In many works of literature, heroes have mentors who guide them through challenges as they go about their journeys. In fact, one of the major characteristics of the “INP of Romance,” a literary template that describes each step of a hero’s journey, is the role of a mentor figure. Many major works of literature, such as the Harry Potter series, include a character who plays this role. In Harry Potter, the clear mentor is Dumbledore, Harry’s headmaster. Dumbledore consistently guides Harry as he learns how to harness his magical powers and use them to destroy Voldemort, the evil wizard. However, a book does not need to have only one mentor, nor does that mentor have to necessarily be a good influence on the main character. One noteworthy example …show more content…
Reed. Although Mrs. Reed is considered one of Jane’s mentors throughout the novel, she does not act as a typical mentor. Instead of gently guiding Jane on how to act and what to do, Mrs. Reed instead abuses Jane, both physically and mentally. The first occurrence of Mrs. Reed’s unfavorable mentorship is very early into the book when Jane first introduces her to the reader. Jane explains to the reader that, “[Mrs. Reed] really must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy children” (Bronte 3). Mrs. Reed displays that she does not think that Jane deserves to be treated as a real child; this teaches Jane the effect that people’s perception can have on an individual. While Jane could say that her aunt is right and she is inferior to other children, instead she learns how painful it is to be treated unfairly and later becomes passionate about treating others in a different, more positive way. In another part of the novel, Jane is blamed for something that her cousin, John Reed, did to her. As John Reed, “grasp[ed] [Jane’s] hair…[Jane] felt a drop or two of blood from [her] [head]” (20). Jane, in self-defense, hits him. While John Reed receives no punishment from his mother for abusing Jane, Jane is put into solitary confinement within the house by Mrs. Reed for her actions. Though this was not a positive experience for Jane, she learns from the way Mrs. Reed treats her son that it is not good to always believe one’s child is perfect and others are the problem. Another instance where Mrs. Reed is a negative mentor towards Jane is when Mr. Brocklehurst comes to Gateshead. While he is there, Mrs. Reed tells him all about how Jane is a liar and has “a tendency to deceit” (39). Although this is not true, it is apparent to the reader that Mrs. Reed’s intent, contrary to how she explains her actions a bit later in the book, is to harm Jane’s reputation at Lowood. Jane
Jane begins her life in isolation at Gateshead, abused and misunderstood by her Aunt Reed and cousins. She is constantly reminded of her worthlessness to them and the fact that they view her as a burden, and is literally
In many U.S. history classes all over the country, the Alexander Hamilton Vs. Aaron Burr duel is taught with little detail. Hamilton is a founding father, Burr is the Vice President, they challenge each other to a duel and Hamilton dies. However there is much more to the story as Hamilton consciously made the decision to throw away his shot and give Burr all of the power. This may not be the kind of decision that most people would make in this situation, but for Hamilton it was necessary. Alexander Hamilton had been through a great deal of hardships in his life. In the beginning his childhood was dark and filled with death, he tainted his love life and career with an affair, he gave his son fatal advice, and by speaking what he thought to be true he landed himself a spot in the duel against Burr. Within all of these aspects, Hamilton found himself helpless and no matter what he tried, he could not seem to fix the situation. Perhaps Hamilton decided to lay his fate in the hands of someone else for once because he never truly felt in control.
Throughout the book, Jane endures both physical and mental abuse from multiple individuals; however, she defies them by fighting back in her own way. The abuse starts at Gateshead when her older cousin, John Reed, verbally and physically assaults Jane. Brontë writes on page 12, “He bullied and punished me; not two or three times in the week, nor once or twice in a day, but continually: every nerve I had feared him, and every morsel of flesh on my bones shrank when he came near.” Jane consciously chooses to defend herself after John strikes her on page 13 and 14, “I wonder if he read that notion in my face; for, all at once, without speaking, he struck suddenly and strongly. I tottered, and on regaining my equilibrium retired back a step or two from his chair…I don’t very well know what I did with my hands, but he called me…” Jane defies John’s authority as the man of the house by fighting back when he abuses her. By doing this, Jane breaks the typical Victorian gender-based ideal that a woman must obey and be complacent to the directive of any man in a higher position than her (Olga Zeltzer, Historical Analysis: Women as the "the Sex" During the Victorian Era). Jane’s actions,
Jane's childhood trauma results as a product of her times at Gateshed and Lowood. There were a series of irreversible problems that Jane had to deal with. She was born an orphan into a house devoid of love or respect for her. It is not overly emotionally healthy to live with the "ostracism by the Reed family and the unrelenting anxiety over the chidings of the servants, the violence of John Reed, and the punishments and berating of Mrs. Reed." (Ashe 10) Evidently, Jane had this lifestyle since she was little. This can be inferred from Mrs. Reeds loving statement "I hated it the first time I set my eyes on it-a sickly, whining, pining thing" (7)
Did you know that mentors influence one's journey to achieve one's goals? In this book, the alchemist Santiago is faced with the objective of finding treasure after he dreams of it. During this process, he has people by his side helping him face his dream and teaching him what he has to know to face his journey. People like Melchizedek, the crystal merchant, and the alchemist himself all serve as mentors to Santiago, each imparting crucial lessons and wisdom that shape Santiago's pursuit of his legend and help Santiago find his true purpose and fulfillment. Delving deeper into Santiago's mentors, we meet Melchizedek, the king of Salem, at the start of Santiago's journey and the start of Santiago's awakening.
Despite the blood relation between Jane and her aunt and cousins, they treat Jane with sincere disrespect and animosity. " Then Mrs. Reed subjoined: 'Take her away to the red-room, and lock her in there'. Four hands were immediately laid upon me, and I was borne upstairs". Jane's Aunt is a selfish woman and despite knowing the fact that Jane has no other relative, she still lacks any sympathetic feeling towards her.
In the first few opening chapters Jane Eyre is seen as a mentally and physically abused child, during her years at Gateshead Hall. John Reed displays violence towards Jane in the first chapter. He punishes and bullies Jane; it is not known why the Reed family resent her so much. Her situation is seen as desperate within the first few paragraphs. Her cousins and Aunt make her life impossible and unbearable, she is not seen as a member of the family. Jane is simply seen as ‘’less than a servant’’ as she does ‘’nothing for her keep’’.
Furthermore, this demeaning and negative attitude Jane is exposed to is further instigated when her cousin, John Reed, expresses her situation by saying: "You have no business to take our books; you are a dependent, mama says; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemen's children like us". The truth of Jane's unfortunate situation is expressed against her which results in her feeling no true support from this family and confides only in her childhood nursemaid- Bessie, who although behaves inconsistently and has “a capricious and hasty temper”, is the closest mother figure to her. Furthermore, the friction between Jane and John is further emphasised when the first physical aspect of violence is introduced to the reader through a graphic portrayal, further showing the ultimate rejection Jane experienced
In the novel’s exposition, Jane Eyre, a ten-year-old child, begins to face gender injustice by his cousin, John Reed. In “In the Window-Seat: Vision and Power in Jane Eyre,” Peter J. Bellis states, “John Reed claims the house and its contents as his . . .” (641). He exerts authority on her simply because he is a male by abusing and bossing her, making it seem as if he owns her. The situation starts holding Jane back as a female, leaving her defenseless, as “the powerless victim of its oppressive force” (Bellis 641). John greatly contributed to Jane’s suffering as a child, by abusing the power he had over her. She speaks of how John harshly demanded of her, saying, “I want you to come here;’ and, seating himself in an armchair, he intimated by a gesture that I was to approach and stand before him,” referring to him as “master” (4). The simple act of her needing to call him “master” demonstrates the dominance he possesses. He deprived her of freedom such as simply reading a book by controlling her life at a young age, and it
A mentor often “gives wisdom” to the main character (Tabb). Harry finds mentors in the form of both teachers and peers. Harry’s friends tend to act as his “conscience” (Boll 6) while teachers lead him on a journey of self-discovery. While not outright giving him advice, their teaching offers a method for Harry to learn more about himself. Rowling uses these characters to efficiently develop Harry’s character while not outright explaining his attributes.
I should say I loved you, but I declare I do not love you: I dislike
Readers learn early in the story that Jane Eyre does not fit contemporary society's idea of a proper woman. As a child, Jane stands up to her aunt, Mrs. Reed, on more than one recorded occasion when Jane feels she has been treated unjustly (Brontë 28, 37). At one point, Jane bluntly tells her aunt, "I declare, I do not love you: I dislike you the worst of anybody in the world except John Reed [Jane's cousin]" (37). This was at best improper behavior for a child in Victorian society, and it was most definitely seen as improper by Mrs. Reed who grows to hate Jane, calling her "tiresome, ill-conditioned" and "scheming" (26). But her aunt's reprimands and hatred do not deter Jane from speaking up in the face of injustice.
Jane is a spirited woman, and her emotions give her a strength of character that is unusual for a female heroine of this period. Rather than being nervous and oversensitive, Jane expresses her feelings through anger. The first example of this occurs at one of the pivotal moments of her life, when John Reed hits
In the book and movie series Harry Potter, the famous boy wizard goes through his many years of schooling at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, making new friends like his best friends, Ron and Hermione, as well as creating enemies like Draco Malfoy. Along with his friends Ron and Hermione, Harry continuously puts an end to the many different forms of the evil Lord Voldemort that tries to attack Harry each year. It is later on in the series when the interactions with Lord Voldemort become more frequent and more deadly. This is when Albus Dumbledore, the famous Headmaster of Hogwarts, teaches, instructs, and guides Harry to his ultimate goal of defeating Lord Voldemort, finally bringing peace to their world once again. In relation to the Jungian Literary Archetypes, Harry Potter represents the Hero, Albus Dumbledore represents the Wise Old Man, and Lord Voldemort represents the Witch or Sorceress.
Those living in the Victorian period,consider it normal to treat people with cruelty. As a child, Jane constantly faces oppression. Jane faces constant abuse while living with her aunt at Gateshead. Bronte illustrates this point through Mrs. Reed, the Aunt Jane is sent to live with, who says, “Take her away