Without Jane, Women Are Not the Same As rebellious and mischievous as Jane Eyre seems, Charlotte Brontë creates her to be a strong and independent woman, setting an example for many more women to come. Some people believe that she started feminism, as women were seen as less than men, while others say she was a meer example of bravery, going on far adventures without needing anyone to guide her through life. Either way, she inspired many people in her time and still does today.
Imagine being raised without having either parent. Instead, you live with people who do not want you, hurt you, and keep you in constant isolation. Jane admitted, “John had an antipathy for me. He bullied and punished me- not two or three times in the week, nor once
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Rochester. Jane immediately fell in love with him, but she kept her composure and acted as if nothing ever happened. “Her need for love is compounded with a female sense that love must be purchased through suffering and self-sacrifice.” (Dunn, 467). Jane tries and tries again to deny the feelings that she has for him by saying, “Mr. Rochester, I will not be yours.” (Waxman, 243). This proves that she could not deny it. She gives him several compliments and admits to thinking about him often. She also says, “I am independent, sir, as well as rich; I am my own mistress.” (Waxman, 256). Jane knew she did not need a man and so she decided not to look for love. “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will.” (Brontë, 297). Her want becomes stronger than her need and she makes it very clear by saying, “Reader, I married him.” (Brontë, 520).
In conclusion, Charlotte Bronte portrays Jane Eyre to be a kind of woman who respects herself enough to not be pushed around by others. She also pays no attention to gender roles in their Victorian society. Jane admits, “I care for myself...I will respect myself.”. (Waxman, 256) Although Jane might come off as rebellious, she continuously proves herself to be a strong and independent woman, who has impacted so many more women
She falls in love with the man that she gets to know on the inside, not by what is on the outside. She falls in love with the man who speaks French to her and tries to spoil her any chance that he gets. Rochester said to Jane “My bride is here," he said, again drawing me to him, "because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?” (Bronte, 87).
Jane doubts herself and her self-worth, “Why was I always suffering, always browbeaten, always accused, for ever condemned? Why could I never please? Why was it useless to try to win anyone’s favor?” (Bronte 36). Jane questioned her own perseverance.
Rochester's first interaction was when Mr. Rochester fell off his horse and Jane helped him in the woods. This might foretell that Jane is going to help Mr. Rochester again when he has troubles and need help getting through them. Then we they meet at the house, he kind of ignored Jane and he was “left alone” and “did not take his eyes off from the group of the dog and child (Bronte 175), however after he asked Jane to sit down, he immediately started acting rude and impolite. Jane felt that this was completely normal, and if he did otherwise, she would be shocked. Then Mr. Rochester deems interested in Jane because of the way she answers all his questions.
Finally, the details about society show that Jane recognizes the standards of her victorian society and needs to abide by them. After Jane had thought awhile, she no longer “felt justified in judging” Mr. Rochester and Blanche for “acting in conformity to ideas and principles instilled into them.” Though Jane wishes to be loved by Mr. Rochester, she comes to the realization that rich men do not marry lower-class women in her
Both characters, venturing out of their gender roles, find ways to compliment and figure out who the other person really is, and, in the end, a burgeoning love fully blooms. When examining the gender roles of Mr. Rochester and Jane, both are a blend of each and life seems better when conventional gender roles are forgotten. In Rochester and Jane’s first meeting, the two begin to show their blended gender roles immediately. Rochester is first described as having a “dark face” with “stern features”, with a complexion that seems, “ireful and thwarted” (146).
Jane stands up for herself through demonstrating resistance to forces that go against her. Jane does not want to marry St.John. She says what she wants to say "I scorn your idea of love" (471). She believes his love for her, is a mockery. She is not letting him get away with that.
In Jane Eyre, the roles are reversed, and Jane gets to save her feeble husband from further anguish. But before doing so, Jane learns to live independently and earns her own fortune, setting herself on more equal ground with Mr. Rochester first to ascertain her genuine feelings for him. They’re relationship grows stronger still, when they are socioeconomic equals and Jane feels that she is able to aid him
Examine how either text represents either class or gender. Are these representations problematic or contradictory? How do they relate to the plot and structure of the novel? Jane Eyre is a female Bildungsroman written by Charlotte Brontë in 1848.
Jane takes the chance of Mr. Rochester being the only proposal she receives and a chance to have a
You think me an unfeeling, loose-principled rake: don't you?” (Brontë 313). {Rochester is honest with Jane as he tells her that he is in need of someone for his own convenience. He even tells her that he got tired of them rather quickly because, even though he is not intelligent, he knows when woman are good for him or not. He seems to be ashamed of himself for telling Jane and being so wantful of women but not being able to actually love them.}
Jane fears St. John for she doesn’t like mysteries or secrets and appears to be too controlling, and is rather cold while Rochester remains intact with his own emotions, whether they are right or
Thornfield was a completely different world for Jane. It was a major change physically and socially, as a governess she had more opportunities and duties to fulfill. Jane was not intimidated by what was expected of her, yet she was excited to see what the future at Thornfield had in store for her. The power of love was unavoidable for Jane, “The claims of her former love prove stronger than her sense of duty to that honorable but emotionally shallow Rivers” (Moss 3).
In Charlotte Bronte’s novel “Jane Eyre” Edward Fairfax Rochester plays a contributing role in Janes development and growth as a character and human being in the Victorian time period. Not only does he play a large role in her independency, but in her emotional and spiritual growth as well. She grows around him whether she likes it or not. Due to Edwards manipulative and seductive nature, jane has to grow and develop in a way that has her frequently questioning her own ideals, whether that be spiritually or morally, and strengthening her independence by constantly refusing her feelings for him and adapting to punishing situations. Edward also opens Janes eyes to a world that is bigger than she realized due to his company at the house, wealth, and opportunities at the favorable Thornfeild manor at which she was employed by him.
As an adult, Jane asserts her independence by rejecting unequal marriage. When Jane finds out that the man she was to marry, Mr. Rochester, was already wed, she ran away. Mr. Rochester pleaded passionately for her to stay, revealing his unfortunate history and even threatening to use physical force to restrain Jane. Both tactics failed since, as Jane puts it, her conscience personified strangles her passion for Rochester. Being a mistress to Rochester in addition to being financially and socially inferior to him prompts her to leave him.
- Edward is an economically independent man with a favorable status and influential connections still looking for a profitable match. Jane will be the one in charge to unmask him to the audience: “I saw he was going to marry her [Blanche Ingram] for family, perhaps political reasons, because her rank and connections suited him” (Brontë 205) This manner of conduct converts Mr. Rochester from a hero into a villain, a perpetrator and “his project of