Jane Eyre. We would like to show you Jane Eyres character and its developement during the time with the help of each section. Then we have dealt with gothic and romantic features. It may seem that the novel contains a romantic love story, but it is ac
CHARLOTTE BRONTË - JANE EYRE INTRODUCTION We have chosen the book Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Brontë because the novel has many controversial and interesting topics which we can deal with. It has always been a hot theme of discussions. We would like to show the reader that the role of women in the Victorian era wasn´t as easy as you may think. But there were women (like Jane Eyre) who tried to live their own lives, trust mainly themselves and be independent. We would like to show you Jane Eyre´s character and its developement during the time with the help of each section. Then we have dealt with gothic and romantic features. It may seem that the novel contains a romantic love story, but it is accompanied by many gothic elements. CONTENT I. JANE EYRE IN THE VICTORIAN ERA a. The Victorian Age - Social Background b. Women in The Victorian Era c. Feminist features in the book II. CHARACTERIZATION AND DEVELOPEMENT OF JANE EYRE´S CHARACTER a. The Gateshead section b. The Lowood section c. The Thornfield section d. The Moor house section e. The Ferndean section III. GOTHIC AND ROMANTIC ELEMENTS IN THE BOOK a. Gothic elements b. Romantic elements JANE EYRE IN THE VICTORIAN ERA VICTORIAN ERA - SOCIAL BACKGROUND The Victorian Era is dated from 1837 to 1901, the years that Queen Victoria was the British monarch. The era was preceded by the Regency era and
Analysis of passages and Mr Rochester in "Jane Eyre".
ASSIGNMENT H - ENGLISH LITERATURE AS Natalie Lesley Calabrese - 28th January 2011 I looked at Mr Rochester; I made him look at me. His whole face was colourless rock; his eye was both spark and flint. He disavowed nothing; he seemed as if he would defy all things. Without speaking, without smiling, without seeming to recognise in me to his side. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The passage occurs towards the middle of chapter 26 and the events described take place on the morning of Jane Eyre and Rochester's wedding. The action takes place in the church, which is right in front of Thornfield. A place well suited for the covert nature of the ceremony. At this point, the passage emphasizes Rochester's reaction towards the interruption of the 'two shadows', who had entered the church just a few seconds before them. One of them was his brother-in-law, Mr Mason (the mad woman's brother, who is kept in the attic) and the other was a lawyer. His reaction was of complete astonishment (his face was colourless rock), when the unexpected 'intruders' revealed the existence of his previous marriage to Bertha Mason. The novel's suspense relies on the fact that the narrator is not entirely omniscient, she does not reveal key information until the point in the chronology of events when Jane herself
Wuthering Heights characters
Wuthering Heights characters One of the primary ways in which we might judge a novel is whether or not we care sufficiently enough for its characters. In Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte offers us an intriguing array of characters and narrators. There are two principal narrators in this novel which throws into question the authority of the narrator. The conventional narrator confers upon the novel something of an authenticity of a spoken narrative. The presence of the narrator is comforting, since the narrator is by virtue of his or her role, a survivor: the narrator must survive to tell the retrospective tale. The narrator has an authority, which is made even more dramatic in nineteenth-century fiction on account of the fact that nearly all narrators are male. It is doubly significant therefore that Bronte chooses two narrators, one male and one female, and that the narrative of Nelly Dean outranks and dispossesses that of Lockwood, the male narrator. Able to read 'between the lines' of Nelly and Lockwood's narrative, the reader is able to interpret information from the text which is never made explicit. In distinguishing between 'reliable' and 'unreliable' accounts the reader is able to construct a body of knowledge from which to make judgements about the text and the characters. Equally tantalisingly, Bronte plays with our expectations of characters as discreet and
Jane Eyre - Development of Jane's Characters as a Child.
The novel begins with the ten-year-old Jane Eyre narrating from the home of the well-off Reed family in Gateshead Hall. Mr. Reed, Jane’s uncle, took her into his home after both of her parents died of typhus fever, but he soon died himself. Mrs. Reed was particularly resentful of her husband’s favouritism toward Jane and takes every opportunity to neglect and punish her. At the beginning of the narrative, Jane is secluded behind the curtains of a window seat and reading Bewick’s “History of British Birds.” Although she attempted to join the rest of the family, she was refused permission by Mrs. Reed to play with her cousins Eliza, John, and Georgiana. Although the family mistreats her, Jane still wishes that she could have the same attention and love that her cousins receive from her Aunt. John interrupts Jane’s reading and informs her that she has no right to read their books because she is an orphan who is dependent on his family. He strikes her with the book, and Jane surprises him by fighting to defend herself. John is frightened by Jane’s re-action and blames her for the fight. As punishment for Jane’s behaviour, Mrs. Reed has two servants lock her in the “red-room,” the room in which Mr. Reed died. Bronte uses the narration of Jane’s voice, and this makes the reader feel more sympathetic character, but Bronte incorporates all of the tragic facts
Explore the presentation of obsession in men in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Enduring Love by Ian McEwan
Explore the presentation of obsession in men in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Enduring Love by Ian McEwan Both Jane Eyre by Bronte and Enduring Love by McEwan present the theme of obsession in men. Jane is successively controlled by men, the critics, Gilbert and Gubar (The Madwoman in the Attic) said, "Rochester's loving tyranny recalls John Reed's unloving despotism... recalls Brocklehurst's hypocrisy" which indicates that Jane never escapes the oppression of the men around her. The control that Rochester and St John try to impose upon her is part of the patriarchal society of the day, causing Bronte to be widely criticised when Jane Eyre was first published. Rochester's love for Jane which is featured in the third part of the novel is one of heated passion and love from both sides. Traits of Rochester's obsessional love of Jane can be seen developing throughout the book, but it is most obvious when Rochester proposes to her, "I summon you as my wife". Rochester's desperation to marry Jane and the control he wants to impose on her is particularly evident when he "summons" her to marry him. This also reflects the patriarchal society in which men were expected to control women and for them to be subservient. The use of the word 'my' indicated that Rochester is very possessive over Jane and this is continued throughout the novel. He also says, "I love you as my own
Is Jane Eyre best described as a romance or a Gothic novel?
Is Jane Eyre best described as a romance or a Gothic novel? You should pay close attention to form, structure and language. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The novel 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte has been categorised as both romantic and gothic by scholars and literary critics. The plot entails the exploration of a woman's domestic trap, a common Victorian theme, with her subjection to patriarchal authority and her dangerous attempts to escape from such restrictions and the consequences. There is a mixture of mysterious events, moonlit natural environment, beautiful dream-like landscapes, enigmatic characters. Jane is represented as the heroine of the story, the virginal Christian female character. In opposition to her is the character of Bertha who is insane and is hidden in the attic of Thornfield Hall, representing Rochester's torment and his terrible secret. It can be argued that the plot has many entwined characteristics of both genres and it is very difficult to think of it as of one kind. The essay will discuss the way in which the novel accords with the characteristics of a romantic novel and a Gothic novel and evaluates whether it may be possible to assign it with one of the two labels. Romantic novels emphasize imagination and feeling, they focus on nature's ability to
'The Settings in Jane Eyre represent stages in the development of Jane's character'
'The settings in Jane Eyre represent stages in the development of Jane's character' How far do you agree with this claim? Discuss how Bronte uses setting in the novel and the impact it creates both on Jane and the reader. Bronte is a great believer in pathetic fallacy and throughout the novel we can see how the settings and the weather represent Jane's feelings and character. Even the names of the places she stays at can show this, for example, at Lowood she is at a low point in her life. The setting is also particularly important during the three proposals Jane receives and it represents how her life would be were she to accept, for example Rochester's first proposal takes place in a tempting orchard under a passionate sunset showing us that she would lead a passionate life of sin with Rochester were she to accept. However though the setting tells the reader a lot about what is happening in the book I don't feel that it shows Jane's developing character. However it is impossible to deny that we learn a lot through the settings that Bronte creates in Jane Eyre. The names themselves can show us a lot of what Jane's life and reaction will be to the place. Gateshead for example conveys the idea that Jane is shut in and trapped whilst also at the beginning, head, of life. One could even interpret it as representing the Gates of Hell and this is enhanced by the punishment that
How does Bronte explore the position of women in Victorian society in the novel Jane Eyre and how does she challenge it?
How does Bronte explore the position of women in Victorian society in the novel “Jane Eyre” and how does she challenge it? The Victorian era was a tough period for women, and Charlotte Bronte, a woman herself growing up in the Victorian times, reflects this in 'Jane Eyre', and also shows the way Jane challenges the classical stereotypes of a woman in this period in a variety of ways. Thinking of a woman in Victorian society, one may think of a woman as submissive, passive, less-educated, emotional, and obliged to serve their male spouses- somebody who should “learn their place” and slot into it. We however do not see characterises as strong as these with Jane. To call Jane a “feminist” may appear a little too extreme, however it would be fair to say that she would best fit in a society where men and women were treated as equals, living with the same lifestyle. R.B Martin however explains, that when Jane says her “Do you think I am poor, obscure, etc..” 'speech', she is not acting as a feminist, it is purely said due to emotion, and the fact that Jane never questions her limited career opportunities or her submissive-like role, shows that she is not quite the 'complete' feminist. Throughout the novel, it is clear that Jane “struggles” to fit into the established social gender classes of the Victorian era ,and that she is not willing to give up her values
Jane Eyre: an unconventional heroine. Explore how the female position is presented
'Ms. Eyre is one of those heroines who refuse to blend into the traditional female position of subservience and who stand up for her beliefs' Explore how the female position is presented. Jane Eyre was written by Charlotte Bronte and was first published in 1847 in the Victorian era. During this period, women were expected to remain at home and their time was to be spent taking care of household duties and their children. Females were regarded as properties rather than as humans: they either belonged to their fathers or their husbands. As they were believed to be incapable of surviving on their own, they had no independence. Permission was required for almost everything and they were expected to abide by rules set out by their owners. Men were considered to be very much superior to women and they were to be treated with respect by the latter, whether they agreed with their views or not. In general terms, society's portrayal of a conventional woman was very different to what it is now, so it is not surprising that modern readers may find their attitudes as shocking. Although Jane Eyre was written during this period, Bronte portrays her character in a very unconventional way, following the trends of the Gothic genre. The character of Jane is used to mainly challenge the Victorian attitudes towards women, religion and class. The fact that Bronte chooses a female
From your reading of Chapters 1, 2 and 26 of Jane Eyre, as well as any previous knowledge of the novel you might have, write about the links you begin to see between that text and Charlotte Perkins Gilmans The Yellow Wallpaper
From your reading of Chapters 1, 2 and 26 of "Jane Eyre", as well as any previous knowledge of the novel you might have, write about the links you begin to see between that text and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper". "The Yellow Wallpaper" was written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1892 for a number of specific purposes, including the author's desire to raise awareness of the condition post-partum depression, from which she suffered, and to illustrate her views on the patriarchal nature and the inequality of Victorian society, particularly with relation to marriage. Perhaps most importantly, Gilman wanted to expose the flaws in the male treatments propositioned for post-partum depression and other similar conditions; treatments from which she herself ailed even more than from her 'nervous disorder' when waylaid in bed, much like the narrator of her novella - albeit to a less extreme end. By contrast, Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre" has no such definite intentions, but acts most prominently as a bildungsroman and a partial autobiography, which leads to a very different treatment of characters as constructs rather than as Gilman's use of them as representations. While Brontë's characters in "Jane Eyre" cannot be labelled with much more precision than Mr. Rochester's standing as a Byronic hero, the characters in "The Yellow Wallpaper" are clearly intended for