Examples Of Morally Ambiguous Characters In Jane Eyre

There is a force of nature that overcomes people to prevent them from being entirely morally just or morally unjust. It is often seen when there are secrets that are hidden or if one’s motives behind actions are questionable. Although this applies to the real world, it is also frequently recognized in novels. Throughout Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca, it is evident through two characters, Edward Rochester and Maxim de Winter, that a person can be morally ambiguous. In Jane Eyre, Edward Rochester is known to contradict his actions. His motives are questionable in almost every aspect. He and Maxim de Winter are depicted as moody, mysterious, and troubled. Both characters in the novels are secretive and have an unsolved

Maxim de Winter, like Edward Rochester, can be regarded as cryptic. Both characters keep secrets from their supposed lovers and do some doubtful things but, they have reasons behind those actions whether they are justified or not. In the novel Rebecca, Maxim de Winter’s late wife was mysteriously lost at sea, yet one year later, the town is struck with news that the woman Maxim identified last year was not Rebecca. He has no choice left but to admit to murdering Rebecca to the narrator. In no way is this action moral whatsoever, however, Maxim cannot be believed to be one hundred percent wicked. Carola Campbell and Gabrielle Mander summarize Rebecca with a compelling point how “she was cruel and manipulative, and soon after their wedding she began having numerous affairs. Fearful of scandal, Maxim agreed to her offer: she would outwardly appear as the perfect wife if he allowed her to live privately as she pleased.” (Campbell and Mander). Maxim was trapped and found the only way to escape was by killing her. Despite all the superior talk about Rebecca, Maxim contrasts them and reveals Rebecca’s true horrid behavior. She tortured him and he remarks how Rebecca was like a man who, “starts drinking. He goes easy at first, just a little at a time, a bad bout perhaps every five months or so. And then the period between grows less and less.” (Du Maurier 279). He lived with her for years before she started threatening him and until he finally snapped, grabbed a gun, and shot her. Devastating as it is for a human being to do this to another, he was able to free himself from being tormented. Maxim's moral ambiguity has a remarkable effect on the novel as a whole. His cold personality was the root for their marriage struggles. Maxim divulging the truth about her, the new Mrs. de Winter had finally cleared up all the lies and deceit about their marriage. Although it isn't glorious, Maxim