A comparison of a pre-twentieth century and a twentieth century novel Essay Example
A comparison of a pre-twentieth century and a twentieth century novel Essay Example

A comparison of a pre-twentieth century and a twentieth century novel Essay Example

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  • Pages: 12 (3113 words)
  • Published: October 16, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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In this essay, I will analyze and draw comparisons between Chapter 7 of Jane Eyre and Chapter 11 of To Kill a Mockingbird regarding character, theme, and narrative technique. Despite being written in different countries and published almost a century apart, these two novels share similar contemptible and admirable characters, tackle similar themes of child rearing and prejudice, and employ comparable narrative techniques.

Both chapters feature characters that receive both admiration and condemnation. "Jane Eyre" showcases Jane, Miss Temple, and Helen Burns as likable characters. Jane is the protagonist of the novel and impresses readers with her tenacity and defiance. She even stands up against authority figures like Mrs. Reed and Mr. Brocklehurst, which is depicted in Chapter 7 when Charlotte Bronte writes, "in an impulse of fury against Reed...".

My conviction caused my pulses

...

to race. Nevertheless, to the Victorian audience, this would have been alarming since women were considered weaker and disobedient children were unheard of. In Jane Eyre, Miss Temple is another admirable character.

Miss Temple demonstrates both care and bravery. This is evident in her decision to provide bread and cheese to the children, rather than serve them burnt porridge. Despite the risk to her job, she stands up for the rights of others, displaying great courage. One example of this was when Mr Brocklehurst expressed his prejudice towards girls with curly hair. Miss Temple directly challenged him, saying "Julia's hair curls naturally". Thus, we can see Miss Temple's courage in objecting to Mr Brocklehurst's unfair expectations.

Miss Temple's gentle nature is further displayed when she offers words of reassurance to Jane stating, "Don't be afraid Jane, I saw it was an accident, yo

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shall not be punished." Miss Temple is an admired character in the story due to her bravery and kindness. Similarly, Helen Burns is also respected for her stoicism, which suggests that suffering and punishment prepares one for afterlife. Despite being beaten in Chapter six, Helen remains composed without complaint. During chapter seven, Helen encourages Jane to accept her punishment calmly by courageously asking an unnecessary question to smile at her. This gesture is viewed by Jane as "true courage." Hence, Helen serves as a positive influence in the book and her brave actions are admired.

Later on in the book, we see that Helen's lesson in stoicism benefits Jane as she rejects both love without marriage from Rochester and marriage without love from St. John Rivers. This showcases Jane's admirable ability to follow her conscience. Similarly, characters whom we admire in Mockingbird include Atticus, Mrs Dubose and Scout. Atticus is particularly revered for his parenting skills.

Even though he is strict, he is also just and his discipline instills important life lessons in children. A testament to this is when he requires Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose as a means of reconciling them.

Atticus earns obedience from his children through threats, but they also hold respect for him. We admire Atticus for his moral courage and integrity, and for teaching Scout and Jem valuable lessons.

Atticus' belief that Tom Robinson's case is fundamental to a person's conscience demonstrates his courage to champion fairness and respect for others, akin to the values upheld by Miss Temple in Jane Eyre. This same vigilance towards his children highlights Atticus' firm approach to their education.

Atticus demonstrates his admirable character when he

insists that Jem apologize to Mrs. Dubose for a month. He wants his children to do what is right and shows an affectionate side by rewarding them generously when appropriate. This strengthens their relationship and earns him their respect as he punishes fairly. Atticus also teaches his children about courage, emphasizing that it is not simply an act of violence with a weapon but rather an innate moral quality.

In this lesson, the novel is summarized and the metaphorical notion of the mockingbird is explained. The lesson suggests that it is unfair to harm those who are less fortunate than oneself. This message holds true for Maycomb society, particularly in the case of Tom Robinson. Robinson is at a disadvantage due to his lower social status within the caste system, making him susceptible to mistreatment from the whites. As a result, Atticus' fatherly qualities come to the fore.

It can be observed that Atticus possesses principles and ethical standards. He acknowledges that he has an unequal advantage given by the divine power over other creatures. This admirable integrity is demonstrated when he stands up for Tom. This act of rebellion is akin to Jane Eyre's behavior. As a result, Atticus is highly respected and regarded as an ideal father figure.

In chapter eleven of To Kill a Mockingbird, we develop admiration for Mrs Dubose's character. Her stoic temperament is seen towards the end of the chapter and we come to respect her. The fact that she died without any dependencies on anything or anyone shows us her determination to overcome her morphine addiction. This represents Mrs Dubose's strength as she endures through her suffering to achieve

a dignified death.

Mrs Dubose's endurance of severe pain to break free from her morphine addiction evokes admiration for her stoic attitude, akin to that of Helen Burns. Her courage does not go unnoticed by other characters who consider her the "bravest person I ever knew." Her aspiration to die with dignity is also commendable. In a different vein, Scout's innocence and lack of awareness of racism also garners admiration from readers.

The comic perspective of the protagonist is displayed through her naivety when she questions the meaning of being a "nigger lover". Her childlike outlook is further revealed in her confusion about how someone can remain calm while committing a heinous act.

Scout's gullibility is evident when she exaggerates the danger that her son faces from a Confederate army pistol. However, this quality also elicits admiration. Another admirable trait of Scout is her loyalty to Jem.

We see evidence of heroic behavior when Scout accompanies her to Mrs Dubose's house, even though she had no reason or command to do so. This act of bravery highlights her concern for Jem, which is similar to how Helen is concerned for Jane and Miss Temple is concerned for the children. Additionally, there are characters in both chapters that are condemned, such as Mr Brocklehurst, his family, and the older girls of Lowood in Jane Eyre. Mr Brocklehurst is especially disliked due to his hypocritical nature.

Although he discusses biblical passages and believes in the notion that suffering hunger can bring happiness, this individual is not truly Christian given his discussions about death and hell ("Where do the wicked go after death? They go to hell."). Additionally, he expresses negative opinions

about curly hair as a sign of vanity, despite the fact that his own family dresses quite ornately and is frequently adorned in luxurious garments.

It is apparent from his words and actions that he is a selfish, greedy, and sadistic person. When he says, "You may feed their vile bodies but you starve your immortal souls," it shows his sadistic nature. Additionally, his unjust punishments, such as punishing Jane for dropping the slate, make him even more disliked.

The book portrays a dogmatic and condemned character, disliked for both his prejudice and class prejudice. Miss Temple defies his will and shows kindness to the children, providing bread and cheese instead of burnt porridge. Mr Brocklehurst exhibits class prejudice by mistreating the orphans, particularly Jane, through unreasonable punishments. This treatment will later be discussed when exploring the theme of child rearing. Additionally, Mr Brocklehurst's family is condemned for their hypocrisy as they dress in fine clothing despite his condemnation of extravagance.

The group of hypocrites in the novel, who resemble Mr. Brocklehurst, are disliked for their condescending attitude towards the poor orphan girls and their teachers. Similarly, the older girls are also disfavored.

The reason for their bullying behavior towards younger girls may be due to their vulnerability. According to the text, the "famished great girls" would either persuade or intimidate the little ones into giving up their portions. We disapprove of their actions and it highlights the issue of age discrimination where older people are perceived to have more privileges than younger people. This is a recurring theme in literature such as To Kill A Mockingbird where certain characters are also disapproved of.

At

the start of the chapter, Mrs Dubose's prejudiced attitude towards girls is exposed as she exclaims "You should be in a dress and camisole young lady!" This demonstrates her sexism towards females, similar to Mr Brocklehurts. Additionally, her ill-tempered behavior towards Scout when she cries is condemned as she says "Don't you lie to me..."

The statement "Don't you contradict me!" illustrates her tendency to get angry and become easily annoyed, characteristics that are similar to Mr Brocklehurst's unpleasant and oppressive behavior.

One reason for readers to condemn Mrs. Dubose is due to her racist attitude, as evidenced by her statement, "Not only a finch waiting on tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers!" This harsh language is not acceptable and leads to condemnation of her support for Maycomb's caste system. Similarly, Mr. Brocklehurst's belief that orphans deserve less respect and rights is also condemned. Mrs. Dubose is further detested because of her hypocritical nature, which is similar to Mr. Brocklehurst's. Scout also notes this similarity, stating, "I could not figure out how she could bring herself to talk to him when she hated him so."

It is our condemnation towards Mrs Dubose when she displays fake kindness towards Atticus but slanders him in his absence, exposing her as a insincere and deceitful person. The theme of child rearing is present in both novels. In chapter seven of Jane Eyre, Mr Brocklehurst treats children disrespectfully and finds enjoyment in publicly humiliating orphans, as seen when Jane is punished by being forcefully made to stand on a stool.

The text portrays Mr Brocklehurst as an unkind and merciless individual who cares only about money. He neglects

the basic needs of the children, such as clothing, without any sympathy or acknowledgment of their struggles. The orphans are forced to endure extreme circumstances, as seen through the example of going without boots in the snow, due to Mr Brocklehurst's obsession with wealth.

Our hands were exposed without gloves...

The pathos of Jane Eyre is demonstrated by contrasting Mr Brocklehurst with Miss Temple. While Miss Temple is kind, courteous, and strives towards fairness, Mr Brocklehurst offers a stark contrast. Miss Temple consoles Jane after an accident by saying "Don't worry I saw it was an accident."

Miss Temple's statement "you shall not be punished" showcases her benevolence in Jane Eyre's seventh chapter, where adults frequently administer harsh punishments to children. Pupils like Helen are whipped by Miss Scatcherd, Jane is shamed, and Julia receives a humiliating haircut due to her naturally curly hair. The numerous forms of punitive measures in the novel appear unnecessarily harsh and include humiliation, neglect, and physical chastisement.

Both the younger girls are bullied by the older ones and the latter group takes food away from the former too, while also benefiting from privileges. Additionally, Mr. Brocklehurst is characterized as an easily irritable person who disregards the notions of truth and fairness when making decisions. Even though Helen deems them fair (due to her stoicism), Charlotte Bronte illustrates that punishments are unjust by having well-regarded characters acknowledge this fact.

However, Helen's punishments are deemed unjust as she was unable to wash her hands due to frozen water. In Jane Eyre, the punishments appear unjust as the perspective is from Jane's viewpoint. As the novel's protagonist, sympathy is inclined towards her. Miss Temple also

deems the punishments irrational and the readers seem to agree due to her esteemed character mentioned earlier. Ultimately, Jane Eyre provides essential guidance on child-rearing.

According to the text, raising children requires compassion, kindness, and respect in order to obtain obedience, trust, and respect in return. This is demonstrated by Mr. Brocklehurst's harsh treatment of the children, which has caused them to resent him. The theme of child rearing is also present in To Kill a Mockingbird, which highlights the differing approaches of Atticus and Uncle Jack.

Atticus is portrayed as a fair and attentive listener, while Uncle Jack is seen as unjust and hasty in reaching conclusions. A comparison of their contrasting approaches to discipline and child-rearing can be seen when Scout reports Uncle Jack’s warning: "If I talked he’d lick me again.” Furthermore, a similarity can be observed between chapter seven of Jane Eyre and chapter eleven of To Kill a Mockingbird.

We acknowledge that Mr. Brocklehurst's irritable temperament is reminiscent of Uncle Jack's. In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem are reprimanded for damaging Mrs. Dubose's camellias and are made to atone for their mistake. This punishment provides a lesson for them to learn from. Despite being disciplined, Scout and Jem are treated with respect as Atticus never resorts to physical violence towards them, although he permits Calpurnia to do so. This demonstrates Atticus' wish for his children to be conscious of their shortcomings, as he believes that a mere apology is insufficient if it is not genuine.

Atticus displays his firmness by insisting that one must commit to something for a full month.

The introduction of his children to

Mrs. Dubose by Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird reveals his desire for them to develop social tolerance and learn from their mistakes. Though the punishments administered differ from those in Jane Eyre in terms of fairness and comprehensibility, Jane's punishments were viewed as unjust due to the unreasonable circumstances surrounding them (as with her accidental dropping of the slate). The unbiased and justified nature of Atticus's punishments is evident from the respect shown to him by Jem and Scout, as well as the instance where he rewarded them, revealing a caring side that complements his role as a stern but just disciplinarian.

Thus, the child-rearing methods employed in Mockingbird and Jane Eyre by Mr. Brocklehurst differ significantly. Therefore, To Kill a Mockingbird promotes a powerful message regarding the most effective approach to raising children. It is apparent that Atticus' technique surpasses that of Uncle Jack. The central lesson conveyed by Mockingbird, with regards to child-rearing, is to be firm, yet fair, compassionate, and attentive.

Drawing similarities from Jane Eyre, both chapters of the novels discuss the issue of prejudice, despite the century-long time gap between their respective publications. Prejudice involves making judgments about someone based on insignificant factors such as their physical appearance, past, rumors, or social status (such as race or color). In Jane Eyre, four main types of prejudice are evident - class prejudice, prejudice against children and girls, religious bigotry and racial prejudice. One instance of class prejudice is showcased through Mr. Brocklehurst's ill-treatment of the orphans, who are given inadequate clothing and footwear, leading to snow getting into their shoes.

The wealthier family of Mr Brocklehurst demonstrate class prejudice by mocking

the orphans for their lack of clothing, possessions, and potentially lower quality items. This is evident through their "rummaging scrutiny" of the upstairs rooms and condescending attitude towards the orphans, indicating a belief that those labeled with poor status have fewer rights and should be judged solely on that basis.

In addition, the text highlights the evident prejudice towards children and girls, exemplified by Mr Brocklehurst's demand for immediate obedience. This is showcased when he orders all young girls to face the wall due to the disobedience of one girl. Mr Brocklehurst is particularly discriminatory against girls, associating them with vanity and interpreting curly hair as a sign of it, leading to his order to cut Julia's hair off. Charlotte Bronte prompts readers to consider whether Mr Brocklehurst's condescending attitude towards girls is a coincidence or if it occurs because of Lowood's restricted environment. Furthermore, while not a main theme in Jane Eyre, the text touches on racial prejudice and religious bigotry demonstrated through Mr Brocklehurst's casual racism as he characterizes someone as "worse than many a little.."

According to the text, Mr. Brocklehurst is a religious bigot and hypocrite who prays to Brahma. He also attempts to influence the other orphans to form negative opinions of Jane and treat her with contempt.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, the theme of prejudice is prominent and portrayed through various forms. This is evident in the statement, "Do you see this girl before you... this girl is a liar!" made by a character, which further fuels contempt towards Mr. Broklehurst.

In chapter eleven, both gender and race prejudices are evident. Mrs Dubose displays narrow-minded views about girls by criticizing their

clothing choices. Similarly, Mr Brocklehurst also shows contempt for girls. Meanwhile, the portrayal of racial prejudice throughout the chapter highlights the prevalent caste system of the 1960s where African Americans were often treated as inferior citizens.

We witness Mrs Dubose's discriminatory attitude towards Tom Robinson – who is black – as well as Atticus who is defending him. Mrs Dubose displays her prejudice towards Atticus by saying, "Your father is no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" Her discriminatory behavior serves as an example of the severe racial bias present in Maycomb society. The societal racism and prejudice in Maycomb are ingrained in their culture. At the start of chapter eleven, we too hold a prejudice against Mrs Dubose. Scout depicts her as a monstrous figure, describing her as "horrible..."

Her cheeks were dotted with liver spots, indicating old age, while her knobbly hands further emphasized this. This description unfortunately evokes a witch-like image, leading us to unfairly assume cruelty and wickedness.

Despite her repulsive manners and physical appearance, Mrs. Dubose's true struggles with morphine addiction are often overlooked. However, Harper Lee's novel challenges readers to reevaluate their initial judgement of her character. By the end of chapter eleven, Mrs. Dubose is portrayed as a brave and resilient woman who valiantly battles her addiction. Moreover, both Jane Eyre and Lee's novel employ a first person narrative, with Jane herself serving as the narrator in the former.

At ten years old in chapter seven, Jane adopts first person narrative to recount her story, as opposed to an omniscient perspective. In this chapter, Helen Burns teaches Jane the virtue of stoicism which allows her to bear

punishment. Jane regards this lesson as critical, as she later rejects loveless marriage and marriage without love in the novel.

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