Jane Eyre – Was she a woman of her times Essay Example

warning as to how Jane's life will develop, through the name given to each chapter. Even though she is already ten years old, Jane's time at Gateshead metaphorically opens the 'gate' to her life. This is because it is then and there that Jane's character is clearly defined, and set apart from other females of her time. It is also a time when Jane's life begins to progress into what will eventually make her a woman. "The cold winter had brought with it clouds so sombre and a rain so penetrating. " The readers' first introduction to Jane sets the mood of both the book and its title character.

Dissimilar to the majority of ten year olds at the time, Jane is not euphorically happy; neither does she attempt to delude herself that she is. The environment Jane uses to reflect her emotions, not only portray her as strongly self-educated, but it also shows the powerfully imaginative mind she possesses. From the start it is obvious that Jane is not the lowly, content orphan that her situation should have left her confined to. Despite being just ten years old, Jane wants more than superficial happiness, but hasn't yet been able to convey this.

Jane's situation is far from uncommon at that time, but the way in which she chooses to deal with it is. The orphan of a mother disowned for marrying below her, as a baby Jane was entrusted to her mother's brother. After his death she was left in the care of his wife, Mrs Reed - to bring up Jane alongside her own children, John, Eliza and Georgiana. Out of resentment Mrs Reed isolates

Jane in the house, branding her as 'less than a servant,' because she does not earn her keep and does not have the means to.

Despite this, according to Victorian conduct Jane was required to appreciate the house and not home that she lived in, being obliged to show gratitude towards her benefactress. Jane does not, and sees books as providing a temporary means of escape from her unhappy life at Gateshead. Jane is regularly abused by her cousin John, but when she retaliates to his violent behaviour, it is then that the full extent of Jane's passionate character is revealed. In an act unbecoming of her station and gender, Jane physically as well as verbally begins to oppose all injustice against her, regardless of where it comes from: Accustomed to John Reed's abuse, my care was how to endure the blow... He ran headlong at me, I really saw in him a tyrant: a murderer... Did you ever see such a picture of passion. "

Jane appears to have come to the realisation that she doesn't have to be a pacifist, and can unleash her emotions unrestrained whenever, and on whomever she pleases. After coming into this knowledge Jane's passion begins to intensify. Her encounter with John Reed is quite significant, it enables her to visually display her presence in a house that ignores her, and a desire not to be neglected.

The incident also establishes that Jane is strong in both mind and character, qualities that most 19th century women were oblivious to. Social class plays an important part in Jane's life, and also marks a distinct difference between herself and the wealthy Reeds. "No, I

should not like to belong to poor people. " Jane's life at Gateshead isn't one that she enjoys, but tolerates as she feels she is entitled to opportunities she wouldn't have if she were poor. If her mother wasn't disinherited Jane would have been financially independent, but she doesn't stay with the Reeds in the hope that it may still happen.

Realistically Jane knows that it isn't feasible; she stays with the Reeds because she knows with them that she can achieve the ambition of an education no matter how modest it may be. These ideals of Jane's were strongly opposed by that of Eliza and Georgiana Reed, who in contrast are quite typically the idyllic 19th century girls. Unlike Jane, the Reed girls are not ambitious or want an education. They are prepared to continue life the way that they are, and never oppose injustice against others, as Eliza and Georgiana are quite happy with their lives.

The girls also apart from having different morals also having contradictory characters, Jane is passionate and lets her emotions play a part in her judgements and actions, whereas the Reed girls tend to be motivated by the need to appear composed and beautiful. "If she were a nice, pretty child, one might compassionate her forlornness... at any rate, a beauty like Miss Georgiana would be more moving in the same condition. " It seems that the financial status that is already a hindrance for Jane is supplemented because she does not require any of the qualities requiring her to be a lady: wealth, physical beauty, or musical talent.

Her aunt resents being her benefactress, and simply because she is not

as pretty as Georgiana, other find it hard to be compassionate towards her. Georgiana's blonde curls, and rosy cheeks are quite the contrary to Jane's dark hair, shallow cheeks, and pale skin. However what Jane lacks in beauty she makes up for in character, choosing to openly speak her mind - even questioning Mrs Reed's morals on several occasions. "Aunt Reed... people think you are a good woman, but you are bad, hard-hearted You are deceitful. "

To speak to her benefactress in such a way was a shock to both Mrs Reed and Jane, as it was something that no Victorian child would dare do - apart from Jane. They were taught to show immense respect towards parents referring to them as 'sir' and 'madam. ' Jane ignore this requirement, caring more for the need of justice than the consequences that may arise in her battle for it, once again emphasising her strength of character. Her obscurity in Victorian society was so rare that she was thought of as disobedient, deceitful and as offensive as it was evil.

Jane didn't take to these comments kindly, she knew that she appeared anomalous to those around her, and instead of trying to conform to their desires for her behaviour, she tries to show them their own faults in wanting to change her. An example of this is way Jane is first introduced to her to the man who will provide her schooling - Mr Brocklehurst, for the reason that Mrs Reed can no longer cope with a child as defiant as Jane. The language that Jane uses to describe Brocklehurst tells us a lot about her first impression

of the man.

I looked up at a black pillar! Such, at least, appearing to me, at first sight, the straight narrow sable clad shape, the grim face at the top was a carved mask placed above the shaft by way of capital. " Mr Brocklehurst is portrayed so descriptively and metaphorically as a symbol of everything that oppressed Jane. She speaks of him in a gothic style, and so in effect Mr Brocklehurst should be an object of fear towards young children. Jane behaves in divergence, choosing to act defiantly towards him, which again sets her apart from other females of her time.

When, in an attempt to outsmart Jane and enforce humility into her, Brocklehurst asks her how to avoid hell. In response Jane shows her wit and logical thinking by answering 'not to die. ' It is clearly not the answer that Brocklehurst expected, and accentuates the dissimilarity in views between he and Jane. Mr Brocklehurst is in fact a religious hypocrite, whose 'Christian' teachings concentrate on sin and obedience, rather than on tolerance and love - an emotion Jane craves to experience.

Even though Brocklehurst himself says that humility is a Christian grace, he does not practise it, instead he enforces harshness and humility upon all pupils at his school, and wishes to strip them of all possible vanity. Yet ironically at the same time he indulges his clearly proud and conceited daughters. This is the epitome of the character that Jane despises and challenges because of their abuse of power. It just simply isn't in Jane's distinctive nature to be passive towards Mr Brocklhurst's behaviour, as many had previously done.

In the next stage

of Jane's life she is at Lowood School, a name that indicates the humble, social position she is about to inhabit, and the way that she will subsequently be treated. It is also at Lowood that Jane meets Helen Burns, and despite their different characters, the two become close friends, with Helen having quite an influence over the young Jane. At Lowood Jane encounters girls the same age, and in the same situation as herself and for the first time sees how different she is from girls of her time.

A congregation of girls of every age, their number to me appeared countless... you and I are charity children ... the punishment seemed to me in a high degree ignominious especially for a girl... I expected signs of distress and shame; though composed she stood. " The extent of Jane's knowledge of she should behave was confined to what the Reeds tried to impose on her, but now she sees that her rebellious attitude towards life as an orphan is not shared with her female equivalents. The inhabitants of Lowood like Jane are poor, humble and modest in their appearance, actions and thoughts.

Jane on the other hand does not find treatment at Lowood fair, and once again does not wish to accept her circumstances, which she reacts to with the same passionate, inquisitive responses as she did at Gateshead. Jane strikes up conversation with a girl at the time unknown her, called Helen Burns. She gains the courage to do so through their mutual interest in books, the one Helen reading being Rasselas by Dr Johnson.

A brief examination convinced me that... Rasselas looked dull to my

trifle taste... I returned it to her... bout to lapse into her former studious mood. " It is a work informing that one should contend with life with patience, and acceptance of one's fate. This gives us an idea of Helen's temperament, just as Jane's unenthusiastic approach to it tells us of hers. Jane's impetuous, untrained character contrasts with that of Helen's, which is humble, patient and mature far beyond her years, and through this example Jane's wildness is influenced and tamed, and for the first time Jane begins to share a loving bond with her excepted mentor.

Jane is free loving, and her views based on instinctive reactions to injustice, whereas Helen's on careful thought and consideration. Helen compares Jane's Christian views of 'love thy neighbour' to that of 'savage tribes,' whereas she chooses to interpret it with accepting all wrongs directed towards her as she finds them irrelevant on earth, and looks forward to her spiritual life. Helen is the embodiment of what 'charity children' should be and how they should behave, and Jane begins to follow her disciplined example.

"I suspected that she might be right. When Jane sees a fellow student enduring punishment passively she is convinced that she would react differently, that she would be and uphold her principles. Although when she is put into the same position as the girl previously, unlike the way that she had reacted to John Reed at Gateshead, Jane conducts herself in the same way. "Like all rebel slaves, I felt resolved in my desperation to go all lengths... there I was, then mounted aloft... I mastered the rising hysteria, lifted my head up, and stood

firm on the stool. "

In the past Jane has reacted strongly, and unrestrained not caring for consequences, but wanting to clear her name from slurs placed on it by others. Through her humiliation Mr Brocklehurst describes Jane as a liar, an interloper and one of the devil's agents, purely from the information given to him by Mrs Reed. In her mind Jane thinks of retaliating with the truth, of Mrs Reed's true character, and the abuse she would in turn deliver to Brocklehurst, but for the first time Jane controls the emotions and thoughts in her mind, and does not let them pass to her mouth.

She has taken on board Helen's exceptive approach to life, and this is the first sign of Jane's character beginning to develop and mature. Jane is still passionate towards all that she was before, and still acknowledges injustice, but she learns to handle this in a controlled manner, rather than appearing as a wild and coarse child. Jane comes to terms with life at Lowood and the poor conditions; she seeks to clear her name by showing her true character, not shouting about it.

As a result Jane sees the value in Helen's approach to life, and her admiration for her increases, as does the pairs bond. During her time at Lowood, Jane has revere and looked up to Helen Burns. It is quite likely that she sees Helen as the motherly figure that she never had. Both are different to the people around them, and feel that they way they are treated is unjust; however the outlook that they take on this matter is also differs. Helen has the more

mature approach and as she is the eldest of the two, her views influence that of Jane's.

Helen does not try to change Jane, but as a mother would, she guides and shapes her from an unruly child to a strong and opinionated person. Jane benefits greatly from Helen's teachings, learning to be passionate as well as controlled. Although Jane still cannot remain unmoved in the face of injustice, and the neglectful way in which the pupils of Lowood are treated re-awakens the passion in Jane, because it leads to Helen developing typhus and dying. Lowood was the cradle of... semi-starvation and neglected colds... into it breathed typhus... disease

Had thus become and inhabitant of Lowood, and deaths its frequent visitor. " At that point Helen was the most stable person in Jane's life whom she chose to direct a lot of her affection and trust, in all sense of the word Helen was Jane's family, she taught, loved and consoled Jane in her times of need, and Jane passionately returned this love. Helen's death was a real testing point in Jane's life; we are able to see the loving side of Jane's passion. "I clasped my arms closer around round Helen; she seemed dearer to me than ever; I'll stay with you Helen: no one shall take me away. "

Jane is clearly saddened by Helen's imminent death, and tries to hold on to her friend as long as she possibly can, not wanting to leave her. She saw Helen as a lifelong companion, someone that she could always have in her life, but instead of showing her fiery temperament, which she most probably would have done,

before she met Helen, Jane chooses to mourn her in a composed manner with serenity, and even though Jane possessed the mind and imagination greater than any woman of her time, at ten years old Jane now has the disposition to match. The next eight years of Jane's life are described as uniform but unhappy due to its inactiveness.

Although Jane has achieved her ambition of an education, and promotion to the post of teacher at a reformed Lowood she still wants more in life. After being confined to the school for so many years, Jane desires liberty, and to make her own way in the world. She wishes to explore, and after many years Jane rediscovers her adventurous nature, using her accomplished education to take on positions as a governess. This path eventually leads Jane to hold a post at Thornfield Hall, and to govern French student Adele Varens, a lively, extrovert child.

The name given to what Jane shall call home is an indication to the trouble that will plague Jane's life. She is about to become entangled, in the painful thorns already present in the house. However after her harsh experiences at Lowood Jane is eventually able to survive, and not let her predicament consume her, as many other 19th century women would have done in her position. Whilst Jane still craves affection and love, she has grown in character with her experiences of life making her wary of forming strong relationships with people.

"The promise of a smooth career Thornfield Hall seemed to pledge was not belied on an cquaintance with the place and its inmates. " Jane wants to find her own happiness

in life, without it being reliant on the presence of others, as it previously was with Helen Burns. With adulthood bearing on her Jane wants to gain everything in life independently, and not from what others give her. A completely different approach to how the likes of Georgiana Reed was prepared to live; taking what others gave her because of her looks. Yet Jane is still not fulfilled in her life, she feels that she was obliged to become a governess, since it was the only independent route open to her.

She is very aware of her lack of opportunities, and believes that women have more to offer than paid companionship - which was only a choice for 'beautiful ladies. ' "It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied tranquillity; they must have action ... millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine... women are supposed to be calm generally; but women feel just as men feel... they suffer from too rigid a constraint and it is narrow-mindedness in their more privileged fellow creatures to say they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting socks, to play on the piano nd embroider bags. "

In this one passage, Jane clearly sets herself apart from women of her time. She speaks of something that most women wouldn't dare, or just didn't care about - equality between men and women. Jane speaks about it so fervently, and with conviction in an attempt to prove her worth is that of any a man's. In the 19th century women were thought of as the inferior sex, whose minds weren't equal to that of a

man's, but here Jane challenges that notion. She basically says that even though they aren't treated so, men and women are created equally and should have the same options.

To the majority of both men and women in those times, this would have seemed an absurd concept, but in these times it would be seen as true, implying that Jane thinks beyond her years. The owner of Thornfield Hall, and employer of Jane is a mysterious man called Mr Rochester, who at 38 is twenty years Jane's senior. Despite this the pair start of with a frank relationship, and are clearly at ease in each other's presence Mr Rochester comments that Jane has the 'look of another world,' which is a true interpretation, Jane's perspective on live is from a world years ahead of her own.

While Jane is intrigued by this enigmatic, striking - but not handsome - man newly placed in her life. The traditional master - servant relationship soon breaks down between the two, and it looks as if Jane has finally found an equal in her life, just as ardent as she is. Though in the reality outside Thornfield, Jane is still seen as inferior to Rochester, and to all upper class society, for she is no more than a governess without breeding and money. It is thought that Rochester would be more suited to the graceful Miss Blanche Ingram, and this veracity soon brings Jane crashing down to earth.