, a novel by Charlotte Brontë, contains several notable themes and messages sent to its readers. Jane Eyre is a coming of age novel that is a story of a girl's quest for equality and happiness. A common theme that recurs throughout the novel is the importance of independence.Charlotte Brontë utilizes several techniques to convey this message, incorporating her personal experiences, as well as including symbolism and motifs. Charlotte Bronte subjects Jane to several conflicts that occur because of Jane’s desire for independence and freedom, such as love, religion, and gender inequality.