Essay about Jane Eyre: The Freedom of Love

In the novel by Charlotte Bronte, "Jane Eyre", there is a constant battle of love versus autonomy in Jane, the main character. At points Jane feels as if she would give anything to be loved. Yet over the course of the book Jane needs to learn how to gain affection of others without sacrificing something in return.

Have you ever read the first chapter of the book and decided right away whether you were going to enjoy that book or not? After reading chapter one of the three novels Emma, Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre the one that grabbed my attention and left me wanting to know more was Jane Eyre. The three novels had similarities and differences between tones and writing styles. All of the novels began with a conflict for the characters. Each protagonist is faces with a situation of concern that affects them.

It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine, and millions are in silent revolt against their lot. Nobody knows how many rebellions besides political rebellions ferment in the masses of life which people earth. Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do … It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex. (Bronte 112-13)

The novel Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Brontë depicts a young girl in England who suffers at the dramatic loss of both her parents and loving uncle. She was left to a rude, maniacal step-aunt named Reed who allows her to be beaten with books and locked away in “Red Rooms”. Eventually she was sent away to the Lowood School were she was then tortured, educated, and made “like a lady.” It is shown throughout the novel that she faces persecution by her own thoughts and actions at the persecution of her happiness and future.  “Charlotte Brontë uses various characters to embody aspects of reason and passion, thereby establishing a tension between the two.

With the inequality between women and men during the Victorian era, Jane Eyre remained envious of the freedom and opportunities available for the life of a man. Jane seeks liberation in all areas of her life because of her understanding of the vast, grand world immersed with opportunities. She shows significant determination throughout the entire film. As a young child, her nefarious Aunt did not weaken her, rather, she made her mentally stronger while living at Gateshead Hall. As Jane grew older, her jealousy of men intensified. Jane Eyre, although a fictional character, opened my eyes to the unfair life of a woman in the nineteenth century. Her assertion, "I wish a woman could have action in her life, like a man," speaks to me

Jane Eyre is a fictional character in the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. My final paper will treat about the childhood of Jane Eyre and the evolution of his personality during the story making a connection with Victorian Era when the story was told.

Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, written in 1847, tells the life of Jane Eyre as an orphan and governess in Northern England. Throughout Jane’s life she faces many hardships and challenges socially due to these situations. Starting from the time Jane lived with her unloving relatives to her time spent as a governess, Jane Eyre covers the views of society of governess and orphans through the 19th century. Charlotte Brontë’s life is reflected in many aspects of the book. Research proves that the events that take place in this fictional story are historically realistic. From orphan treatment to governess work conditions Brontë writes an accurate representation of life during that period of time.

The novel, Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte delivers a strong feminist message. Jane was a strong woman in a time when women were not meant to be strong. She was very out spoken (even as a child) and very sure in her values and opinions. She would not change them for anyone. She did not even let men control her, which is what was expected of women in this era.

In Charlotte Bronte’s novel, Jane Eyre, the author reveals the independent, mature, and strong values of the protagonist, Jane Eyre, in the male dominated and hierarchical society with the use of first person point of view, selection of detail, and dialogue. The use of dialogue in the novel verifies Jane Eyre’s independent and mature personality and values that separate her from the hierarchical society she resides in. When being insulted by her aunt that she does not fit in with the rest of the family, Jane replies “they are not fit to associate with me.” The reply that Jane gives to her aunt shows how she can stand up for herself by choosing not to back down in the argument.

Sharp flecks of metal and splintered wood rained onto the stone floor of Wolstencroft and into Jane’s face. She squeezed her eyes shut as she fell backward and smeared the blood across her face in a diagonal line, stinging as the shards sliced deeper in. She wiped away the stuck pieces as the smell of rotten garbage overwhelmed her and fumbled around the dusty-aired hall, fingers trailing across the shaking walls and rumbling floor boards. There was too much filth and chaos for her to see anything, but it didn’t take long before West found her.

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” (P. 319) Jane boldly confesses. Jane is a ten-year-old underprivileged orphan who is growing up in the Victorian era, while having to go through a challenging series of constant disrespect, neglect, and drudgery. Charlotte Brontë’s, most well know book, Jane Eyre deserves to continue being published, since it shows relevancy to today’s readers, by demonstrating how Jane is a female protagonist, while being a female heroine, who believes in self-respect and equality. While she challenges authority, at Gateshead, Lowood, and Thronfield.

In the novel Jane Eyre, the author, Charlotte Bronte, emphasizes the message that women should never sacrifice their freedom or equality for love and acceptance. Bronte uses Janes social class and gender as tools to show the inequalities that were most often faced in that time period. Jane’s interaction with her family, friends, and male interests, are used to provide opposition to Janes freedom. Janes choices directly affect the theme because they express the importance of freedom and equality for women. Bronte uses the plot to show the struggles women face in order to balance their freedom and equality with love.

Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre can be linked to many fairy-tales. Some of these tales such as Charle’s Perrault’s Bluebeard, Arabian Nights, and many more are actually cited in the text. Others are alluded to through the events that take place in the story. Jane Eyre has often been viewed as a Cinderellatale for example. There is also another story, however, that though not mentioned directly, can definitely be linked to Bronte’s novel. This tale is none other than Beauty and the Beast, which was part of one of Perrault’s compilations. Bronte uses the ideas and themes of Beauty and the Beast to reveal the importance of inner beauty and to make a point that it’s what’s inside a person that counts. The beauty that can be

Compare and contrast the ways in which Bronte and Rhys construct the adult selves of Jane and Antoinette and consider how this shapes their relationship with Rochester.

The major criticisms of the novel in question to be the melodrama used by the author and the wickedness of character shown in Jane and Mr. Rochester. While most critics admired the style of writing and truth of character portrayal, they did not admire the improbability of circumstances or the characters portrayed.