PROJECT IN BRITISH LITERATURE II

ANALYSIS OF THE WORK JANE EYRE

Class: English Solo Hodanov, indelov, El Hassanov

Department of English of the Faculty of Education, UJEP st nad Labem

Intoduction Jane Eyre was written by Charlotte Bronte in 1847. The book describes the life and the inner struggle of Jane Eyre, originally poor child without future and without any expectations that turns into a passionate struggle between morals and love. We, as a group, have chosen this book because it offers many questions to answer and many problems to think of, while it still depicts an ordinary way of life and describes the beauty of the setting as well as the beauty of the love. It is a moral struggle of Jane Eyre wanting much more that she ever expected but being affraid to get disappointed in the social standards of the Victorian age. In this analysis, three main problematics will be dealt with. The psychology of the story, the importance of Janes appearance and the study of the symbols and Janes love.

Aya El Hassanov PhDr. Anna Kinoviov KAJ/6117 15th November 2011 The Psychological Part of Jane Eyre A novel published in 1847, cannot change its contain or meaning, but todays readers focus and perception of Charlotte Bronts, Jane Eyre will be surely different. The modern reader will focus on the psychology of characters in the modern point of view. From the very beginning of the story till the very end, Jane Eyre brings a message that even nowadays should be taken as a matter of course. The first important psychological part is the role of the emotions and empathy with the main heroine, everyone sympathizes with the orphan, who struggles during the major part of her life before the better days come, but what is more important and usually escapes the first notice, are these secular problems, as bullying, mental bullying, dysfunctional family background, that appears in the beginning of Janes life after joining her new family. These are the problems that were not allowed or not fashionable to talk about in the Victorian period, but referring to this novel, it is clear that this matter has been open and alive till this day. Jane had to suffer from desperation most of her childhood, cruel behavior at her school, disinterest and insensibility of her aunt, a modern reader would probably see the representation of a young person who, referring to their childhoods background, would probably grow up moving from one young offenders institution to another, dealing with difficulties at school or even worse, become a criminal.

If people sympathize with someone like that or not, is a different matter, but what brings the question of the psychological component in this part is, in what way will the fact that Jane did not broke down but stood strong and change the strongest emotions into her advantage, affect the reader. Jane expresses the meaning of a human as much stronger when he stands for what he believes in. Ernest Hemingway, in his famous quote, expresses the humans power, A man can be destroyed but not defeated. (103),which exactly describes the mental power and the strength of a human being. Another psychological component in Jane Eyre is the role of her development through the hard school years and growing up in an unsuitable environment to become a mature grown up, self-worthy person and maybe her own experience and fear led Jane to become a teacher herself. The answers why she chose to become a teacher are probably more than one, first of all, the change. Her own experience and the role models during her youth were all teachers, growing up isolated from the outer world, had to face the hard regime at her school, loss of her friend and a strong moral conviction of what is true and right, could be a motivation to bring changes. It is very common, when the person has to face realistic fact, that he cannot change his own past, but can prepare a better future. The second fact is the idea of freedom, what is out there? What is the meaning of life, the sense? In a position of a teacher, Janes point of view changed from dreamer to searcher. This is another psychological element that is very usual to reach another level in our lives. Her appearance was definitely not an advantage, but despite that, her courage, unconventional access to life and pride is emancipating female readers across generations (Baslarov )

The new psychological component, a very important one, is the question of soul mate, someone very unique and special. In the modern world, the idea of soul mates has its supporters and its opponents, but because Jane is a romantic heroine in the Victorian England, our point of view had to be turned from the modern reader to the romantic reader. Jane falls in love with Edward Rochester (back to the emotional part).She is impressed with Mr. Rochesters character, in a psychological way, he caught her attention, the passion and freedom was something Jane had not experienced before. What is unknown and unexplored is always more attractive and interesting to people. Mr. Rochester is in this case forbidden fruit for Jane. A young girl looking for love, care and attention found more than she was expecting. From a psychological viewpoint, the effect of her past, background and school years grow to unconscious intention for attention. Mr. Rochester is impressed with her personality, he does not chase for her money, social state or appearances. He is affected by her pure character. Even after a huge path she made in her life, dealing with the cruel truth of his lying about his last marriage, she found the true meaning of life. Not in inheriting the heirloom from her lost relatives, but in passing a hurdle of her lover being crippled. Since the beginning of the story, the matter of family background and home is questioned in between the lines, but as the last psychological component shows up, the meaning of leaving a part of her heritage, which she never had enough of before; to leave with the ones she loves. Its very noticeable that in a psychological way, for a human being, it is a very difficult fight between what is right and what is easy.

There was no harassing restraint, no repressing of glee and vivacity in him; for with him I was at perfect ease, because I knew I suited him: all I said or did seemed either to console or revive him. Delightful consciousness! It brought to life and lights my whole nature: in his presence I thoroughly lived; and he lived in mine. Blind as he was, smiles played over his face, joy dawned on his forehead: his lineaments softened and warmed (Bront 444). It is maybe difficult for the modern reader to feel it that way. Bront wanted to express her thoughts, but the psychological components that appear in this novel are unfortunately still present nowadays. Professors Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar, describe in their work The Madwoman in the Attic, the novel: It is a novel often considered ahead of its time due to its portrayal of the development of a thinking and passionate young woman who is both individualistic, desiring for a full life, while also highly moral. Jane evolves from her beginnings as a poor and plain woman without captivating charm to her mature stage as a compassionate and confident whole woman. As she matures, she comments much on the complexities of the human condition. Jane also has a deeply pious personal trust in God, but is also highly self-reliant. Although Jane suffers much, she is never portrayed as a damsel in distress who needs rescuing. For this reason, it is sometimes regarded as an important early feminist (or proto-feminist) novel. (Sandra and Susan)

Works Cited Baslarov Iva. Kdo se boj emoc, nesm na Jane Eyre www.aktualne.centrum.cz, 30.07.2011 WEB. Bront Charlotte. 1847. Jane Eyre WEB www.gutenberg.com Sandra Hemingway Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 1952. Print

Lucie indelov PhDr. Anna Kinoviov KAJ/6117 15th November 2011 Janes appearance in Charlotte Bronts Jane Eyre Nowadays, beauty is a highly appreciated feature that can make life easier in many aspects. In the Victorian Era, it wasnt much of a difference. People in Victorian period were obsessed with physical appearance, finding the clothes and bodily features highly important(Depictions ). People lacking certain physical beauty were therefore often disadvantaged and even if they possessed the inner beauty that could ten times surpass the lack of pleasing physical appearance, not many people would stop and get to know this inner gift. The same pattern applies to heroines in novels. They are usually gifted with stunning beauty. Not only are they beautiful inside, for their soft, warm-hearted and passionate nature depicts them in various colours and makes the reader fancy them, but they are also of natural, raw, genuine beauty that shines and dazes. And then, there is Jane Eyre. Jane, as the heroin in the book by Charlotte Bront, is a plain, pale and little figure with irregular features. Not a typical heroin. Nevertheless, Janes appearance is highly important throughout the story for if she found herself pretty and was found so by her surrounding, her character and the routes in her life would definitely have a different direction. This essay deals with the effects that Janes appearance had on her character and on the story itself. Jane herself didnt find her appearance perfect as she sometimes wished to have rosy cheeks, a straight nose, and small cherry mouth, desired to be tall, stately, and finely developed in figure and felt it a misfortune that she was so little, so pale, and had features so irregular and

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so marked (Bront 70). Although, this view is Janes and it could be very subjective, the proof of her imperfection is observed by other characters in the book. For example in the conversation of the servants at Thornfield Hall: "Poor Miss Jane is to be pitied, too, Abbot." "Yes," responded Abbot; "if she were a nice, pretty child, one might compassionate her forlornness; but one really cannot care for such a little toad as that." "Not a great deal, to be sure," agreed Bessie (Bront 19). Another example is Mr. Rochesters statement: "You are not pretty any more than I am handsome"(Bront 94), although since he later in the book calls her pretty and admires her features and looks, it is disputable, if Mr. Rochester really found Jane plain in the beginning and then, as falling in love with her, got blind to her indispositions, or if he was just hiding his affection for her. Generally, she wasnt considered a beauty and this has been reflected since her childhood. Being surrounded by her relatives and servants, who have never shown a pinch of understanding and love, her inner state wasnt filled with love or support. She was partially finding her appearance the cause of other people antipathy towards her for she observed that her cousins beauty, her pink cheeks and golden curls, seemed to give delight to all who looked at her, and to purchase indemnity for every fault (Bront 11). Observing how her cousins nice looks pleases people around, she learnt that the values in life werent going to seek the beauty inside and that she was going to be judged as not fulfilling the social standards. This fact along with how she was treated by people, who were supposed to be the closest to her, and the Lowood schools preparing her for poor and simple life, Jane lost her confidence and somehow put up with the view of not expecting more than the minimum. Although these features look very negative, even past retrieve, Jane grew into a strong, appreciative and hard-working woman.

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Thinking herself plain and simple and knowing her appearance wouldnt provide her an easy life like other ladies that possess certain beauty, Jane worked hard at school, harder than other people so her knowledge could make up for her other indispositions. This endeavor of hers caused that Jane became a very intelligent and accomplished woman with wide knowledge, attitude and independent opinions. These features enchanted Mr. Rochester. Mr. Rochesters affection for Jane has been strong since the first moment. Without any knowledge of her inner beauty, her intelligence and hidden passion, he fancied Jane. Even though, she was plain and not very pretty. And maybe that is what was so imposing about her. Mr. Rochester met three significant female characters throughout the book; Jane, miss Blanche Ingram and Bertha Mason. The latter two had something in common. They were beautiful. But did their beauty make Mr. Rochester happy? Blanche Ingram with her stunning beauty couldnt bring any happiness into Mr. Rochesters life since she wanted only his money and was selfish and arrogant herself. Bertha Mason bewitched Mr. Rochester as she was in the style of Blanche Ingram: tall, dark, and majestic(Bront 213). But it was only a cover of a mentally ill and dangerous woman who became a huge burden for Mr. Rochester. None of them brought Mr. Rochester happiness so he found Janes imperfect appearance a good, calming thing as the perfect ones didnt give him what he was looking for. He hoped he could find something different in Janes plainness. A genuine, true and unpretentious character without lies and covers. If Jane were not plain, Mr. Rochester might never become closer to her or get to know her as being afraid her pleasing appearance might bring him the same misfortunes. Summed up: Beautiful women turned out to be scheming harpies or selfish idiots; plain women turned out to have hidden depths of passion(Theme ).

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It is necessary to observe the matter of Janes appearance from her own view. She took her imperfection as a feature to live with but not as a huge burden or reason to be unhappy. She was realistic and concentrated on her inner self and knowledge. She found her plainness a closed chapter, a definite part of her life, therefore it was very difficult for her to accept and even believe that somebody might actually fancy her and her look. She simply called herself plain, Quakerish governess(Bront 211). Jane used her appearance as a protection not to get disappointed. She drew a picture of herself and a picture of Blanche Ingram (although she hasnt seen her, yet) so she could look at those pictures and compare her not ladylike features to those imaginary but smooth and very ladylike of Blanche Ingram to wake herself back to reality anytime, she would find even the smallest glimpse of hope that Mr. Rochester could return her love. Because if there is no hope, there cannot be any disappointment. It is suggested by the scholarly journal Shmoop writers that the picture of Blanche Ingram was actually the look that Jane desired to possess ( ). In summary, Janes plainness finally brought her things that she had cast off a long time ago. Her plainness is the key importance thanks to which the poor, obscure, plain and little (Bront 177) Jane Eyre became the Jane Eyre who studied hard, advertised, fell in love. Even though life prepared many miserable moments and struggles for her, she reached happiness and became the true heroin. Beautiful and loved by someone.

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Michaela Hodanov PhDr. Anna Kinoviov KAJ/6117 15th November 2011 Love and symbolism in Jane Eyre The book Jane Eyre is according to many the representation of feminist canon, her defiance in persisting in the life even though life wasnt very kind to her. We can find a major part played by symbolism in the book, one of the examples is the symbol of fire and ice (Solomon 215-217). Although symbolism is not the topic of my essay, it plays a great part in the book. I want to figure out when exactly Mr. Rochester fell in love with Jane Eyre and subsequently by what means he made her love him. In the beginning of the book, Jane is abandoned by her parents, who died, and the person, who took care of her, dies as well. Mr. Reed was the only person who behaved nicely towards little Jane and she remembered him for that. It was Mr. Reed, who gave Jane the roots of love, because once you experience being loved, you can never live without it anymore. If it wasnt for Mr. Reed Jane might have never gotten to know the feeling to be loved and the fact that its supposed to be normal among people. Another example of her want for love is when Jane is sent to Lowood school and she wants to make friends. Eventually she makes a friend, Helen Burns. Helen is an important character, not only because she made Jane feel loved, but because she showed that it is important to look at the problems through the eyes of others. In the school, she lives for the next few years as a pupil and then graduates to a teacher. All this time she is living there as a nun, she does not go into society, she does not have any

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friends and in the end, even Miss Temple, superintendent of the school, who behaved nicely to her and to her friend Helen, leaves her and marries. We can ponder on the reason why Jane advertised so she could get out of Lowood school, whose horrible conditions, as there were, were still somehow her home. Maybe she finally wanted to find a proper home and maybe perhaps even love. She then receives an answer from Mrs. Fairfax and thinks she can become a governess and be contend with her life. Then she finds out that Mrs. Fairfax isnt the owner of Thornfield hall, the house, she is supposed to live in, as she previously assumed, but that its owner is off somewhere on adventure. When Jane meets Adele, the pupil, she is to teach, she is quite amazed. Adele is a French girl brought by Mr. Rochester (as Jane finds out is the owner of Thornfield hall) to England. Some time passes before Jane meets Mr. Rochester and when she does, it is under very unusual circumstances. She causes his horse to throw Mr. Rochester off and he sprains his ankle. I wonder if this is the very moment Mr. Rochester fell in love with Jane, because later he tells her: "I knew, you would do me good in some way, at some time; I saw it in your eyes when I first beheld you: their expression and smile"(Jane Eyre 118). Jane doesnt know she has just met her master but she finds out soon enough that he is not a person with a steadiness of character and that he is quite fickle in his moods. When Jane is summoned in front of Mr. Rochester, she doesnt know how to behave. Mr. Rochester examines her and asks her about her past. He even gets to see her collection of paintings, she painted while in Lowood. Even though he asks her to tell him about herself, he is cold in a way. Later he tells her that he traveled the world and that he "hasroamed over half the globe, while she has lived quietly with one set of people in one house" (Jane Eyre 105). In next few weeks he hardly notices her but he secretly observes how she reacts to him.

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In the meantime Jane does what she does best, that is do her routine, does what she is told. She teaches Adele and often wonders what the commotion is in the hall in the night. This element adds to a kind of gothic atmosphere, the mystery of unknown. All reaches a melting point when Jane hears steps behind her doors and goes to look around and she finds Mr. Rochester sleeping in bed that is already ablaze. There is another symbol of fire and ice: When Bertha, Rochester's old passionate flame, sets his bed on fire, Jane saves him by dousing the bed with water. Miss Bronte's imagery is precise and explains the relationship between the central characters. Bertha represents the flames of hell-fire that have already scorched Rochester. Jane, fiery though she is, has sufficient control to water down these fires.(Solomon, p. 216). Rochester is grateful that Jane saved him and there is tense atmosphere when Jane saves him she doesnt know how to behave because all that she knew was how to behave towards a master and now he says: You have saved my life: I have a pleasure in owing you so immense a debt. (Jane Eyre, p.118). She replies to him: There is no debt, benefit, burden, obligation, in the case. (Jane Eyre, p.118). Jane leaves him but cannot go to sleep, I think she wonders if is possible that someone would love her; she doubts both herself and Mr. Rochester. The next day Jane finds out that Mr. Rochester had gone away and she feels rather disappointed and here is yet another example of people leaving her life, maybe not as strong because Mr. Rochester returns but in spite of his return, Jane feels lonely and she is not sure what her own feelings are. She doesnt know it those feelings she is beginning to feel for Mr. Rochester are real or if they are not. When he finally does return he comes with a party, this particular stab Jane feels really bad, because as Mr. Rochester pointed out, she wasnt in much of any society and she is like a little bird that is scared to fly out of the nest. (Jane Eyre) He forces her to attend the party in the

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drawing room but she is not happy, she feels inferior to them but never lets it show. Finally Mr. Rochester goes away for a day and when he comes back he pretends to be a gipsy woman and he pries his guests secrets. He particularly wants to figure out Janes feelings Jane has hidden feelings for him but doesnt want to even admit them. There is an incident, people in the Thornfield hear a shriek and naturally are curious as to what it was that gave that horrible sound. Mr. Rochester calms them down but he trusts Jane and leads her to the tower where is wounded Mason, brother of his wife as we later find out. Rochester tells Jane not to speak to him. He leaves them but Jane is not at ease, she hears noises coming from next door, this presents sort of mystery and also there is banging on the door and scratching, all symptoms of a mad person. Here we have again the imagery of ice and fire. This time its in the behavior, while Jane stays comparatively calm, the tenant of the other room is furious fiend or daemon, Jean Wyatt says: his wife a monster (p. 8). After this Jane gets a letter which takes her away from Thornfield to a place she didnt leave in a good way. When saying goodbye to Rochester they shake hands and clearly Rochester is sorry to see her leave but he manages to hide it partially from her. Her aunt Reed from Gateshead is dying and has asked to see her. Jane shows remarkable strength of character when dealing with her cousins and her aunt, people she didnt really like but she showed them kindness. Her aunt even tells her that she has a relative, an uncle in Madeira, but that she wrote to him, that Jane died. She tells her that now she can write to him and set the record straight. Finally good news, Jane has someone in the whole world, she is not alone now. After her return to Thornfield Rochester is very happy to see her again, the whole party is leaving and they can be together alone. There is of course the issue of Blanche Ingram, his would-be bride, he tries to make Jane jealous by suggesting that he will marry Blanche Ingram

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and asks her if he would be a good wife for him. He is continuously trying to make her fall in love with him and he uses tools like jealousy and deception to achieve his goal. Then comes the beautiful scene under the Chestnut tree: "It is a long way to Ireland, Janet, and I am sorry to send my little friend on such weary travels: but if I can't do better, how is it to be helped? Are you anything akin to me, do you think, Jane?" (Jane Eyre, p.204). Rochester tries to make her say her feelings out loud by essentially threatening her to send her to Ireland. Jane professes that: "I grieve to leave Thornfield: I love Thornfield: I love it, because I have lived in it a full and delightful life. (Jane Eyre, p.205). He finally drove her nearly out of her wits because she bursts out the gush of emotions, she usually the calm one and he the fiery one, now change place. She says she has to leave because of his bride and now she forces him to stop the pretenses and tell her what he feels: "I offer you my hand, my heart, and a share of all my possessions. You play a farce, which I merely laugh at. I ask you to pass through life at my side to be my second self and best earthly companion." Jane is afraid to accept him because she doesnt believe this could happen to her but eventually she does accept him. Then of course follows the wedding day, consequent finding that Mr. Rochester already has a wife is a knife in the back. She finally learnt to love someone and faith has again played a very cruel card. Mr. Rochester tries to persuade her to leave with him but she has to respect herself and she denies and runs away. Her running away and the journey are representations of her life, she had some thorns and obstacles in her past but she always managed to survive them. Why now it should be any different? Because she loved and because she was disappointed by the very person who promised to protect her and love her?

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Jane is almost at the bottom of her powers when she stumbles on a house where her relative live in, as she soon figures out. She pretends not to remember anything and tries to forget getting hurt but the memories haunt her. Her cousin St. John offers her a marriage, but marriage without love. It is a great comparison, whereas Mr. Rochester offered her a life without marriage but with love, St. John offers her a marriage but without love. She cant except that and she goes back to Mr. Rochester. Eventually Jane forgives Mr. Rochester for almost making her live in sin and they live together happily. Both Jane and Mr. Rochester made mistakes. Whereas Mr. Rochester and his mad wife Bertha represent hell and fire Jane is a symbol of ice or water, she represents something holy, with her ability to forgive both her aunt and Mr. Rochester.

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Works Cited "Depictions of Beauty in the Victorian Era." n. page. Web. 24 Nov. 2011. <www.123helpme.com>. "Jane Eyre Theme of Appearances." n. page. Web. 24 Nov. 2011. <www.shmoop.com>. Bront, Charlotte. "Jane Eyre. " 11th ed. eBook. <www.gutenberg.com>. Bront, Charlotte. Jane Eyre