In the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontё, Brontё asserts that even a woman living in the lowest and most demeaning levels of life can rise up to become more. Jane is a girl growing up in a world where a woman cannot truly become independent, she goes through many different experiences and meets people who she will grow to cherish. Jane will prove to everyone soon enough that she is more than anyone ever thought her to be because she will persistently attempt to rise above her station in life. Jane is seen by the world as a “poor orphan who should be grateful for the table scraps she is given by her benefactress”. Jane was seen as, less than a sister, but worse than a lowly servant because she did nothing to eat the food on her plate. As Jane …show more content…
Jane manages to rise above her place as a simple teacher at Lowood, to become a respectable governess and once again rise above being a simple orphan. From becoming a governess, Jane simply kept growing up to the point where she was as brilliant as any noble lady in Edward Rochester's eyes. In our modern world, an education can change your life from a small apartment to a beautiful mansion, which is similar to what happened to Jane. Mr. Rochester believed Jane was more than worthy to have jewels and beautiful garments, he began to think of Jane as a true equal. When Jane had finally risen above who she once was she once again falls, she fell into a state of a lowly beggar. Despite Jane becoming dirt poor, Jane’s mentality did not change, she remained kind and wise. So when Jane finally returns at Mr. Rochester’s side, she is content with her position, she is no longer living a life of complete luxury, but she would live a modest lifestyle. Jane Eyre proves to us that despite being an orphan, or a beggar, you can rise above your past to live a better future, but despite your present you must never forget where you
Women who had no claim to wealth or beauty received the harshest of realities in America’s Victorian era. Author Charlotte Bronte – from America’s Victorian era – examines and follows the life of a girl born into these conditions in her gothic novel Jane Eyre (of which the main character’s name
Jane Eyre is a very motivated character. Motivated by her detest against those who stood higher than her. She goes on to do everything in her power to prove that a person isn’t defined by their riches, and is in fact, consumed by them. It all started from the rivalry of her and her wealthy and abuse aunt. She was motivated to excel in her studies, in hope of proving to herself that true happiness can be found, not by riches, but by hard work. When Jane has a surprise visit from Bessie, she requests Jane to show off her talents, and when Jane plays the piano and shows Bessie her paintings, she says, "The Miss Reeds could not play as well!", "Well, that is beautiful, Miss Jane! It is as fine a picture as any Miss Reed's drawing-master could paint, let alone the young ladies themselves, who could not come near it; and have you learned French?" (Bronte 92). Bessie’s responses is an indication to Jane that her hard work is paying off, giving her a sense of relief. Even
Even though Jane faces limits to opportunities in her life because she strictly belongs to neither the upper nor poor class, her thinking isn’t limited and she is able to grow as an individual unlike the characters who have been assigned to a specific class. Through Jane’s point of view, Charlotte Brontë expresses her view that the class system is harmful Jane and thus to the society in which she lives in her novel Jane Eyre.
How can a girl, who started out with nothing, blossom into a well educated, generous, blissful woman? Well, in Jane Eyre, the main character overcomes all obstacles thrown at her and makes a great life for herself. From a miserable, orphaned young girl to a happily married, well educated woman, Jane Eyre transforms immensely throughout the novel. Through her many experiences in essential locations, she grows significantly at Gateshead, Lowood School, Thornfield, Marsh End, and Ferndean.
Alexei Chen Mr. Colville Honors LA 9 22 September 2017 Insert Title Here Unless the books are in a series, it is usually uncommon for three different books on different topics to have anything in common. In the book Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, a woman named Jane Eyre has a horrendous and abusive childhood, which has led Jane to be independent.
Jane is taught at a young age to look down on people not of her caste, and to oppress them the same way that she herself is oppressed as a female orphan. Though Jane is not influenced directly by social status at all times, it is still a constant factor which Brontë makes evident. In Victorian England, a female must either be born or married into her social class, and this is what defines her. The character of Jane served to undercut the popular female stereotypes of fiction: the angel of the house, the invalid, or the whore (Brackett, 2000). Brontë creates Jane as her own force, in which she is neither the angel, invalid or whore, but a young lady who is intelligent and has pride and dignity. In this Victorian society, her unsubmissiveness and independence is her social fault, which Brontë pokes fun at (Brackett, 2000). Male Victorian writers cast women during this time as social, finagling creatures whose goals are to obtain as many friends as possible and throw the most elaborate parties. Brontë opposes this by creating Jane as an opposite of these “defining” characteristics, by making Jane a female who could are less about how many people adore her, a female who would actually enjoy a life with few companions. As mentioned before, Jane’s sense of dignity is evident. As Jane became Rochester’s governess, she is faced with the
The time that Jane Eyre spent at Lowood was a low point in Jane’s life, hence the name. Jane goes to describe the quality of life there. The food that the students must consume is often burnt and meager portions. Every girl must wear a matching straight cut dress, hair pulled straight back into an unbecoming fashion. Jane continues in further detail that Mr. Brocklehurst forced a young student to crop off her naturally curly hair because he claimed it was vain. This was oxymoronic because he and his family dressed in clothing of the highest fashion. Because conditions were poor at Lowood, Jane was often felt gloomy and discontent. Furthermore, when Mr. Brocklehurst falsely identified Jane is a scoundrel in front of the whole school, which Aunt Reed had relayed to him, Jane was profoundly wounded from it. Though Miss. Temple, the head teacher, put straight the incident Jane still held a deep rooted hatred towards Mr. Brocklehurst. However Jane did have a few blissful moments and friends during her stay at Lowood. Jane’s first true friend was Helen Burns. Being several years older than herself, Helen possessed a wisdom like none Jane had previously known. In the instant where Jane was chastised by Mr. Brocklehurst, Helen consoled her by saying “If all the world
Furthermore, Jane says “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself” (Chapter 27, Bronte.) This statement greatly represents the growth that Jane has undergone. She no longer dreads the solitude that once haunted her because she respects herself enough to realize that she did not deserve to experience such great dismay. Through independence and self-recognition, Jane has discovered the importance of loving oneself. Without the reliance on the thoughts of others, the once extremely troubled girl found bliss through a lack of outside control. In regards to her relationship with Mr. Rochester, Jane understands that she must leave him behind to maintain her own well-being. She does not allow the wealth or proclaimed love from Rochester to skew her decisions and she does not linger to dominate the life of her lover. Instead, she moves forward to continue her endless pursuit of happiness and independence.
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)
Jane Eyre is a girl who lived her young life as an orphan due to poverty and having no reliance on anyone. Jane Eyre was of middle class, but was still impoverished. Growing up, Jane became a governess and this conditioned her to know and live the lower middle class. Jane’s personality attracted society and drove her to success. Aristocrats and the commoners stated that the social class that formed the 19th century society was created by two kinds of people. The 19th century did not rely on the wealth of the people since in this era was more about social class acceptance. Jane’s job did not require any hard labor - all she did was teach children in their households. When Jane fell in love with Rochester, she began to define her moral traits. She was offered an opportunity to stay at Rochester gatherings with his colleagues - Jane
(A) One of the many supernatural things that happened during this book was when Jane Eyre saw herself in the mirror as a child. When Jane was placed in the red room she saw a bright light and she recognized it from her childhood and she was convinced that it was Mr. Reed’s ghost. Most of supernatural occurrences that happened to Jane Eyre in the book deal with ghost. In this book the author writes about things that seem scary but turn out to be harmless. When Jane is in the attic of Thornfield she tries her hardest to find a ghost. “My heart beat fast and thick: I heard its throb. Suddenly it stood still to an inexpressible feeling that thrilled it through, and passed at once to my head and extremities. The feeling was not like
The novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is a first point of view from the character Jane. Jane describes herself multiple times throughout the novel as a plain girl with no prospects. I believe this is steaming from the fact she was mistreated as a child by her aunt. She desired love, and like many children who are denied the love they deserve, she became both untrusting and had an unnatural low amount of self-esteem. This low self-esteem also steamed from the fact that she has always been penniless and dependent upon the kindness of others,
The inferiority complex that was instilled within the young, lower class during this time period caused them to resist change, and remain complacent in a constant state of oppression. Nearly the entirety of Western society subjected itself into being organized by a social hierarchy, and the notion of a mere glimpse of equality was quickly expelled at a youthful age. This state of complacency served as a source of ignition for both Jane, and Bronte as they would both fight preconceived notions of social division later in their lives. Not only were citizens of the lower class obligated to embrace their inferiority to the upper class, but in the case of Jane, their lives as a member of the impoverished community were depicted in a harrowing light. At an immature stage of their life children “have not much idea of industrious, working, respectable poverty”, but rather connect the life of lower class citizens with “ragged clothes, scanty food, fireless grates, rude manner, and debasing vices” (Bronte, 29-30). The bleak description of life in the lower class not only depicts the debilitating nature it may have on poorer member of society, but also the polarity of wealth distribution within Victorian England. A person within the social hierarchy could only travel as far as their wealth, or title, could carry them, and with a poor woman like Jane that possessed neither, their futures seemed eerily grim. Bronte was faced with similar hardships as she sought to escape
One could look through the enticing piece of literature that is Jane Eyre through a variety of lenses, two significant lenses being mythological and autobiographical. Charlotte Bronte creates an imaginative plot line that encaptures her readers and contributes to the essence of her work as a whole. Bronte combines the lenses of mythology and autobiography not only to appeal to her readers but to balance out the fairy-tale like events with realistic and real-life issues.
Jane discovers that she has academic skills and realizes that she is able to achieve a sense of competence in her life. Eventually, she decides to become a teacher. After living eight years in Lowood as a student and as a teacher Jane resolves explore new air and apply for governess at Thornfield Hall. With her move to Thornfield Hall, Jane meets different people and she has to face a world of changes and challenges. This new journey causes her personality to develop even more. Living at Thornfield Hall, Jane lives with Mr. Rochester and ends up falling for him. Jane worships the Mr. Rochester, making it the object of her worship. Falling in love with Mr. Rochester, is vital in the formation of Jane, because it helps her reach a balance between dependence and autonomy. Mr. Rochester ends up falling in love with Jane and proposes her. On the wedding day, Jane finds out Mr. Rochester was married to another woman and decides to leave Thornfield. Jane spends days walking and finally arrive in Marsh Ends. At Marsh Ends she goes to live with Rivers family, a family she never knew she had. Jane in addition to having a family makes her finally fell belonging to somewhere she also receives an inheritance from her uncle. Jane's attitude is totally down to Earth, for all that she had already lived. To Jane, the better to be rich is the autonomy that money brings because that's what she always