Jane Eyre Character Analysis

848 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analysis of Bront's jane eyre

Characters in a story can have an enormous influence on other characters or even on the plot of the story. One person can change the entire outcome of a story. In the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte many characters influenced Jane, but St. John Rivers and Edward Rochester had the largest impact on Jane’s character and moral values. They differed in their ideals and their moral obligations. Through St. John Rivers and Edward Rochester actions, love, and influence they molded her into this strong feminine figure. St. John Rivers is stern and set in his religious ways were as Edward Rochester is less set in his religious and moral values.
St. John was pictured as an independent character who was also willing to sacrifice his money and time for others. He wanted Jane to marry him and asked her to join him on his missionary to India. A quote from the novel showing her dislike of this idea is, "Oh! I will give my heart to God, you do not want it" (Bronte October 16, 1847 Pg.507). The quote shows that if Jane was to accept his marriage proposal and his proposal to go to India as his wife, she would have to give up the feeling of love for principle and religion. Unlike if Jane was to marry Rochester she wouldn’t feel bad marrying St. John because he did not already have a wife. St. John essentially made Jane realize that personal freedom could only be found in a mutually emotional and physically dependent relationship. As a result of coming to this realization, Jane denied his love for her. She didn’t marry him because she did not want to give up her love for Rochester whom she still longed for
Edward Rochester was the owner and master of Thornfield. He was Jane’s first and still only love. He was already married to someone named Ber...

... middle of paper ...

...on also somewhat incidentally helped control Jane’s passionate disposition because she was able to reject his love the first time, but now she has fallen for him again.
Through her hardships and lessons learned throughout her journey from Gateshead to Ferndean, Jane evolved as a character to overcome her physical and mental weaknesses. The influences of both men molded her character, bolstered her moral values, and helped her find the perfect balance between love and independence. Her honor and moral principles were constantly put to the test, but incredibly she was always able to make the right decisions. With each new obstacle and adverse situation, she was able mature and grow as an independent woman. The two contrasting characters, Rochester and St. John, both played an integral role in Jane's development as a character and the antagonist through their beliefs.

Show More
Related

  • Pain, Misery and Dissapointment in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

    918 Words  | 2 Pages

    Charlotte Bronte utilizes the character of Bertha Rochester to interrupt Jane’s potential happy ending with Mr. Edward Rochester. Bertha is announced by Mr. Briggs as a way to stop the wedding and it also shows how hopeless Jane’s situation is. “That is my wife “said he. ‘Such is the sole conjugal embrace I am ever to know—such are the endearments which are to solace my leisure hours! And this is what I wished to have,’” (312) and “’I wanted her just as a change after that fierce ragout,’” (312) are quotes that express Mr. Rochester’s reasons for trying to remarry while he already has a wife, meanwhile showing his disposition towards said wife. Had Mr. Briggs and Mr. Mason not been present for the ceremony, Jane may have lived happily in ignorance. Due to Bertha’s involvement however, Jane could never truly call herself Mr. Rochester’s wife. She says, “’Sir, your wife is living: that is a fact acknowledged this morning by yourself. If I lived with you as you desire—I should then be your mistress: to say otherwise is sophistical—is false.’” (323) This quote shows that as a result of Bertha’s exposure, Jane refuses to marry Mr. Rochester. The influence that Bertha’s brief debut had on Jane’s life was significant enough to hinder the growth of her relationship with Mr. Rochester.

    Read More

  • Duty vs. Desire

    1132 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ed to be his wife, I can imagine the possibility of conceiving an inevitable, strange, torturing kind of love for him, because he is so talented.”(389) this quote shows that Jane does not love St. John and if she stays with him she wont be happy to be with him.

    Read More

  • St. John and Jane Eyre

    2080 Words  | 5 Pages

    Because Jane is the narrator, the reader is given a biased point of view that St. John’s character is unfavorable. Throughout Jane’s life she has had oppressive male figures dominate her life, such as John Reed and Mr. Brocklehurst; thus, Jane can conditioned herself to be apprehensive when confronting men. After gaining her physical and emotional strength back, Jane studies St. John’s character. Jane’s first impression of St. John is pessimistic, she states “Had he been a statue instead of a man, he could not have been easier”(Bronte 329). By comparing St. John to a statue the reader is forced to see St. John as someone who is cold and rigid. Jane sets up the perception that St.John is disconnected from human feelings. Jane also presents a biased view of men when she first meets Rochester, who later becomes her husband. Furthermore, Jane’s first impressions of Rochester are also negative. Upon first being introduced to Rochester, after he asked to see her, Jane comments, “But it appeared he was not in the mood to notice us, for he never lifted his head as we approached. . . There was something in the forced stiffed bow, in the impatient yet formal tone, which he seemed to further expresses”(Bronte 111). Upon meeting Rochester for the fir...

    Read More

  • Jane Eyre?s Self-Discovery

    619 Words  | 2 Pages

    Another important journey Jane makes is from Gateshead back to Thornfield having visited her aunt Reed on her deathbed. By then Jane realizes that she loves Rochester. A key theme is raised here, Jane fierce desire to love and to be loved. She feels alone and isolated when she has no friends around her. This is a sharp contrast compared to other characters’ search for money and social position.

    Read More

  • Jane Eyre Essay: Following the Moral Compass in Jane Eyre

    1475 Words  | 3 Pages

    In fact, I am glad the book ended with the focus on the character of St. John instead of with Jane or Rochester, as it hints to us that the importance of the book is not about finding the right person, falling in love, and living happily ever after. The theme of this book is about following your conscience. In this regard, Jane and St. John both did the same thing in this story: They both had strong, driving consciences; they both were tempted but pursued their course; and they both found a satisfying life in the end. This book is not about developing a relationship with a romantic partner, but about developing a relationship and learning to follow and live in tune with your own moral conscience.

    Read More

  • Comparison of Harry Potter and Jane Eyre

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... self-worth. She believes that there is a chance for her to change her future. She had to make certain sacrifices in order to discover her strength, true friendships and her self-worth. She sacrifices her love to preserve her self-worth. After realizing her marriage to Rochester cannot be lawful and will mean surrendering her sense of dignity and virtue, she leaves him. When Jane leaves Thornfield she says “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself” (Bronte 336). In the end, she finds her happiness, as she is now with the man she loves, she preserves her self-worth without sacrificing her integrity.

    Read More

  • Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre

    1754 Words  | 4 Pages

    Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre chronicles the growth of her titular character from girlhood to maturity, focusing on her journey from dependence on negative authority figures to both monetary and psychological independence, from confusion to a clear understanding of self, and from inequality to equality with those to whom she was formerly subject. Originally dependent on her Aunt Reed, Mr. Brocklehurst, and Mr. Rochester, she gains independence through her inheritance and teaching positions. Over the course of the novel, she awakens towards self-understanding, resulting in contentment and eventual happiness. She also achieves equality with the important masculine figures in her life, such as St. John Rivers and Mr. Rochester, gaining self-fulfillment as an independent, fully developed equal.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Independence In Jane Eyre

    962 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jane’s perspective of love is based upon a mutual understanding and equality. Jane’s equality in a relationship is derived from her desire of independence. Jane reveals her need of independence in her relationship with Mr. Rochester when she told him she would always call him master but she would not be inferior to him. Haiyan Gao asserts in her article “Reflection On feminism in Jane Eyre,” “Jane loves Rochester with all her heart and Rochester’s status and wealth make him so high above for Jane to approach, yet she never feels herself inferior to Rochester though she is a humble family teacher.” It is also notable that Jane does not pursue a relationship with Mr. Rochester with the intention of gaining money. Her love is solely based on equality and independence and not status, power, or property. As Heidi Kelchner proclaims in her article “Jane Eyre,” “Although she ranks far below Rochester in social rank and wealth, she feels equal to him in soul, understanding his true nature.” Jane has pure intentions in her marriage with Mr. Rochester as she believes he is her equal and true love. Jane proves that she seeks true love once more when she rejects St. John Rivers marriage proposal. St. John had offered Jane an invitation to become his missionary wife in India. Jane acknowledges that he does not seek marriage for love but instead for religious purposes. Therefore, Jane proposes an alternate plan that allows her to serve as a single, independent missionary and co-worker of John. As Heidi Kelchner affirms Jane’s thoughts in her article “Jane Eyre,” “As St. John’s wife, she fears she would be restrained, and always checked forced to keep the fire of her nature continually low.” She would not be degraded to an object but rather wanted to stand as a strong independent woman. Jane would not accept the humiliated marriage to please St. John’s wishes. She would continue to look for true love based upon

    Read More

  • Reason and Passion in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    Passion and reason, their opposition and eventual bringing together, serve as constant themes throughout the book. "Unjust!--unjust! Said my reason...How all my brain was in tumult, and all my heart in resurrection!" (Bronte, 17) Jane's passions are uncontrolled because she is not using reason. We see the dangers of nature and passion tempered by reason in the scene in which Rochester almost marries. Jane must get over her overwhelming passion for Mr. Rochester or Jane runs the risk of losing herself. In this case, passion nearly gains a victory over reason. Jane nearly loses her own personality in her overwhelming love. "Feeling without judgment is a washy draught indeed; but judgment untempered by feeling is too bitter and husky a morsel for human deglutition" (Bronte, 247). In other words, the individual must attain a balance between reason and passion, not be dominated by one or the other.

    Read More

  • A Critical Evaluation of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre

    569 Words  | 2 Pages

      Jane grows up distinguishing her personality and voicing her unbiased opinion,  but in McFadden-Gerber's opinion,  Jane remains the same orphaned female in constant discord with elders and supervisors.   Ms.  Eyre is a heroine who refuses to blend into the traditional female position of subservience and who stands up for her beliefs.   In the beginning, Jane at first de...

    Read More

  • Influece of Other´s in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

    973 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...eshead to Lowood to Thornfield then from Thornfield back to Gateshead had impacted her growth not only as a woman but as a character is because if she did not experience the different sets of characters in each location to know that there were different kinds of personalities and influences , she would only become one minded and would have not been introduced to the real world. In order for Jane to have become who she is now, she had to face the hardships in order to succeed and to make it in life itself. With both positive and negative characters, she learned how to love, how to forgive , how to think and wonder beyond her thoughts, and she was able to challenge her inner thoughts and questions. Once she had accomplished that , the answers that she needed in order to move on with her life had been answered and she was able to fulfill her pursuit of happiness.

    Read More

  • Passion vs Reason

    867 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jane continually advocates for herself throughout her narration. She pushes aside her ache for Mr. Rochester's affection in order to maintain her values. She does not let passion interfere with reason, arguing that if she broke her values, "What would they be worth?" a. The number of a. Jane "plants her foot" at the thought of leaving with Mr. Rochester, leaving him to travel to the unknown.

    Read More

  • Jane Eyre Character Analysis

    589 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte is a novel about an orphan girl growing up in a tough condition and how she becomes a mature woman with full of courage. Her life at Gateshead is really difficult, where she feels isolated and lives in fear in her childhood. Her parents are dead when she was little, her dead uncle begged his evil wife, Mrs. Reed, to take care of Jane until she becomes an adult. But Mrs. Reed does not keep her promise, no one treats Jane like their family members even treats her less than a servant. By the end of this essay it will be proven that Jane’s life at Gateshead has shaped her development as a young woman and bildungsroman.

    Read More

  • The Balance Of Passion And Passion In Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    At the beginning of the novel, Bronte presents Jane as a lonely, yet independent and intelligent child who faces difficult hardships at a very young age. At Gateshead, Jane is greatly mistreated by her family members which result in her attending a school for orphaned children called Lowood. Although Jane's life at Lowood is an improvement compared to life at Gateshead, she still feels as though she belongs elsewhere. Jane sends out an advertisement for a wanted governess after six years of living at Lowood and soon begins working at Thornfield Hall where she begins teaching a young French girl Adele Varens. Upon arriving, Jane is informed by the housekeeper Mrs. Fairfax that the owner of Thornfield Mr. Rochester travels often and has lived through a troubled life. After many months have passed at Thornfield Jane finally meets Mr. Rochester and he takes a great secretive interest in her. The relationship between Jane and Mr. Rochester is the first non-abusive relationship Jane has with another man in the no...

    Read More

  • Jane Eyre is a Feminist Novel

    1740 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...e Jane proves herself able to function, through the time she spends at Moor House, in a community and in a family. She will not depend solely on Rochester for love and she can be financially independent. Furthermore, Rochester is blind at the novels end and thus dependent upon Jane to be his guide.

    Read More

More about Jane Eyre Character Analysis

Open Document