...Gazing out the Window: Jane Eyre’s Inner Desires Forced into a childhood of mistreatment and misfortune with the Reeds after her parents die, Jane Eyre spends much of her young life physically and emotionally abused. Even after she leaves Gateshead and comes to Lowood Institution, her misfortune continues in the form of poor treatment by the schoolmaster, Mr. Brocklehurst; sub-standard living conditions; and the death of her best friend, Helen Burns. As paragraph nine opens in chapter ten, Jane is staring out her window, longing for the “liberty” she has never experienced, and is “tired of the routine” she has become imprisoned within (86). In this passage, Jane is looking towards the “hilly horizon” and “white road,” which symbolize her inner desire to move towards what lies ahead in the distance, away from Lowood and her troubled past, and to be freed from the life she has led (86). At the heart of this paragraph is, most ostensibly, Jane’s lamentation for what she desires most in life: a “change” from the structured, confined existence she has been living at Gateshead and Lowood (87). For Jane, the tragedy of losing her parents and being subsequently treated as a burden by the Reeds, whose care she comes under, paired with the misery she feels while attending Lowood, all culminate in her inner desire to experience an emancipated freedom from the “boundary” of her world (86). More specifically, as Jan gazes out her window and toward the distance, she comments on her confinement...
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...sometimes they look exactly alike and sometimes they do not. It is interesting to view two characters that had never known or met one another as doubles, such is the case of Bertha and Jane in the novel Jane Eyre. Jane who is a poor English clergyman’s daughter was raised in a charity school; Bertha on the other hand is an exotic Creole, and a wealthy Jamaican planter’s spoiled daughter. Furthermore, how is it that these two distinct characters could be considered each other’s double? Despite the clear contrast in characterization between Jane and Bertha, it is important to note similarities in their lives at Thornfield. While Jane feels figuratively trapped, Bertha is...
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...fictional book that I have chosen to analyze and evaluate is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. In the book, multiple ideas can be found that were contrary to the beliefs during that era in time in which the book was written. Some of the contrary ideas are the double standard of sexuality, division between women and men, feminism, racial politics and education. Jane Eyre definitely has some underling touches on various ideas and provides in-depth examples and details on each theme. Charlotte Bronte selection choice of details provided to create settings, character descriptions, and interactions between characters helps create each of the themes that can be found in the fictional book. Jane Eyre is a young orphan being raised by Mrs. Reed her cruel aunt that was supposed to care for her after her uncle died. One day, as punishment for fighting with her bully cousin John Reed, Jane’s aunt imprisons Jane in the red-room, the...
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...“The main source of Jane Eyre’s interest is the story of immense human endurance” How far do you agree with this statement (Explore the methods which Charlotte Bronte uses to present the idea of human endurance) Jane as narrator certainly shares with the reader a story of immense human endurance. We see this throughout the whole novel. Early example of such are in the Gateshead section of the novel where Jane endures a lack /absence of love. She is forced to endure physical and verbal cruelty though the actions of the cousin John Reed. Who taunts her about her social class and lack of money, ‘You have no business to take our books; you are a dependent, mamma says; you have no money; your father left you none; you out to beg, and not to live here with gentlemen’s children like us..’ Jane endures physical cruelty when John flung the book at Jane, striking her on the head. Through the red room we are able to see the symbolism of Jane’s entrapment, isolation and desire to break free. There is also an element of foreshadowing and imagery emphasises on how isolated Jane is from the rest of her peers “dark and haunted chamber” Even at Lowood this is a recurring theme of the unjust and sufferable nature of her childhood. The endurance from the Red Room is a symbol of her isolation from compassion during her childhood. Through the repeated use of this symbol we see how Jane is imprisoned by her own treatment. Following Jane’s escape from the Red Room we see that she...
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...Jane Eyre In-Class Writing Quiz Part I. Answer the following questions as directed: 1. Jane sees Rochester almost as a god; is this, in the context of the novel, a good or bad thing? What hints are given that Jane is deceiving herself about Rochester? It is a bad thing because Jane only looks up to Rochester due to his older age, wealth, and social status. Jane is more intelligent than Rochester and is proven to also maintain higher morals when it becomes known that Rochester is already married, despite his love for Jane. However, she continues to rely on Rochester for comfort. Jane realizes that’s she’s deceiving herself about Rochester and is skeptical about their relationship when hints pop up such as saving Rochester from a fire and her torn wedding veil. 2. What happens during Jane and Rochester’s wedding ceremony? When Jane and Rochester are entering the wedding ceremony at the church, a stranger who was already present declares that Rochester cannot get married to Jane because he’s already married. Rochester admits to his mistake but wants to take everyone to show them Bertha and the room where she stabbed Rochester’s brother. 3. Describe how Jane’s reaction and choice regarding Mr. Rochester’s proposal are consistent with her character. Jane is skeptical about the marriage with Rochester, but she still accepts his proposal because she is reliant on Rochester for compassion and social status. Her reaction is consistent with her unsteady,...
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...TEXTUAL ANALYSIS 1. The passage is taken from Volume II, chapter xx of the novel Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte. The bildungsroman begins to focus on the turning point in Jane’s maturity. She will have to make moral decisions and the passage relates her inner forebodings. The novel cannot be truly characterized as gothic however; this chapter appears to have a very gothic tone. This can be seen in the ghostly vision and weather which exhibit supernatural tones, the damaged chestnut tree, and Jane’s restlessness for no apparent reason which she describes as “hypochondriac”. Other gothic elements include Jane’s sense of terror at seeing a vision, wearing and ultimately ruining her wedding veil, the weather, and the symbolic imagery of the Chestnut tree. The passage also represents a significant issue in regards to the morale personae of Mr. Rochester. His untruth at leading Jane to the door of marriage knowing he had an insane wife, whom he could not divorce. One may suppose he should not have offered marriage to Jane. Jane would have to make a moral decision in spite of her deep love for Mr. Rochester and make choices which will affect her life from this time forward on societal and inner morality. TEXTUAL ANALYSIS 2. The passage is taken from the novel Mill on the Floss, by George Eliot, page 68. The passage refers to the narrator speaking of Mr. Riley a “gentleman” who was a very educated auctioneer and appraiser. The passage can be analyzed on different perspectives:...
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...Project Jane Eyre There are many themes within Jane Eyre including religion, order and education. However the greatest one of all is love. This is why the topic for my ISP is the effect love has on the story and the reader in Jane Eyre. I chose this topic simply because while reading the novel I found that love had a crucial role in the novel. It seemed to have the richest descriptions and most alluring imagery. Therefore in this ISP I will demonstrate how love is the most important theme in Jane Eyre, as it greatly affects the plot, is present in many forms throughout the whole book and gives the story a deeper connection to its readers than any other themes. The major points in my essay are: In Jane Eyre there are many important themes including order, education, love and religion. Education is important because Jane is a governess and enjoys learning throughout the book. Order is important because it restricts Jane from being happy at the Reed mansion and restricts her passionate nature. Religion is important because it is the main reason she left Thronfeild. But none of these themes has such a major role in continuing the plot then love . Love is present in many forms throughout the novel such as when she is staying at the Reeds, at Lowood, at Moor House and at Thornfeild. Since it is seen in so many different forms, it is easy for anyone to connect with it. Throughout the novel Jane never revokes her love for Mr. Rochester. The narrator, an older Jane, assures...
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...Post-colonial Fiction Essay Assignment 2012 Topic: How does Wide Sargasso Sea revise or alter the way one reads Jane Eyre? Your answer should include reference to contrasting narrative techniques employed by the two authors. Jane Eyre, written in 1847 by Charlotte Bronte, and Wide Sargasso Sea, written in 1966 by Jean Rhys, are two different novels, written in different eras and different backgrounds, thus are strongly related. In general terms, Wide Sargasso Sea can be considered to be a modernist revision of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre; it acts as its sequence. “Bertha” in Jane Eyre is “Antoinette” in Wide Sargasso Sea. However, after reading both novels, we perceive them in a completely different way, as the mainly the character of Bertha-Antoinette is dramatically shifted and is given a previously unheard voice. Wide Sargasso Sea acts like a polyphonic novel in contrast with Jane Eyre which functions as a monophonic one. It is a post-colonial modernist narrative, in where we get a post-colonial point of view. It breaks all voices and perspectives together in which Antoinette has the role of a 19th century heroine in colonial Era. In effect, Wide Sargasso Sea challenges the point of view which we perceive from Jane Eyre since there is a different point of view than in Bronte’s novel. Briefly, Rhys' novel is a retelling of Bronte’s novel where Rhys particularly pays attention to the negative effects that the culture of the Caribbean went through, due to the European colonization...
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...Stephanie Huang Ms. Kwan English 4U1 14 October 2011 “Jane Eyre” – Essay (Rough) Individualism is the process of finding one’s own identity. Jane Eyre is a well renowned novel written by Charlotte Bront ё about a plain young woman who goes through life in a very interesting way. Taking place in England during the Victorian Era, Bront ё touches upon the life of one who refuses to fill in the social norms set for women. Being very headstrong and intelligent, the heroine faces love trials, especially with one, Mr. Rochester, who becomes her employer. Throughout the novel, Jane struggles to develop her own identity, but is always being repressed by some force. The theme of identity development is demonstrated in Jane Eyre in many ways. The novel demonstrates three people who help shape the identity Jane longs for and enhances her as a person, or represses her ideologies. Jane’s search for her identity is mainly influenced by the characters Mrs. Reed, Helen Burns, and Mr. Rochester. All the aforementioned characters show a large impact on Jane’s views of the world and of love, helping shape who she is and how she thinks. Firstly, Jane Eyre’s identity search is heavily influenced by her aunt, Mrs. Reed. Jane was adopted by her Uncle Reed when her parents passed away when she was very little, but after his death, she was left to his wife. Mrs. Reed always mistreats Jane. Jane would be falsely accused or punished harshly. For example...
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...Essay Luong A7-02 English Literature Division - HUFS Nguyen Hien Luong A7-02 Teacher: Nguyen Tuan Ky On the inspiring development of Jane Eyre’s character in the Charlotte Bronte’s novel of the same name Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre is a master work of 19th century English literature and a powerful symbol of the triumph of self will over circumstances. Jane Eyre overcame very trying — or should we say impossible — circumstances to obtain her personal freedom and self-determination at the end of the story. Her success is a powerful inspiration to millions of readers around the world. However, in my opinion, the most inspiring about the novel is not Jane’s success itself, but her character development, which served as the catalyst for this success. This essay aims to illustrate the uniqueness of Jane’s character development, and attempts to explain why this unique development took place. What makes Jane’s character development special and unique is the fact that this type of development is not at all typical for people who were physically or mentally abused (as Jane certainly was during much of her ten-year stay at her uncle’s house). As a matter of fact, these people often grow up carrying with them emotional wounds that can never be healed. As a result, they are more likely to develop difficult personalities and turn into rebellious and violent individuals who see life and other human beings with much hatred. A research (Cathy Spatz Widom, "The Cycle...
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...Patriarchal Oppression and Cultural Discrimination in Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different” (Coco Chanel) “We may have all come in different ships but we’re in the same boat now” (Martin Luther King, Jr.) “Share our similarities, celebrate our differences” (Morgan Scott Peck) These quotations, which were uttered in the 20th century, have in common that to be different is regarded not only as tolerable but also as something that should be pursued. Also, they reflect the process of increasing tolerance towards females and foreigners, which in many countries has taken place during the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century, with the result that, today, these two groups are widely, although by far not entirely, regarded as equal. However, only two centuries ago, people who were different or ‘other’ were considered subordinate or even frightening, and in the 19th century, this was true for both females and people from the orient or colonized people (Barry 134, 193). In Jane Eyre (JE), published in 1847, and in Wide Sargasso Sea (WSS), the prequel or paraquel of JE that was written about one hundred years later and published in 1966, the two female protagonists, Jane, a female orphan, and Antoinette, a female Creole, struggle against displacement and patriarchal oppression and, in Antoinette’s case, also against imperialistic domination. In JE, the reader learns that Jane can handle this pressure whereas Antoinette/Bertha1...
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...Beteckning: Humanities and Social Sciences Double Oppression in the Color Purple and Wide Sargasso Sea. A Comparison between the main characters Celie and Antoinette/Bertha. Ingela Lundin 2008 C-essay English Literature Supervisor: Dr Maria Mårdberg Examinator: Dr Helena Wahlström Table of Contents 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose and main questions ............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Method and material......................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Theoretical approach ........................................................................................................ 2 1.4 Previous research – an overview ...................................................................................... 3 1.5 Introducing the novels ...................................................................................................... 4 2. A comparison of the double oppression in the two protagonists’ marriages.................. 6 2.1 The diminishing and isolation of Celie and Antoinette/Bertha........................................ 6 2.2 The upholding of the white man’s norm ........................................................................ 14 Conclusion..........................................................
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...Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë An Electronic Classics Series Publication Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is a publication of the Pennsylvania State University. This Portable Document file is furnished free and without any charge of any kind. Any person using this document file, for any purpose, and in any way does so at his or her own risk. Neither the Pennsylvania State University nor Jim Manis, Faculty Editor, nor anyone associated with the Pennsylvania State University assumes any responsibility for the material contained within the document or for the file as an electronic transmission, in any way. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, the Pennsylvania State University, Electronic Classics Series, Jim Manis, Faculty Editor, Hazleton, PA 18202-1291 is a Portable Document File produced as part of an ongoing student publication project to bring classical works of literature, in English, to free and easy access of those wishing to make use of them. Cover Design: Jim Manis Copyright © 2003 - 2012 The Pennsylvania State University is an equal opportunity university. Charlotte Brontë Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë PREFA PREFACE A PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION of Jane Eyre being unnecessary, I gave none: this second edition demands a few words both of acknowledgment and miscellaneous remark. My thanks are due in three quarters. To the Public, for the indulgent ear it has inclined to a plain tale with few pretensions. To the Press, for the fair field its honest suffrage...
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...GNST 200 Term Paper Jane Eyre: Charlotte Brontë One of the most brilliant works of Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre was published in 1847 during a time when women were considered social embellishments, and nothing more than offspring bearers for that matter. She defied these beliefs by doing something no women did in that time, write. This book was revolutionary, especially since the release of Jane Austen’s works, which had a lot more of a happy ending feel that were published a century before. Charlotte Brontë and her sisters Emily and Anne, wrote novels that were much more dark and mysterious. Jane Eyre became one of the most successful novels of its era. This novel is set in the early decades of the nineteenth century, and depicts themes such as social class, religion, and gender relations. The novel is a hybrid of three genres: a romantic novel, a bildungsroman novel, and a gothic novel. Each of these genres are used in Jane Eyre, and rightfully so. They help to tell the story of Jane Eyre’s life in the most mysterious, sometimes supernatural, and retrospective way. I believe that Charlotte Brontë depicted her life through the novel of Jane Eyre, she did this by using her own experiences in life, namely through some key developments from her life translated into Jane Eyre’s life. Jane Eyre and Charlotte Brontë embody each others lives. This is clear through all the similarities between the novel and real life. Some examples of these are: both Jane and Charlotte being orphans...
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...Q2: Comparison of Jane Eyre and “Goblin Market” Bronte’s Jane Eyre and Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” are both texts written in the Victorian period. They both carry similar themes of the evils of patriarchy and the importance of empowering women to assert their identity in this time period. Both Jane Eyre and Laura are characters that are affected by the issues that mainly affected women in the male-dominated Victorian society. This is clearly portrayed when the men in both texts try to confine women physically and emotionally through deception and force. The different portrayal of both male and female characters also plays a very important role in communicating these issues. Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” can be read as a criticism of Victorian arrangement of marriage. She stresses the importance of women’s friendship as the main agent that can help in fighting against or changing society’s exploitation of women. The two sisters represent two different kinds of women; Lizzie, the submissive ones and Laura, those that fought against patriarchy, and the goblins represent the patriarchal system. It shows that women can control their destinies, gain some level of independence, and avoid society’s oppressive rules and work towards their liberation and happiness. In the Victorians society men where more educated, powerful and rich hence they dominated women. Women were subjugated to the home as housewives whilst their husbands earned money for the family. This gave the men even more...
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