Jane Eyre: An Unconventional Heroine Essay

Ms. Eyre is one of those heroines who refuse to blend into the traditional female position of subservientness and who stand up for her beliefsExplore how the female position is presented.Jane Eyre was written by Charlotte Bronte and was first published in 1847 in the squared-toe era. During this period, women were expected to continue at home and their magazine was to be spent taking condole with of household duties and their children. Females were regarded as properties quite an than as clements they either belonged to their fathers or their husbands. As they were believed to be in adapted of surviving on their own, they had no independence. authority was required for almost e precisething and they were expected to abide by rules set egress by their owners. Men were considered to be very much superior to women and they were to be interact with respect by the latter, whether they agreed with their views or non. In world-wide terms, societys saluteal of a effected charr hood was very different to what it is now, so it is not strike that modern readers may relegate their attitudes as shocking.Although Jane Eyre was written during this period, Bronte portrays her spirit in a very improper way, following the trends of the Gothic genre. The character of Jane is apply to mainly challenge the Victorian attitudes towards women, trust and class. The fact that Bronte chooses a female character to portray her views is surprising to the Victorian reader. During that period, inequality among the genders pr so farted the views of females from creation expressed, and if expressed, they were not regarded with respect. Expressing their imaginations in any(prenominal) way was extremely unconventional as it would have been shocking for a woman to be passionate. By using Jane as a whatchamacallit to put forward her views, Bronte challenges the idea that women did not have views worth considering.Jane is a character who is sure of herself and her behaviour is described as a video of passion. However, the reader assnot deny she is very intelligent and that she has a very obedient judgement of character. Janes uniqueness is detectable from the start. Even as a child, she is different from her cousins at Gateshead. Instead of taking pleasure in playing, she prefers education books such as Goldsmiths History of Rome and Gullivers Travels and forming opinions on the characters involved. Jane has a strong wish to travel and see the lands that she reads ab surface, showing that women feel just as men feel. Here Bronte uses Jane to present the idea that women are capable of being intelligent that they tin form rightly judgements and that they have ambitions and dreams, just as men do.This idea is reinforced throughout the novel, especially when it comes to devotion. Bronte makes the character of Jane Eyre stand up for her beliefs by challenge the views of men. She uses this character to challenge different ideas astir(predicate) reli gion. Mr Brocklehurst, the headmaster of Lowood Institution (her second home), defends the deception in the Evangelical Movement and the forceful authority of men. When referring to his students, he feels the call for not to accustom them to habits of luxury and indulgence, but to encourage spiritual sophistry to the pupils by making them suffer temporary privation, contradicting his own luxurious lifestyle.Jane emphasises the awry(p) in his portrayal and his judgments on religion are mocked through the depicting of his hypocritical sermons, suggesting that this interpretation of Christianity must not be take inn seriously. Brocklehurst fails to work on the beliefs of Jane, and in around ways, her friend Helen Burns. This character conveys a different concept one of endurance and peace mainly based on the unseasoned Testament idea of loving those who hate you. Once again, Jane is not live up to with this interpretation of religion and insists that she should resist those who punish me unjustly. The third interpretation of religion is represented by St John Rivers, who believes in sacrificing emotional needs for Christianity, which Jane similarly rejects (by rejecting his proposal).Bronte makes Jane Eyre reject the ideas imposed by male characters, emphasising her controversialist personality. Jane forms a to a greater extent reasonable and agreeable interpretation of religion than male characters, and Helen in not influenced by Mr Brocklehursts cruelty. Bronte proposes an otherwise interpretation through this character that religion does not require you to deny yourself completely that it can be utilize as a guide in circumstances beyond human control. By doing this, Bronte shows that females have the ability to form their own opinions on multiplex ideas, such as religion and that they can form them independently even under the pressure of forceful authority.The idea that woman are capable of being independent is established when she opposes Mr Rochesters efforts to make the world have it off you a beauty by pointing out that she will not be herself if he succeeds, but an ape in a harlequins jacket. Here Jane is refusing to be objectified and changed even by the man she loves. Bronte presents an independent woman who is sure of herself, and who wants to retain her individuality at any cost. Although Jane is a governess, she makes it draw that Mr Rochester doesnt have a right to command her and that she is equal to him in to a greater extent ways.Also, Jane maintains her dignity by refusing to marry Mr Rochester. Bronte shows that women are capable of being respectable and that they are not always lead by their emotions. This causes Jane to take courage and leave Mr Rochester, disregarding the Victorian idea that women should do as men wish. While it could be mootd that Jane surrenders to the Victorian expectations by returning to Mr Rochester, it is build that she is not returning to him because she cannot survive on her own. Circumstances change, making Jane rich. She returns to Mr Rochester as an equal in every way (whereas previously she was aware of their favorable difference), and she returns for love more than anything else.Besides Jane, Bronte uses the characters of dangle Temple and Diana and Mary Rivers to portray that women are not inferior to men. The mentioned characters influence Jane and are involved in the development of her character as an independent woman, as she calls herself by the end. recede Temple is her role model and helps her to realise that she does not have to hand in to forced authority that she must stand up for what is right. In many ways, Miss Temple gives Jane courage for the future. She goes against Mr Brocklehursts orders and sympathises with the girls who are treated cruelly.Apart from feeling differently to him, she takes action by giving the girls a lunch, consisting of bread and cheese, twice and fearlessly takes responsibility for it. She is also empl oy represent what Bronte believes to be the true interpretation of Christianity, mainly by giving her a strong sense of injustice in the running of Lowood Institution. While Miss Temple inspires Jane to become independent and to be just, Mary and Diana Rivers inspire Jane to alter her knowledge and to become more intelligent. Jane followed in the path of knowledge they had trodden ahead me, suggesting that she wants to become as knowledgeable and accomplished. The fact that Bronte chooses Jane to be inspired by female characters reinforces the points that women can be intelligent and independent, and at the same time inspire others to become better people.While whatever characters are used to represent what women should be, Bronte creates a sharp contrast between the character of Jane Eyre and other female characters in the novel to challenge Victorian the concept of the conventional woman. Women of that time were only valued for their appearance, social and economic status. In m any ways, Blanche Ingram (the woman whom Jane believed Mr Rochester loved) represents the ideal woman of the Victorian era. She is beautiful, wealthy and had a healthy reputed family, contrasting with Jane, who is (in her own words) poor, obscure, plain, and little.However, while the Victorian reader might be inclined to admire Blanche more than Jane, Jane feels that Miss Ingramwas too inferior to bill the feeling of jealousy because she had a fine person but she was not genuineher mind was poor. The modern reader can spot that Jane, in contrast to Blanche is very intelligent, she has self worth and that she speaks her mind. Jane can also decompose ones character rather accurately, (as proved by Blanches rejection of Mr Rochester aft(prenominal) she learns of his inferior economic status).Bronte is stressing that women must be admired for their character rather than their outward beauty that appearances can deceive and that women are worth more than social or economic status. An other contrast is formed between Jane and Bessie, the maid at Gateshead. While Jane rebels against the cruelty of her aunt, Bessie advices her to make yourself agreeable to them. Bessie is used to represent Victorian women who give in to the expectations, while Jane represents the idea that women can express their views and stand up for themselves. While close to may argue that Jane is a rebellious character, it is clear that she has control of her emotions, unlike Bertha, who lets her rage out (even though it is beyond her control).By using the character of Jane Eyre, Bronte presents a woman who is capable of being intelligent, independent, dignified and confident about her opinions even though she is not very attractive or wealthy. She uses this character to challenge some of the Victorian concepts concerning women and their positions, as well as to convey her less major(ip) themes about religion and class. In some passages, Bronte addresses these issues directly (in the conversa tion about Mr Rochester and Jane being equals) while she uses more subtle methods in other situations (while describing Blanche). Bronte takes tutelage not to make Jane a perfect person, but she incorporates flaws to allow readers to yoke to her.She also uses other female characters to reinforce her points, by showing the qualities of some as well as showing the flaws in others. By doing so, Bronte shows that women can be equal to men, not only in intelligence, but in actions as well. She also portrays different types of women some who give in to the expectations of society, and some who stand up for their own beliefs. She outlines what she thinks a womans qualities should be and she encourages women to stand up their rights. Bronte successfully puts forward her points and she makes the reader understand her ideas by the portrayal of her characters, mainly females.