In Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, the Victorian ideal of behavior is challenged. During the 19th century, women were expected to be timid and obedient. Jane Eyre was not willing to conform to the status quo, however, and expressed values that she felt were important. Though this created conflict on many occasions, Jane did not give up on what she knew was right; maintaining a strong connection to her personal views. Through her rejection of Victorian ideals, Jane Eyre was ultimately able to live a more joyful and fulfilling life. Rather than conforming to the established principles at Gateshead, Jane displayed early on that she would not tolerate unfair treatment. John Reed was the first character in the book to abuse Jane, when he “struck” her, “suddenly and strongly” (Bronte 13). Jane’s frustration with John led her to accuse John of being a “murderer” and a “slave-driver” (Bronte 13). While Mrs. Reed and Bessie tried to restrain her in the red room, Jane constantly argued with Mrs. Reed, who did not take Jane’s attitude lightly; these are very non-victorian behaviors. Mrs. Reed had not seen Jane resist any punishment previously, so she was taken aback by the fierceness with which Jane fought against her commands. This did not go unnoticed by Mrs. Reed, and she realized that a consequence would be …show more content…
Brocklehurst’s presence in Gateshead was enough of a punishment for Jane. The hypocritical, greedy man scolded Jane for being “a naughty child, addicted to falsehood and deceit” (Bronte 42). Jane said nothing back to the man, but her resentment for Mrs. Reed had grown. Soon after, Mrs. Reed confirmed Jane’s attendance at Lowood school. Though the school was a dreadful and sickly place, Jane felt content there and was no longer bothered by the Reed family. In this circumstance, Jane’s attitude of rebellion puts her in a better situation than she was in before, and that encouraged her to continue her life with the same outlook on the world around
Mrs. Reed likewise separates Jane from the Reeds’ social circle by confining her to the nursery while her cousins spend their days in the drawing room (22) and calling Mr. Lloyd, the apothecary for “ailing servants,” instead of the family physician for Jane’s illness (15), thus placing her among the servants. However, the servants too reject Jane from their group—Miss Abbot told Jane that she is “less than a servant” because she does “nothing for [her] keep” (9). Jane thus
As mentioned before both women have strong consciousness;sss** though Jane is even more level-headed. This, paired with her Christian influence, gives Jane the strong power of wielding her morality as a knight would an iron sword; Although* it may be heavy and difficult to use, a sword is a perfect weapon to strike down and sever incoming enemies the same can be said for weighty decisions. The *serious, shocking *moment that most refer to when tracing Jane's brave choices is when she can let her lover go. * Jane, after working at the same institutionalized boarding school she went to as a student, finds a job opportunity to work as a governess under the house head, Mr. Rochester. Because of her witty and intelligent personality, Mr. Rochester takes a liking to Jane, even talking about deep and socially unconventional conversations that range from the handsomeness of his face to the class differentiation between the two of them.
Jane was raised by two significant women: Mrs. Reed and Miss Temple. It is evident from these relationships that it is imperative to have respect and affection for a connection to flourish. Although Mrs. Reed does not have Jane's best interest at heart, Miss Temple shows her the opposite remark. Mrs. Reed is abusive and harsh towards Jane, depriving her of the love and care that she deserves. She treats Jane as inferior, excludes her from family events, and makes her feel insignificant.
Jane’s childhood was a major factor in how she would grow as she aged, as are the early years of each person. Living with her aunt, Mrs. Reed, and her three cousins, who showed her little to no affection during her ten years with them but showed to be very intellectually capable and passionate as seen when she says to her cousin John Reed “‘You are like a murderer--you are like a slave-driver--you are like the Roman emperors!’” (6). Since John was the only male in Gateshead at the time, he naturally had a lot of power over Jane, historically speaking.
It is ironic that Jane is seen as the guilty party in the incident with John Reed because John started the fight when he slapped Jane. Then when John’s sisters, Eliza and Georgina, go to “tattle tale” on Jane, their mother blames Jane for the whole situation. Jane compares John to a “murderer,” “slave-driver,” and “Roman Emperors” (Bronte 9). During this comparison, she is implying that he is a very cruel and awful person. That he would beat her and boss her around.
Jane requests to return to the Reed house, after learning about her cousin’s suicide and her aunt, Mrs. Reed’s, illness; however Rochester questions, “And what good can you do her… you say she cast you off,” Jane replies, “Yes, sir, but that is long ago; and when her circumstances were very different: I could not be easy to neglect her wishes now” (Brontë 227). Jane looks beyond that Mrs. Reed “cast[ed] her off,” implying that she has grown to let go of grudges and developed a mature mentality. The irony of Jane’s inability to “neglect her wishes,” infers how the injustice treatment of Mrs. Reed unaffectedly brings Jane to look past the situation by visiting the Reeds in a time of sorrow. In addition, Rochester attempts to convince his wedded Jane to stay with him, after learning about his mad wife; Rochester claims that his father had “sent [him] out to Jamaica, to espouse a bride already courted for” him but only so his brother and father to get “thirty thousand pounds,” Rochester further admits to Jane that “you know now that I had but a hideous demon. I was wrong to attempt to deceive you…
Arguably, Helen’s short presence in Jane’s life influences Jane’s many of Jane’s decisions throughout the test. First, Jane forgives Mrs. Reed for her cruel treatment during Jane’s childhood. Jane also forgives Mr. Rochester for his deception and decides to return to him, all before knowing about the fire and Bertha Mason’s death. Just as Jesus preached to his disciples to forgive and live a pure life. In Maria Lamonaca’s literary criticism, "Jane's Crown of Thorns: feminism and Christianity in Jane Eyre" she states, “[Helen’s] example and beliefs serve Jane in good stead later in the novel.
Jane did not respond because she knew that she was not a good child by definition. Mr. Brocklehurst continued, “’No sight so sad as that of a naughty child… especially a naughty little girl. Do you know where the wicked go after death?’” (Bronte Chapter IV). In this statement he is basically telling Jane that she is going to hell if she does not change her wicked ways.
Haadi Malik Mullins AP English & Literature/9th Period 18 October 2015 What is Wrong with Jane? Jane Eyre, authored by Charlotte Bronte, demonstrates, the issue of male superiority versus female independence, Jane’s and Rochester’s love for each other, and promoting the ideas of feminism in the nineteenth century. Throughout many events in the novel, Jane emphasizes that women are equal to men. For example, when Rochester proposes to Jane, she made sure that he agreed to look upon her as an equal.
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).
To deliberate these points further, the setting of Gateshead, Lowood and Thornfield will be closely analysed. Additionally, it will discuss how Bronte used the setting of Jane Eyre, to demonstrate that women can go beyond the oppressive limitations of their gender, and social class and find fulfilment. It will also consider how the setting reflects the political and social conditions of the era. The novel opens with a vivid description of the setting at Gateshead, which epitomises the first stage of the protagonist’s Jane Eyre’s life journey and her childhood development. The passage declares that ‘the cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so sombre and a rain so penetrating’ (Bronte, Jane Eyre, [1847] 2000, 1.1, all subsequent page
Mrs. Reed physically attacks Jane because she backtalks and does not bare the cruelty without a
”(46) This occasion is not the very first moment that Jane shows individualism. Jane has a strong-willed personality and believes in herself. Jane is sure-enough passionate about her beliefs and doesn’t allow anyone to change the way she thinks or affect her decisions, as shown when she says, “Ere I had finished this reply, my soul began to expand, to exult, with the strangest sense of freedom, of triumph, I ever felt. It seemed as if an invisible bond had burst, and that I had struggled out into unhoped-for liberty.
Summary - This description Jane narrates; right after John has just finished trying to find her as she hides from his wrath in the curtains, describes the young Mr. Reed perfectly. Later he beats her, which is very consistent with his violent ways. Jane is terrified of this monstrous boy, but doesn’t let it show, she instead stands up to him by sassing him continuously. His mother babies him, and always turns a blind eye on everything he does to Jane, so the cycle of him inflicting harm on her continues without end an end in sight.
At Gateshead, Jane sees religion used as a justification for unfair treatment. Mrs. Reed slanders Jane as Mr. Brocklehurst first inquires Jane. Upon Mr. Brocklehurst asking if Jane is a good child, Mrs. Reed interrupts by saying “Perhaps the less said on that subject the better” (Bronte 28), implying Jane is not a good child. That along with Mr. Brocklehurst’s claims that Jane has a “wicked heart” (Bronte 29) for not enjoying the entirety of the Bible, leads to Jane’s resentment towards injustice due part on the false use of religion. At Lowood, Jane observes varied uses of religion.