Analysis of Jane Eyre
In Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte portrays one woman's desperate
struggle to attain her identity in the mist of temptation, isolation, and
impossible odds. Although she processes a strong soul she must fight not
only the forces of passion and reason within herself ,but other's wills
constantly imposed on her. In its first publication, it outraged many for
its realistic portrayal of life during that time. Ultimately, the
controversy of Bronte's novel lied in its realism, challenging the role of
women, religion, and mortality in the Victorian society.
In essence, Bronte's novel became a direct assault on Victorian
morality. Controversy based in its realistic exposure of thoughts once
considered improper for a lady of the 19th century. Emotions any
respectable girl would repress. Women at this time were not to feel
passion, nor were they considered sexual beings. To conceive the thought of
women expressing rage and blatantly retaliating against authority was a
defiance against the traditional role of women. Jane Eyre sent
controversy through the literary community. For not only was it written
by a woman but marked the first use of realistic characters. Jane's
complexity lied in her being neither holy good nor evil. She was poor and
plain in a time when society considered "an ugly woman a blot on the face
of creation." It challenged Victorian class structure in a strictly
hierachal society. A relationship between a lowly governess and a wealthy
nobleman was simply unheard of. Bronte drew criticism for her attack on the
aristocracy who she deemed as hypocritical "showy but ... not genuine." She
assaulted individual's already established morals by presenting a plausible
case for bigamy. Notions which should have evoked disgust and outrage from
its reader. Yet its most scandaless aspect was its open treatment of love.
Passionate love scenes which were for their day extremely explicit but by
today's standards are less than tame.
Bronte's choice of a strong independent heroine depicted feminist
ideals that would later lead to the overhaul of Victorian culture. By
making Jane an educated woman, Bronte gave her impowerment in a patriarchal
society that denied women education. However, Jane became a woman who
demanded a say in her own destiny. During her courtship, she refutes
Rochester's need to "clasp... bracelets on her wrists" and "fasten a
diamond chain around her neck." These become symbols of female enslavement
within a male dominated world. Jane's will power and integrity prevent her
from succumbing to Rochester and becoming just another of his possessions.
For if she can not preserve her individuality, she "shall not be ... Jane
Eyre any longer, but an ape in a harlequins jacket." With her refusal to
become Rochester's mistress, she demonstrates her inner strength. Strength
that will enable her to face the possibility of hunger, poverty, and even
death. It is in her decision to not marry St. John that Jane finally
liberates herself from the bonds of male suppression. All this has been in
effort to maintain some semblance of self-worth. "Who in the world cares
for you?" "I care for myself. The more friendless ... the more I will
respect myself." Even in her ultimate marriage to Rochester, she is in no
way surrendering to convention, for she has entered their union not only
with independence but emotional equality. If anything her actions resemble
a feminist adaptation of Sleeping Beauty, one in which the woman rescues
the prince. Essentially Jane has sacrificed nothing, rather gaining a
loving marriage in which they are equals; equality resulting from the
disfigurement that has left Rochester in equal stature with Jane. "We stood
at God's feet, equals as we are!" By making Jane the only character to gain
resolution with her passion and successfully created a balance in her
emotions. Bronte attempts to dispel the notion of women being emotionally
unstable. Ultimately, Jane Eyre presented for the readers of that time new
insight into relationships of the 19th century. Jane's belief that
"marriage without love is sacrilege" and should be based on the "mutual
respect of two people entirely compatible" was quite a radical concept for
the time. Ultimately, this novel spread a message of the new emerging role
of the woman. Bronte implies "the importance of women having useful and
creative existence." To no longer be forced into the servitude of one man,
nor enslaved to the social constrictions of the time. As Jane, so
eloquently says "Women feel just as men."
Through the heretic beliefs contained in Jane Eyre, Bronte created
great controversy, during a time that was firmly entrenched in the catholic
faith. Much of this "anti-Christian" sentiment can be derived from Jane's
struggle with the traditional constraints that her religion imposes. Her
unconscious desire to manipulate her religion for her own spiritual needs
is exemplified by her rejection of the catholic doctrine of self -
sacrifice. "Love your enemies ; bless them thou curse you; do good to them
that hate and despise you". Jane is unable to comprehend Helen's example of
"martyrdom." In her perspective Helen has fallen a victim of the clergy".
Instead, Jane becomes the opposite of Helen's compliant and passive nature,
Jane adopted the belief to "resist those who punish me unjustly." A
doctrine only "heathens and savage tribes hold ... but Christians and
civilized nations disown." Helen freely accepted her life of suffrage in
the promise of being rewarded in Heaven. "I live in calm, looking to the
end." However Jane's outlook is focused more on the present, receiving
affirmation to live for the here and now. "How sad to be lying now on a
sick-bed, and to be in danger of dying! This world is pleasant, it would be
dreary to be called from it, and have to go who knows where?"(80) Jane
lacks Helen's unquestioning blind faith, and even goes to the extent of
questioning the existence of an afterlife. "You are sure, then Helen, that
there is such a place as heaven; and that our souls can get there when we
die." (83) Here once more Jane defies her Christian faith; a religion which
demands undying faith and devotion from its followers.
In her refusal to a
stifling existence under St. John, Jane rears her selfish nature once again
by expressing her desire to indulge in a few earthly pleasures. By
believing that "denying the body kills the soul", Jane articulates her
belief in a mind/body connection. Although Jane believes it is healthiest
to possess a balance of these two, her religion has labeled her approach to
life as "animalistic". Yet, it is Jane's return to Rochester that marks the
novel's greatest controversy. By doing so, she has gone against the
Church's doctrine of accepting life's lot. By Jane refusing to be satisfied
with her present, she has decided to follow the belief of making "ourselves
as happy as possible on earth. "Her religion refutes this notion, by saying
"It is weak and silly to say you can not bear what is your fate to be
required to bear." But Jane is unable to place her trust in a "God's love
when he sends so much suffering.
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