Similarities Between Jane Eyre And Huckleberry Finn

Natali Petriashvili

EN 310

09.03.16

Jane Eyre and Huckleberry Finn as Coming of Age Novels

Since ancient history, women have been labeled as gatherers, cooks, nurses, governesses, maids, or, simply, housewives. They had no civil rights, or any rights for that matter. Women were treated as objects who existed for men’s pleasure. Until very recent history, women struggled to survive in a “man’s world.” Whether it was art, literature, music, politics, or law, women faced a vast obstacle – their gender. The society was not ready to accept that women could be as competitive, as smart, as powerful, as ambitious and as passionate as men. Most women agreed to degrade their intellect and suppress their ambition, because that seemed to be easy at the

Jane refuses to accept that her sole purpose is to conform society, be inferior to everyone and ignore her principles and beliefs. However, Jane is not attempting to escape society, she’s attempting to bend its rules. Instead of running away from it, Jane is trying to fit into the society, without having to change who she is. Throughout the years, from being an ungrateful, rebellious orphan, she developed into a strong-minded, independent heiress. In the final chapters of the novel, Jane acquires everything she ever wished for - a social class, a family and the ability to be equal to Mr. Rochester. The novel Jane Eyre is considered Bildungsroman, because, the reader is able to see Jane achieving her goals by learning, maturing, and growing. Throughout the various struggles she had to face, from the Red Room to almost starving to death, Jane learned that sometimes, especially in life and death situations, it is crucial to bend principles, show gratitude and learn self-restraint. Jane’s journey from Gateshead to her marriage was, also, a journey of Jane’s moral and social development. Unlike Jane, Huck wants to leave the society he lives in. He wants to escape the hypocrisy and be free from “sivilisation.” Huck’s desire is more vague and broad than Jane’s. Huck wishes to be free, live in the wilderness, to be able to wear old rags, smoke and “cuss.” He feels happy whenever he’s on the raft, which gets destroyed by the steamboat - the very representation of the developed technology, which is a product of the same society he wants to be free from. Huckleberry Finn is considered a Bildungsroman because of Huck’s moral development. Throughout his journey he discovers the humanity in Jim, which later on results in Huck being able to make a decision about saving his friend. Huck grows throughout his entire adventure. The main difference between Huck and Jane is their perspective