Radical Ideas in Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bronte knew what she was doing when she assumed the pseudonym of Currer Bell. In Jane Eyre she wanted to pose radical ideas regarding the role of women in the 19th century, but being a sensible woman, she knew that society would never accept having a woman pose these new views. It would be altogether too logical and self-praising. Though the author was never credited for the published novel it must have been equally fulfilling for her to know that people had read the opinions voiced by a woman. Bronte's novel was successful as her refreshing story captivated the attention, if only negative, of many audiences. Jane Eyre is the epitome of feminism as her main objective in life is
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Jane refuses to think any less of herself than those who surround her. As a child she naively thought herself the equal of her cousins, and often forgot that she was merely a dependent kept at the mercy of her benefactress. Bessie kindly reminds Jane of this after her retaliation to her "young master," but the stubborn Jane replies, "Master! How is he my master? Am I his servant?" (pg. 9). Jane's determination to place her eyes at the same level as her cousins forces her aunt to cast her away to seek a future far from them. Ironically, Mrs. Reed sent her away wishing her worse treatment, but Jane would be rewarded by finally being treated as an equal at Lowood as well as at Thornfield. At the orphanage, Jane develops a strong foundation for having other people regard her for what she accomplishes. Jane fondly remembers, "...I...set to work afresh, resolved to pioneer my way through every difficulty. I toiled hard, and my success was proportionate to my efforts" (pg. 91). Jan learned the most important lesson of her life there&emdash;she could make others grow to respect her by affirming her character.
Independence was born out of Jane's experiences at Lowood, and it made her a "person with a will of her own." The first sign of it comes when she arranges to leave Lowood by finding a place where her talents can be put to use. Jane shows great initiative
Having found a new strength in rebellion, Jane is placed in another oppressive situation: Lowood School. In this situation, there is little opportunity for her to resist; she has a different lesson to learn. Shortly after her arrival at Lowood, Jane meets Helen Burns, who teaches her patience and rationality. Helen is in many ways a Christ figure, accepting what happens to her as God's will and speaking often of heavenly rewards. When Jane is falsely accused and humiliated by Mr. Brocklehurst, her instinct is to lash out in anger, and she finds it difficult to deal with her emotions. When Miss Temple asks her to explain why the accusations are false, it is Helen Burns' words that allow Jane to present her side of the story fairly. "...mindful of Helen's warnings
I do not really blame Jane for wanting a new servitude. She has lived at the same institute both for school and then for working for six years. I would want to do something different for both a change of scenery and to venture off and partake in something she has not before and I believe that is what she is doing in this
Once again, Jane is unfairly judged and it appears to her that the new life she seeks is long gone. She’s labeled as the outcast, similar to the way she’s treated at Gateshead. (Moseley 3) Jane is stricken; however, Helen Burns assuages the pain. Jane’s friendship with Helen Burns plays a crucial role in controlling her zealous manner. Helen is the archetype of a pure-hearted, caring person with genuine intentions. Her ability to withstand unfair treatment while she maintains her composure provides a role model for Jane to look up to. It’s this persona that Jane desperately needs at this point in her life, especially following the humiliation by Mr. Brocklehurst concerning her fate at Lowood. She teaches Jane the importance of self-control and
A flower stands high in an empty field. It moves with every gust of wind and grows with every sunny day. At a single moment any one of the seven billion people on this Earth could have plucked it from the soil, yet for now, it remains in an upright position. Much like this flower, throughout life people are continuously influenced by those around them. Every person is changed constantly by the people around them, and their future is always altered because of this. In the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronté, Jane Eyre is impacted greatly by characters such as Mrs. Reed, Helen Burns, and Mrs. Temple. These characters, just like the flower at mercy its environment, had left a great impact on Jane.
One would think that she would grow up to be unforgiving, but Jane explains that she “must resist those who punish [her] unjustly. It is as natural as that [she] should love those who show [her] affection, or submit to punishment when [she] feel it is deserved” (Bronte 119). Jane saying this to her young friend, Helen, exemplifies how Jane was beyond her years and how she grew into being a young woman of wisdom. Her development throughout the novel is shown by her beginning as an isolated orphan in her society, yet she ended as an heiress with a family of her own. Jane who creates her own family and happiness by being independent, remaining curious and maintaining self-respect.
Ever since she was a child, Jane had always been outspoken and opinionated. Even though these two characteristics were not seen to be fit for a girl or women, Jane always had the confidence to do the opposite of what was expected of her. An example of this is in the beginning of the novel, when Jane fights back to her brutal cousin John Reed. John was a bully to Jane and in one specific scene, he calls her a rat and mocks her for being an orphan. He throws a book at her and her head starts to bleed. Jane says, “Wicked and cruel boy! You are like a murderer- you are like a slave driver- you are like the Roman emperors!” This was surprising because Jane was only a small child and small girls did not normally show anger or say harsh things like she had. After this scene, my opinion of Jane’s character had already began to form: she was one tough girl.
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
Following this dramatic scene, there are many situations in which her individualism can again be sensed. During her stay at Lowood Jane is emotionally subdued and her personality is in many ways suppressed. It is not until after Miss Temple, the person that seemed to shine light on the school, leaves that Jane realizes the restrictions that she is under. It is at his point that she has the sudden urge to leave the confinements of the school, seek a job as a governess, and experience the “varied fields of hopes and fears,
She will simply find joy through the recognition of her own positive attributes. This alone is a step towards independence because Jane was taught to feel as though she was not worthy of happiness for much of her life. Abandoning the mindset of unworthiness is a successful method of releasing herself from the grasp of Mrs. Reed. Jane is no longer dependent on negative assertions- Thus, exemplifying her freedom.
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.
Bronte’s Jane Eyre gave a voice to women in the Victorian era. Bronte embedded her feminist ideas into her novel, Jane Eyre. Her belief in marrying for love was a head of her time. Bronte used Jane to explore the depth at which women could act in society. Her ideas on women being more educated brought on thoughts of equality of a different level.
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.
"red room" she is told by Miss Abbot: "No; you are less than a servant
The Gothic Features of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte A Gothic novel is a type of literature, which became very popular in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. In this time, society was governed by strict moral codes. The "Gothics" would escape into a world of dark, supernatural and wild passions. The word 'Gothic' meant barbarous and wild and many writers liked to involve these elements in their novels.