Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë

Their time at Lowood was one of harsh treatment and unfair conditions. While Helen was treated very poorly and often abused Jane became very close to her.  Jane and Helen had many similarities which allowed them to open up to each other about their beliefs. From Helen, Jane learns the traits of open-mindedness and accord, but she does not fully accept Helen's denunciation of materialistic items in the world. Helen's teaches Jane to work hard at school in order to better herself for the future. Helen Burns told Jane that, "If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved you, and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends" (Brontë 84). This is very ironic because by the end of the story Jane epitomizes this quote. From her time at Lowood Jane learned that if being alone was the right thing, that is what she would do. It can be seen throughout the book that Jane is a very honest person and Helen helps to advance her in seeking the truth. Helen was a very positive influence on Jane as she challenged her to seek only the best on stand for what she believed in. Despite the social perception of women in the period Jane learned that she indeed could break those laws and make her life however she hoped.  In the literary analysis article titled, “Jane Eyre’s Quest for Truth and Identity”, it discusses the very fact that Jane did not recognize her own social

Women in the Victorian era were supposed to be passive, pure, and idle; were not to be well educated; and were expected to marry.  Throughout Brontë's novel, Jane Eyre learns the realities of these social expectations and directly and indirectly speaks against them.

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.

As the reader is introduced to Jane Eyre, we learn she is an orphan, living with her aunt and cousin, Here she is very unhappy, she has no love and affection given to her, she is vulnerable, and she continuously shows it through her actions and emotions. After the incident that occurs with her cousin, her aunt decides to send her away to Lowood school. It is then that Jane speaks out with no remorse how she feels towards her aunt, and how she has felt all the time she has been with her. Jane states, “ I am glad you are no relation of mine. I will never call you again as long as I live”, which sends a clear message to the reader that Jane is genuinely unhappy where she is right now, making her very weak upon many situations.

Brontë shapes her female character in such a way that she deals with her “hunger, rebellion and anger” (Gilbert and Guber, 1979: 360), without entering into a visible conflict with society. Thus, Jane does not openly challenge the Victorian patriarchal system, because she knows how to encompass the imposed standards without letting them run her

Unfortunately, Lowood's values are centered around modesty, and conforming to society's belief in how a middle class women should act. The school raises the students to either become a wife or a governess. For eight years of Jane’s life her creative side is suppressed. Mr. Brocklehurst, the supervisor of the orphan school, says that the purpose of the school is to “render them (the girls) hardy, patient, [and] self-denying.” The supervisor of Lowood does not focus on children learning, or growing into adults, but instead focuses on then becoming self-doubting and modest. Because of the this, this portion of Jane Eyre’s life mentions very little of reading. Jane is forced to conform to the school's rules. Jane loses the rebellious side of her that expressed in Gateshead. Jane instead becomes reserved and she forgets her love for adventure and learning. When talking about her life at Lowood she says “my experience had been of its rules and systems.” Jane says this after realizing the lack of experience she has had in her life because she fell in the routine of Lowoods system. Even though Lowood was a school, they did not give the children freedom to express their interests. Jane no longer was able to read the books she had once enjoyed and was blinded by the ways of Lowood for so long that she forgot the excitement of the outside world. The only

Jane Eyre, written by Charlotte Brontë, is a literary work that details on the external and internal conflicts of a young girl living as a governess during the early 19th century. Throughout the story, Jane’s experiences lead to a development of education and a high level of maturation. Most of Jane’s life is controlled by a series of two conflicting forces that will ultimately affect her future. These ideas include the conflict of desire vs. morality and passion vs. reason. Each of the conflicting forces, whether they are internal or external, will ultimately affect Jane’s future, and eventually alter her maturity and her overall perception of societal norms.

Charlotte Bronte’s novel Jane Eyre contains a character named Helen Burns who not only develops the major theme of religion, but also challenges the theme and shapes the morals of the text for the better of the main character, Jane Eyre. She is significant to the novel, due to the fact that she humbled Jane from the beginning of Lowood until the moment she died in her arms and transformed her existence as a whole with her martyr personality. Jane and Helen’s last conversation contrasts tremendously with what many adults in Jane’s life have confronted her with, and contrasts with Jane’s previous fears. Without Helen Burns, Jane wouldn’t have become the woman she was when the novel ended.

At Lowood Jane is repulsed by Mr. Brocklehurst and his “two-faced” character. Even so, Jane fines her first true friend. Helen Burns, another student at the school. By instruction, Helen is able to prove her messages. When Jane is punished in front of the whole school, she tries to accept it. But Jane still dreams of human affection and is deeply hurt when she is scolded. Jane goes as far to say, “If others don’t love me, I would rather die than live.” Helen’s response, “You think to much of the love of human beings,” (69). Through example Helen teaches Jane too. Helen is punished by, Miss Scatcherd because her finger nails were not clean. Jane wonders why she just took it and did not fight back. Jane says, “When we are struck without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should . . .” Helen replies, “Love you enemies; bless them that curse you . . .” (56). When Helen is dying of Typhus she reminds Jane, “I believe: I have faith: I am going to God,” (82). Jane is able to draw strength from Helen’s faith, making her stronger. Helen’s messages guide Jane through her turbulent life. This is how Jane learns not to worry so much how other think of her.

This purpose of this essay is to examine Charlotte Bronte’s analysis of Victorian gender roles found within Jane Eyre. For most readers, Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre is much more than an iconic Gothic novel set within the Victorian Era. In my opinion, it’s a story about a young woman who not only defies gender role, but also the social class in an attempt to live her life; but in her own way. On top of that, readers began to view Jane as a somewhat unexpected heroine of Bronte’s novel, that while facing innumerable obstacles within a tough social class, becomes something more by the end of the story. I believe that another purpose for Bronte’s novel is to show readers that women like Jane Eyre can rise above the oppressive environment of

While she’s at Lowood, Jane lives among a hundred other girls, all completely neglected during their stay. The seemingly pious Brocklehurst gave almost no funding to the actual school but rather kept that money for himself and his family. This caused the sickness at Lowood to increase among the students tenfold. This sickness, rooted in society’s perversion of religion, affected Jane in that she couldn’t believe a kind God would let her only friend (at the time) die of sickness. This, as well as her resolve to be a good person, drives her to turn her attention to her studies, becoming one of the best students, and later, teachers at Lowood, but one who rejects religion

Growing up as an orphan, Jane carries a fiery rage against her neglectful aunt and cousins throughout her childhood. While Mrs.

Jane experiences issues in each of the settings she resides in. In Charlotte Brontë’s novel, Jane Eyre, the Reed family abuses Jane at Gateshead. Similarly, Mr. Brocklehurst harms and strips Jane of her self confidence at Lowood, the institution he manages. After her time at Lowood, Rochester betrays Jane in his home, Thornfield Hall. In order to rid herself of that hurtful emotion, Jane escapes to the Moor house. However, at her supposed sanctuary, St. John, one of the members of the household, takes Jane’s power away. Jane drifts through multiple settings in the plot as a way to cope with the insecurities instilled in her.

Men and women during the nineteenth century were thought to have completely different natural behaviors with men featuring characteristics ideal for the public world while women were suited for a private world. Women were generalized as being weak, emotional subordinates that were in all respects dependent on men (Radek). It’s important to recognize that women and men were expected to demonstrate, “traits [that] are generally polar opposites,” to one another in order for a marriage to function properly (Radek). Any woman that expressed a desire to break free from these expectations was ostracized for their defiance. The main protagonist, Jane Eyre, embodies a spirit destined to defy the social expectations of her time in a multitude of ways. Not only does Jane represent the strength and wisdom that women can display, she takes action striving for her own personal happiness. Despite a powerful love affair, she refuses to ever allow her desires to become, “completely controlled by the men,” in her life as society informed her to, but rather pursues what she believes will be the most beneficial for her own journey (Smith). A woman with the audacity to make decisions with this mindset is unheard of during this time which emphasizes the complexity of Jane as a character. Bronte utilizes this evolving character to contest the common stereotypes that modified the perception of women and created a society that provoked limitations upon

As a young child, Jane lives with her rude, arrogant Aunt Reed. Aunt Reed allows Jane to stay in her home out of a sense of duty to her husband’s request. Jane perseveres through immense mistreatment from her cousins and aunt. As Jane laments, “..you treated me with miserable cruelty..You think I have no feelings, and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness; but I cannot live so: and you have no pity.” (p.35, Bronte) Out of her aunt’s despise for her, she sends Jane to Lowood School, a place of strict regulations, poor conditions, and warped theology. Throughout Jane’s time under her aunt’s household and her initial entrance into the school, her conduct and attitude remains defensive, stubborn, and selfish. She rebels against all