Jane Eyre is a novel written by English author Charlotte Bronte, published in 1847 under the pen name “Currer Bell. ” Jane Eyre follows the strong-willed Jane as she navigates her way through life, ultimately finding love and happiness. Jane’s character is often considered to be an example of feminism. Jane represents the woman as an individual, as she is often able to accomplish whatever tasks set before her (even those considered more masculine by the society Jane lives in) and Jane has a strong sense of self.
The beginning of Jane’s life sets the stage for the reader to see Jane as a feminist character: Jane is orphaned at a young age and sent to live with Mrs. Reed and her family, who mistreat Jane. Jane is later sent away from Gateshead to Lowood school, where she remains until becoming a teacher there at age eighteen. At this school, Jane meets Helen Burns and Miss Temple, two women who influence Jane completely. Both serve as mothers for Jane during this time period; Helen gives Jane advice regarding religion and does not judge Jane for Jane’s views, while Miss Temple becomes Jane’s role model because of her power and self-respect.
Jane says of this time in Jane Eyre that she was “reserved yet frank. ” Jane is therefore both an individual and a symbol, as Jane represents the woman who goes on to live life on her own terms despite barriers put up against her success. However, Jane is not perfect; although Jane rejects the authority of Mr. Brocklehurst (a school manager at Lowood), Jane uses this authority to get what she wants when she needs it most. This reinforces the idea of Jane as an individual while also highlighting some less than feminist traits: Jane can be selfish and manipulative, while still being strong and determined in following her life’s path.
Jane’s strong sense of self is also shown in moments that are more traumatic for Jane, such as when Jane is rejected by Rochester and later when Jane learns the truth about Bertha Mason (the “madwoman” hidden away at Thornfield). Jane never abandons or sacrifices her own beliefs on love or happiness to please others, but Jane does have moments of doubt after being rejected by someone she loves. Jane has a number of relationships with men throughout her life which show Jane as a feminist character.
Jane first meets St. John Rivers who proposes marriage to Jane; although Jane accepts his proposal, she refuses to become subservient to St. John because he is not respectful towards her intelligence and ambition: “I must go out, not only to take charge of your mission…but to claim you as my own. You must henceforth be to me what you are to Mr. Rivers — a dear younger brother. I claim you by the right of the affection with which you have regarded me. ” Jane loves St. John, but Jane does not want Jane’s life confined by marriage to him; Jane wants Jane’s life and potential happiness to be decided on Jane’s terms, an idea that is feminist in nature.
Similarly, Jane rejects Rochester on multiple occasions when she feels that her needs will not become a priority within their marriage due to his blindness and need for assistance: “I am nothing to you–you not for me. ” Jane’s rejection of Rochester, a man who Jane is in love with and wishes to marry, shows Jane as an individual whose needs must be considered before Jane will commit wholly to another person. Jane’s rejection of Rochester also demonstrates Jane’s own sense of self-love: Jane can only give herself fully to someone who values Jane for Jane, not for the things that Jane can offer them.
Jane Eyre is a novel which is widely considered to be the first of its kind in feminist literature. Jane, herself often displays signs of being one with her strong beliefs and values, along with her high level of intelligence, all of which are factors that contribute to Jane being not just an ordinary character in Jane Eyre , but more importantly, she’s a leading lady. Jane Eyre contains various motifs which appear throughout the story that help us understand Jane Eyre’s life better. These motifs include factors such as Jane’s childhood, Jane’s relationships with people such as Mr. Rochester and Bertha Mason (which both factor greatly into Jane’s perception of marriage), along with Jane’s religious beliefs which Jane’s desire to be a governess.
Jane is often defined by her strong-willed nature and good moral values, all of which go into establishing Jane as more than just a typical character in a novel. “My childhood was very happy,” Jane states in Chapter 1 of Jane Eyre. “I was so indulged. ” This statement alone goes far in helping us understand Jane’s mindset going forward throughout the novel.
Jane, being an orphan who has been harshly treated for most of her life, displays this sense of gratitude on many occasions towards the people who have helped Jane grow up into what she is today, all along with having a desire to repay that kindness. Some examples include how Jane pays back Mrs. Fairfax after Jane’s brief stay at Thornfield Hall, Jane’s desire to constantly express gratitude towards Mr. Rochester for taking Jane in after Jane ran away from her aunt, and Jane’s desire to help Helen Burns out when Jane runs into Miss Temple.
Jane! ” he exclaimed, “come back! Come back! ” He held out his arms; but Jane had passed through the door and shut it fast against him. This scene occurs early on in Jane Eyre (Chapter 13). Mr. Rochester has just attempted to make Jane marry him by forcing himself onto her; however, Jane is able to escape his grasp with ease due to her hatred of the idea of an unequal marriage between herself and Mr. Rochester (due mainly to their difference in social class).
Jane instead chooses to run away, all the while refusing Mr. Rochester’s plea for Jane to stop and return to him. Jane is able to reach the door before Mr. Rochester does thanks to Jane’s high level of intelligence (and according to Jane Eyre , ” he was a gentleman; I a poor et cetera”), although Jane shows a sign of hesitation when trying to escape from Mr. Rochester by going through the front door. “The rain pattered dismally against the panes, the wind blew roughly round the cowering building; it was a day just fit for Munchausen’s greatcoat. “