Feminism in Jane Eyre Essay

Abstract Charlotte Bronte masterpiece Jane Eyre symbolized a rising era in the history of literature. It awakened wo custodys ken to be independent. It brought about a completely mod innovation of union and of the range of life to a woman. That is mating should base on squ ar cope, equality and respect rather than affectionate ranks, materials or appearance. Marriage should be the combination of souls as well as bodies.The heroine of the un occasiond Jane Eyre has successfully exhibit the jut out of a woman who is intelligent, independent, benignant- fondnessed and most importantly, brave enough to read no to the social conventions and live up to her principle in life. The fountain Charlotte Bronte is acclaimed to be a pioneer in the campaign of feminist movement. This essay is to look for and appreciate the spirits of feminism reflected in this novel and also exhibit the limitations in demonstrating the concept of feminism. Key Words Jane Eyre, feminism, limitatio ns ?. IntroductionIn the nineteenth ascorbic acid, wowork force were considered to be appendages to men. Marriage and family life were the whole world to women. Women depended upon men physically, financially and spiritually. This essay is to explore and appreciate the spirits of feminism reflected in this novel Jane Eyre, whose author took the lead in the campaign of feminism. There are common chord cave ins in the process of demonstration. The first part is about the oppressiveness laid by the tetrad main men characters on Jane. The consequence part is about three main women characters and their images in this novel.The last part is to point out about limitations of the author when illustrating feminism. ?. Body 1. Mens conquest upon women The novel was written in the early 19th century when men played a dominant role in society. Women were considered to be inferior to men. All that women were supposed to do was follow the instructions of men and be the subsidiary additio n to mens life. Four men in Janes life had laid oppression on her in different degrees. Jane survives the oppression and led herself constantly to her own desirable life. 1. The oppression from John ReedThe first male character to oppress Jane was her full cousin John Reed, who in part softheadede little Jane live in shadow and fears when she was merely a young girlfriend. The boy hit Jane whenever he matte up like only because Jane was an orphan. Poor little Jane could do vigour but bear the hurts both physically and spiritually. At last, Janes feelings of abuse and indignity went out of control. For the first time, Jane stood up and fought back when John hit her again. Her call option of Wicked boy at John declares her determination to fight against this dirty world.This quarrel and fight led to her life in Lowood in which she felt much happier. 2. The oppression from Mr. Brocklehurst Mr. Brocklehurst represents those who had firm belief in women-inferiority theory. He d emanded the girls in Lowood to wear ugly or even broken clothes, eat far-from-enough grating food and led a hard life. In his opinion, girls should lead a simple life in order to cultivate the virtue of subordination and dependence. He once insulted Jane in front of Janes teachers and classmates. He claimed Jane to be a wicked girl only because Mrs. Reed, Janes Aunt, told him so.Though dispirited and heart-broken, Jane finally showed with her own deeds to her teachers and classmates that she was not a wicked girl as Mr. Brocklehurst claimed. 3. The oppression from Edward Rochester Even Edward Rochester, Janes lover, cute to lay some oppression or control upon Jane. Before their marriage, he wanted to use the necklace to circle up the thoughts and feelings of Jane. He wanted the ring to restrict Janes actions. Further, he wanted the beautiful wedding dress to change Janes appearance a little bit. Though at first, out of the love for Mr. Rochester, Jane intended to give in, but in the end she refused all of them.She fair(a) wanted to act what Jane was like and preserve her own unique characteristics. 4. The oppression from St. John St. John hold absolute faith in the social convention that a womans value was realized only when she devoted her life to a man. He took it for granted that it was the privilege and purity of Jane to go to India with him and help his work as his wife. He thought Jane would rack up with him at last because it was what a good woman should be like. Jane heavily declined this idea because she wanted a marriage based on legitimate love and mutual understandings. 2. The image of women charactersThe heroine of the novel Jane Eyre has undoubtedly succeeded in create up the image of a woman who has the courage to fight against the unsporting reality and pursue the equality in life. She calls for women to struggle for and be the success of their own lives. During the whole story, Jane serves as a positive character. By the ontogeny of Janes thoughts and feelings, the author conveys the spirits of feminism. Miss Blanch Ingram serves as a contract character against Jane. She represents the typical girls from noble families in that time. All she wanted was to find a rich man to depend on and suck up married with him.In her opinion, a womans duty was to crystallise her appearance attractive and beautiful in order to win the heart of a rich man. Marriage should base on social ranks and currency only and husbands and children are the whole world for a woman. Her rude behaviors and patronage upon ordinary people have fully illustrated her lack of cultivation and education. The image of Miss Blanch Ingram also symbolized the women victims of the social conventions. They lost their soul or even lost control of their bodies and they didnt have the slightest idea of the value of a womans life. hey lived and were quite willing to live as the belongs of men.The mad women living on the 3rd floor arouses readers suspicion and revive up the development of the plot. In addition, she helped to turn on a new page of Janes life (Rosemarie Putnam Tong, 1998). Because of the terrible set by the mad woman, the Thornfield was reduced to ashes and Mr. Rochester became blind and lost one arm. Everything in the past had beat history and a new chapter in Janes life had opened. In Ferndean Manor, a quiet and peaceful place, Jane and her beloved Mr.Rochester began to lead a new life in which Jane was no longer inferior to him and Janes pinnacle has changed because she was rich thanks to the heritage from her dead uncle. 3. The limitations in demonstrating Feminism Its beyond any doubt that Charlotte Bronte has brought about the idea of feminism in this novel but she failed to demonstrate the concept perfectly. The spirits of feminism are supposed to advocate equality amongst men and women (Rosemarie Putnam Tong, 1998). The reason why the author failed is she demonstrated the concept of equality partially. In t he relationship between Jane and Mr.Rochester, Jane was a relatively stronger character. At the first time they met, Jane helped the injured Mr. Rochester and at the end of the novel, Jane helped Mr. Rochester to deal with his daily life because of his blindness and disability. Furthermore, Jane was rich term Mr. Rochester turned poor, old and ugly. The author seems to arrange their marriage in this pleasing of condition on purpose. In Janes preparation for her marriage when she was stock-still a governess in Thornfield, she refused all the jewelry or beautiful dresses Mr. Rochester had hustling for her. She didnt want to be changed into another woman.The very reason for this kind of feelings and was Her refusal of the offer is repayable to her strong sense of inferiority. She was poor and her social military position was low at that time. The author didnt arrange Janes marriage in the condition. Instead, Jane got married with Mr. Rochester when she was rich and Mr. Rochester was poor due to the big fire. notwithstanding in this circumstance, Jane was willing enough to marry Mr. Rochester because I love you give way now, when I can really be useful to you, than I did in your state of proud independence, when you disdained every part but that of the giver and defender (Charlotte Bronte, 1975451).Janes marriage was in fact based on a kind of incompleteness and inequality at least in impairment of the couples physical conditions and social status. Charlotte subtly conveys the idea that feminism can be realized only in an incomplete marriage. The readers would be a little distressed when intelligent, kind-hearted and independent Jane gained her happiness in this way. The concept of feminism the author conveys to some extent goes to extremes. ? Conclusion The novel Jane Eyre successfully constituted an intelligent, kind-hearted and independent woman image.It arouses peoples awareness of feminism. The four men characters oppression upon the heroine Jane re veals the low social status of women in that gunpoint of time. The three women images in the novel represent different thoughts or ideas among women in that age. The novel serves as a pioneer in the cause of womens liberation though it fails to convey the concept of feminism to the fullest extent because it fails due to its failure to balance the equality between men and women.