'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte - Essay Example

1. Book Analysis: 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte 1847 Character: Jane, the main character, a lonely, excluded orphan child, is made to feel less important and worthy than her rich cousins, with whom she lives, pushed aside and tormented by other's cruelty. "I was a discard at Gateshead Hall; I was like nobody there; I had nothing in harmony with Mrs. Reed or her children.." (Chap. 2, p. 19) Despite being bullied and terrorized, she has a strong spirit, a fiery temper and a passionate nature, along with a sense of justice, all of which help her to overcome her fears throughout her life. Childhood memories of her imprisonment as a result of these, in the dreadful red room, stay with her. The significance of this are the emotional and psychological repercussions which she strives continuously to overcome. From an unloved childhood, Jane's character is shaped so that she is always driven to find love, to belong and to be recognized as a worthwhile person. She is intelligent, sensitive, loyal, intuitive and hardworking, qualities which she applies to her job as teacher at Lowood Hall, and elsewhere. When Miss Temple marries and leaves, Jane has lost a beloved friend, but shows an adventurous and 'modern' outlook, a bravery which allows her to expand her world. "..I desired liberty; for liberty I gasped;...I ...framed a humbler supplication. For change, stimulus." (Chap 10, p. 102). These essential characteristics are what prevent Jane from breaking under difficult circumstances; an inappropriate marriage to St. John Rivers, or becoming Rochester's mistress. Her self-belief enables her to find a way to stay true to herself, the equal of her husband, neither excluded nor subservient. She also holds a radical feminist viewpoint, ahead of its time, another aspect of a brave and spirited person. Regarding women in that society, Jane says: "It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them if the seek to do more or learn more than custom has 2. pronounced necessary for their sex." (Chap 12, p. 130) Another aspect of Jane's character deserves a mention, as it brings together the physical and spiritual elements. She has a fey, other-worldly quality, evident from chapter 1, when she sees a wraith in the red room, right up to the end of the book where a happier manifestation shows. "As I (Rochester) exclaimed "Jane! Jane! Jane!" a voice - I cannot tell whence the voice came, but I know whose voice it was - replied, "I am coming, wait for me; where are you" (Chap. 37, p. 515). Jane is one of the most fascinating, complicated and sympathetic characters in literature. Conflict: There are several areas of conflict in the novel, but that most personal to Jane is her desire to be loved and belong, which conflicts with her need for autonomy, equality and self-sufficiency. She must find a way to achieve a balance which allows all needs to be met. That this is achieved is evident in her comments in Chapter 38. " I am my husband's life as fully as he is mine... To be together is for us to be at once as free as in solitude, as gay as in company." (p.519) She also has to contend with her ideas of morality and the need for physical affection and fights an internal battle, between the body and the spirit. By refusing to be Rochester's mistress, despite loving him passionately, " I longed to be his, I panted to return.." "still I could not turn, not retrace one step. God must have led me on.." (Chap. 26, p. 369 and 370), she wins that battle. Further conflict arises with St. John Rivers' offer of marriage, which would deny her emotional needs and merely be a form of moral duty and subservience, compromising Jane's integrity. "I broke from St. John, who had followed and would have detained me. It was my time to assume ascendancy. My powers were in play and in force." (Chap. 35, p. 484). In a wider sense, conflicts between the worlds of the rich and the poor, justice and inequality, Victorian charity and hypocrisy are explored and exposed. Miss Temple at Lowood represents true Christian charity, in sharp contrast to Mr. Brocklehurst, a 'good' preacher and a greedy, self-serving hypocrite. "I (Brocklehurst) find...that a lunch consisting of bread and cheese, has twice been served out to the girls during the pas fortnight - how is this" 3. "I must be responsible for the circumstance, sir, " replied Miss Temple. " the breakfast was so ill prepared that the pupils could not possibly eat it." (Chap. 7, p. 74). Starving the body, improving the soul is Brocklehurst's philosophy, while depriving and abusing children and living in luxury himself. The position of governess also indicates a conflict, where the governess was expected to be educated and cultured to an aristocratic standard, while being a paid employee with the status of a servant. Such double standards reflect not only Jane's situation and personal conflict, but that of many other women in Victorian society. Her demands for the recognition of women's rights also conflict with the conventions of the times, that women are nurturers, homemakers and should not seek any other physical or intellectual satisfactions. While it may appear that Jane's personal conflicts are resolved, by her happy marriage to Rochester and a family of sorts with young Adele, most others are not. Interestingly, Jane's equality was only fully achieved because she has a fortune of her own when she returns to him, and he is helpless while she has the strength. This may be a cynical viewpoint, but it shows that wealth and status did finally contribute to the resolution of her particular conflicts. Morality: From the outset, it is apparent that Jane tried to lead a moral life. She is seen to possess a deep understanding of what is right and fair. Her passionate anger at injustice is evident throughout the book. Even with the knowledge of repercussions, she cannot remain silent. "Wicked and cruel boy!..You are like a murderer - you are like a slave driver.." (Chap. 1, p. 13). Jane knew that bullies of any age, type or sex were evil. At Lowood, she understood how those who did not love or like a person were themselves undeserving of affection or loyalty, "But I feel this, Helen; I must dislike those who, whatever I do to please them, persist in disliking me; I must resist those who punish me unjustly. It is as natural as that I should love those who show me affection..." (Chap. 6 p. 69). Jane discards the views of loving thine enemy, duty above one's own needs, which hopes for glorious recognition and heavenly reward, and the strict Evangelical tenets 4. of hypocritical believers. She finds her own moral code, based on doing her very best in any situation, in keeping love and loyalty as precious things to guide her in life. Jane has been hurt, but will not hurt others, she is not vengeful, attempting to overcome her sufferings, using inner strength and convictions, along with a strong belief that God is helping her. This never wavers, she uses it to achieve that balance, to continue to stay true to herself. Examples of this code in action may be seen in her treatment of the young girl Adele. " I took care she should never want for anything that contribute to her comfort." ( Chap. 38 p. 519)., and in her treatment of Rochester. Her own way of being a good person, her belief in God, are what Jane uses to keep her living a sincere life which embodies real honesty and generosity of spirit. She will not break her code, though it hurt her to abandon the love of Rochester, nor marry him when he already had a wife. This action was not due to society's constraints or the loss of reputation, had she become a mistress, but because she considered it dishonorable to steal another woman's husband, no matter what circumstances existed. The love and loyalty Jane extends to those who love and care for her is more truthful than those who would pretend to care, and only do so when everything is going well. The alteration in Rochester's appearance and his helpless blindness are no deterrent, as Jane understands the true meanings of generosity, loyalty, and how being true to oneself brings happiness in the end. "To be your wife is, for me, to be as happy as I can be on earth." "Because you delight in sacrifice". "Sacrifice! What do I sacrifice.....Famine for food, expectation for content. To be privileged to put my arms round what I value -.." The moral strength of character of the excluded, unloved child has enabled Jane to become a fulfilled and happy woman, and allows her natural goodness to be expressed without fear. Works Cited Bronte, Charlotte, 1847. Jane Eyre Published by Penguin Classics, 2006, London Read More