Comparison of Jane Eyre and The Color Purple.

No comment is made regarding JaneÆs feelings, as if not wallowing in HelenÆs death, makes the loss of her all the more poignant. I feel as though this significant event in JaneÆs life made her emotionally stronger. Another important figure in JaneÆs life is her teacher, Miss Temple, who acts as a friend as well as the mother Jane never had. She strongly affects JaneÆs life with her fair outlook on the school. When Miss Temple departs Lowood it is clear that there is no need or reason for Jane to stay there, she must move on. This introduces Jane to her third phase in life, Thornfield Manor. Again, in this setting, her desire to be more physically appealing is made apparent when she feels inferior to the beautiful, Blanche Ingram. It is not until later when we see the more unpleasant features of Miss Ingram, that we realise she is no match for JaneÆs intellect and modesty. This third phase is the beginning of the main focus of the plot. The romance, which is familiar throughout storytelling: boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy and girl are reunited after some hardship and they all live happily ever after. Mr Rochester is immediately taken by Jane, but her natural innocence and reticence does not allow her to see this. BronteÆs theme of equality is given emphasis in this section of the novel. Both Mr Rochester and Jane are equally passionate and forceful, which makes their relationship a fiery battle of strong wills quite entertaining. Jane is not intimidated by Mr Rochester, which I think surprises him. The powerful communication between them highlights the equality of mind they share, regardless of their positions in society. Jane is clearly equal to Rochester in intellect, sense and feeling if not social status or age. In this stage of her life all seems to be going well, until Jane finds out Rochester is prepared to make a bigamous marriage, with the full knowledge he has a living wife. Jane is distraught; she feels all hopes of happiness have been drained away. Even though she loved him and he genuinely loved her, her strong moral principles will not allow her to become his mistress. This is an intrinsic aspect of her nature, and never is its strength more keenly felt than at the verge of temptation, æI care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unstained I am, the more I will respect myself. I feel that this situation made Jane spiritually stronger, with the knowledge that she sacrifices her love for her moral code. Her fundamental creed is clearly established, æDo as I do: trust in God and yourselfÆ. After a terrible period alone with her æmind impressed with strange fearsÆ, Jane reaches a solution. She must leave Thornfield. This leads Jane onto her fourth stage in her life, Marsh End, adulthood and the road to self-knowledge. The next three days in the novel severely test JaneÆs innate pride. She has enough sense to reduce herself to beg for food as she recognises the needs of the body, which must be addressed. Several times she wishes for death, but the thought of leaving the earth with Rochester still living is hateful to her. This shows her strong-will to survive and I think it proves her emotional and spiritual strength. After eventually finding shelter and family, JaneÆs luck seems to be changing. She has been left a fortune and after insisting the fortune should be split between all four of them explains, æit could never be mine in justice, though it might be mine in lawÆ. The refusal to accept the full sum also highlights the aspect of her character which values love, friendship and decency above finance and its trappings. After several months pass, Jane is faced with yet another important decision, the marriage proposal from a man whom she shares no true love with. She rejects the idea of being æforced to keep the fire of my nature continually low, to compel it to burn inwardly and never utter a cry, though the imprisoned flame consumed vital after vital (organ)Æ. This shows the horrors she feels at the prospect of a loveless marriage; again her moral views are very important. Jane and Rochester have an unbreakable heart and the calling suggests the idea of a spiritual communication. Jane's difficult decision concludes the novel, as she is faced with returning to where she left her broken heart. It is important to note that at the end of the novel, that Jane has improved her position. Compared to her inferior status at the beginning of her life at Thornfield, when Jane returns to the blind Mr Rochester, she can no longer be seen as equal, but as the dominant character. The novel closes with Jane and Rochester, assuring the reader their life will be a happy one, which they both deserve and have earned. The end of JaneÆs spiritual and emotional journey shows that she has become a mature and confident woman rewarded for her moral intensity and strength of spirit. The main character in The Color Purple, Celie, does not resemble the figure of Jane. Whereas Jane is confidently independent, relying on no one but herself, Celie is perceived as an innocently weak creature. Celie does not know right from wrong, which is shown in the early pages. It is obvious that she does not have a concept of rape or understand the probable consequences. The Color Purple opens with this shocking revelation that Celie has been raped at an early age. It automatically seizes the reader's heart and emotion, which pour out in sympathy to Celie. Already, the social and economic differences between Jane and Celie can be compared easily. Even though we know Jane is far from wealthy, she was well brought up and received a good education. Compared to Jane, Celie has nothing. She has had no form of education and lives in frightful conditions. I feel as though this sense of ænothingÆ makes any form of growth very noticeable. Every little bit of happiness that enters her life is treasured, not only by herself, but by the reader too. As Celie journeys through her life, like Jane, she is faced with traumatic events. Many of these events help Walker make a point of her main themes, which touch on religion, violence, patriarchy and slavery. Although slavery is not mentioned in Jane Eyre, I think that both slavery and feminism relate to the same idea û inequality. Both Jane and Celie have their share of unfairness in the world. Though slavery was abolished in the US in 1865, habits of mind formed under slavery continued to degrade human relations, as the novel constantly shows. Alphonso and Albert treat women like slaves, which is reflected in their speech, æI can let you have CelieÆ, æI got a fresh one in there myselfÆ. Although Jane did not experience such sexist degradation, I feel as though Celie matches her determination for female independence. The other major theme, common in both novels, is the faith shown in each girl, towards her religious beliefs. Jane sticks solidly to her moral codes, based on Christian teaching, throughout the novel. Celie, though, is much more susceptible to influence. It is Shug who first influences Celie, setting out explicitly the theme of æSpiritÆ, rather than church religion. Both views on religion are extremely important to both girls as they continue through life. Unlike God, who keeps Jane going, Celie questions the Christian faith. She blames God for keeping the knowledge of her true parentage and that God divided her from Nettie. She thinks God must have been asleep and in her anger she says that æGodàis a manÆ and that æif he ever listened to poor coloured woman the world would be a different place I can tell youÆ. I think it is this quotation that wraps the core of the novel in one. Replacing the racism theme with equality, I think the same could be said for Jane Eyre. After Celie has grown both emotionally and spiritually, with the help and support from Shug, the title of the novel comes into perspective. Purple is the colour of a bruise. It can also be associated with the colour of the robes of royalty and nobility, of Roman Emperors and English Lords. I think the two contrasting images of bruised, battered victims and the queenly, triumphant figures women can become when they are free, which play an important part in the basic structure of the novel. The new meaning of the colour purple, symbols the wonder of existence which is the core of the new faith Shug and Celie share. Shug can be seen as the equivalent to God in JaneÆs eyes. Where it is Shug who keeps Celie living, it is JaneÆs faith in God, which keeps her going. It is the last few pages, which bring in the last symbol for womanÆs emancipation, pant making. It is the main achievement in CelieÆs life which not only shows off CelieÆs few talents, but ironically display WalkerÆs belief that gender is distinct from sexual identity. The traditional occupation of quilt making symbolises womenÆs solidarity, past and present., while CelieÆs firm create a symbol of freedom in the modern world. Both novels share mostly the same themes, in particular stressing the themes of womanÆs independence and religion. Even though this is the case, I donÆt wholly feel that the two heroines, Celie and Jane grow equally, spiritually and emotionally. Even though Jane suffered terrible hardships at Gateshead, even worse conditions at the beginning of Lowood and the distraught experience of a broken heart, I donÆt think her soul and mind grew to the full extent that CelieÆs did. From the beginning of the novel, Jane was strong-willed and independent. Celie displayed the characteristics of an animal. She continually receives beatings, and therefore expects continual beatings. Celie relies on other people to help her through the world, and to help her gain confidence and independence. Jane, was able to do this herself. This leads me to conclude that I feel Jane does not grow much more from her original independent self, but instead keeps to her moral and religious faiths and eventually is rewarded everything she deserves. In contrast, Celie grows from a timid, animal-like character to the determined, content, pants making woman she becomes. Both girls though, show the spirit that was needed in every woman to overcome a world of inequality. Both Jane and Celie show the spiritual and emotional strength, to face the condemnation æYou black, you pore, you ugly, you a woman, with the unavoidable truth, æIÆm pore, IÆm black à But IÆm hereÆ.