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Jane Eyre Identity Essay

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Imagine being an orphan, having no connections with family whatsoever, and being burdened with the idea that you will not be able to accomplish anything; how would you feel? How would you appeal to others? By a combination of analytical criticism and a close reading of Jane Eyre, the aim of this essay is to analyze how Jane’s identity evolves during her quest for love and independence and what influence the relationship with Mr. Rochester, and patriarchal traits has on her identity. Throughout the novel Jane Eyre, the theme of identity develops during her search for love and independence is strongly conveyed through the narrative strategy of Jane, as we follow the protagonist’s development from childhood to becoming a young woman.
Jane Eyre …show more content…

When Jane is punished and sent to the Red Room, she transforms overnight from a child to a more mature person. The imprisonment in the Red Room can be interpreted as a voyage into the unconscious. Jane realizes that she is considered different and identified as the “the other” by the household at Gateshead Hall, similar to the lonely characters of the moor in Bessie’s stories. “All John Reed’s violent tyrannies, all his sisters’ proud indifference, all his mother’s aversion, all the servants’ partiality, turned up in my disturbed mind like a deposit in a turbid well” (Bronte 10). When Jane expresses this thought she realizes that they are always going to feel that way. We realize this, because the narrative strategy of Jane Eyre is a Bildungsroman; it is a novel that narrates the story of the protagonist’s growth and internal development on her search for a meaningful existence in society. It is written in the form of an autobiography and narrated by the protagonist Jane Eyre in a friendly, confessional tone. She confines to us, the readers, that at a young age she felt trapped in this life. How she could not escape the confinements of the members of the Reed household’s view of her, or of the room. …show more content…

These were all inequalities that were a major barrier at the time. Even though these barriers were firm, Jane shows strength by standing up to Rochester in one of their evening conferences: “I don’t think, sir that you have a right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience” (Bronte 117). Even though Rochester makes it clear to Jane that he is older and more experienced, Jane still stands up to him and questions his right to command her during their discussions. Rochester being clever but cunning, tests Jane by spreading a rumour that he will marry Blanche Ingram. We read that through her thoughts she is feeling very insecure in regards to her looks. Blanche is a beautiful woman, and Jane is aware of how the society and men rate women regarding how beautiful they are; beautiful women have a higher value than unattractive women. Beauty in a woman is regarded more important than intellect, because a woman was expected to be an ornament without much opinion (Andersson). When we find out that Rochester really loved Jane all along and that he wants to be with her all his life, Jane is overwhelmed with happiness and

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