Duty and desire in Jane Eyre

How is the conflict between duty and desire explored in these texts? Desire is a term conveying a longing for a certain object, person or outcome. It is an emotion from the heart and is unaffected by social opinion. Duty, in contrast, is a moral obligation to an act, which is perceived to be selfless. The decisions made regarding these emotions are significant throughout 'Jane Eyre' and 'Wide Sargasso Sea'. However, these definitions were more extreme during the time that Brontë and Rhy's texts were written. In the 19th century, it was considered a completely selfish act for women to show desire, it was a vulgar emotion that women were expected to control and conceal. The female role during the 1800's was limited; they were expected to be passive and were passed from father to husband, similar to a possession. To perform one's duty to society was regarded as an unspoken rule imposed on all women, therefore, women never truly had the chance to express their true identity or gain real independence. The 19th century conflict between duty and desire was a key topic written about by many authors, predominately women, who illustrated personal experiences and beliefs through the characters and their decisions. In both Bronte's and Rhy's novels the authors illustrate the limitations imposed on women, society's views and expectations concerning the conflict, and the importance of

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Conflict in Wuthering Heights. The conflict between nature and culture which forms part of the thematic structure of Wuthering Heights, is played out in the relationship between the two houses: Wuthering Heights which represents nature and

The conflict between nature and culture which forms part of the thematic structure of 'Wuthering Heights', is played out in the relationship between the two houses: Wuthering Heights which represents nature and Thrushcross Grange representing culture. This conflict can be interpreted in many ways, for instance in historical terms as a rural way of life contends against industrialisation; in psychological ways as a struggle between the ego and the id and in sexual terms as a choice between experience and representation. From the very beginning the narrator, Mr Lockwood identifies himself as a man of culture, he comes from a 'civilised society' and appropriately is living at the Grange. He, like the reader, is an outsider to the Wuthering Heights and his description of the 'stunted firs', 'gaunt thorns' and the 'narrow windows' creates a chilling and unwelcoming atmosphere. The name of the place also reflects this situation; 'Wuthering' meaning stormy hinting gothic elements. Mr Lockwood states the house is 'completely removed from the stir of society'; it is surrounded by the moors which symbolise freedom posed by nature, were Mr Heathcliff and Catherine's bond first developed. There is also almost a conflict among the house with the ill-tempered characters and its description; for instance, Mr Lockwood 'detected' that the name of the house is 'Hareton Earnshaw' yet it is

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Critics suggest that Wuthering Heights is a novel concerned with boundaries. Explore the effect of these boundaries in relation to the relationship of Catherine and Heathcliff.

Critics suggest that 'Wuthering Heights' is a novel concerned with boundaries. Explore the effect of these boundaries in relation to the relationship of Catherine and Heathcliff. Throughout 'Wuthering Heights', physical and metaphorical boundaries are crucial in communicating Emily Brontë's moral messages about the position of women in 19th Century society and the barriers separating individuals of different social status. Both of these themes are conveyed by the relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff as Catherine is forced to forsake her true love and instead marry Edgar Linton because he is socially acceptable, "And he will be rich, and I shall like to be the greatest woman of the neighbourhood, and I shall be proud of having such a husband" and Heathcliff is of lower social standing, "It would degrade [Catherine] to marry Heathcliff". The social barrier between Heathcliff and Catherine manifests itself in a myriad of ways during the novel and is eventually broken by Hareton and Cathy- the new generation of residents on the moors. This conclusion was clearly a statement of intent from Emily Brontë which suggested the oppressive boundaries of the 19th Century patriarchal society would ultimately be eradicated by a new generation of Britons- a view which was vindicated after Brontë's tragic death, as the Suffragettes earned women the right to vote and various

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The Gothic Elements of Wuthering Heights

'The Gothic elements of Wuthering Heights are made credible by the novel's setting and narrators.' How far would you agree with this view? Some would argue that the novel's setting is particularly important in establishing the novels Gothic elements, in particular relations between past and present, the medieval and modernity. The contrast between the two houses, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, for instance, which has been seen as carrying such metaphysical significance, is not left a generalised level, but is grounded in specific details which reveal the time, place, and class of their opponents. The house at Wuthering Heights is a functional place, marked by dogs, guns and oatcakes which are part of a feudal agricultural economy, while Thrushcross Grange is a place of leisure, distinctly Victorian aristocratic, characterised by products of other people's labour - carpets, chandeliers, sweet cakes, and lap dogs. It is therefore possible to extract historical opposition between these two settings, with the Earnshaws, the yeomen farmers who work of the land, being replaced by the genteel way of the Lintons who live of their rents. This relationship with the past, which is juxtaposed with the 'new' world of Victorian decadence, is an important element of the Gothic which is brought to life by Bronte's description of these different abodes and their occupants. The

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Wuthering Heights. The narrative tale tells the story of the all-encompassing and passionate, yet thwarted, love between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and how this unresolved passion eventually destroys them and many around them.

Wuthering Heights' first published in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell is written by Emily Bronte and it is her only novel. Emily Bronte used the name 'Ellis Bell' due to the fact that this book was published in the 1800's when women hardly had any rights therefore Emily Bronte thought it better to use a male name as both her sister's did. The word 'Wuthering' means turbulent weather in Yorkshire language; therefore it is used to describe the disastrous weather on the moors where this story is based. This book uses very old and intricate language as it is set way back in the 1800's. The haunting intensity of Catherine Earnshaw's attachment to Heatchcliff is the focus of this novel in which relations between men and women are described with an emotional and imaginative power unparalleled in English fiction. The narrative tale tells the story of the all-encompassing and passionate, yet thwarted, love between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and how this unresolved passion eventually destroys them and many around them. Catherine and Heathcliff had always been very close to each other and were always indivisible. But miserably, they were indeed separated many times due to many various reasons. Catherine and Heathcliff turned into soul mates only a few days after Mr Earnshaw found a 'black gypsy' wandering on the silent and violent streets of Liverpool and decided to

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While Heathcliff and Edgar act as foils for one another, it is more useful to consider their function in the novel as individuals. Discuss

While Heathcliff and Edgar act as foils for one another, it is more useful to consider their function in the novel as individuals. In the novel, if Heathcliff is to be considered the primary protagonist, then Edgar is the primary antagonist. Heathcliff's greatest desire is Catherine and the main obstacle that stands in his way is Edgar who, with his greater wealth and higher social status manages to keep her out of his reach. There is therefore a great connection between these two characters which could be explored in great detail; but is it more useful to consider them as two separate entities in the novel, with their other connections having greater importance? When viewed together it can be claimed that as the reader we understand the characters more clearly when they are contrasted against each other. Bronte has set up a possible juxtaposition between Heathcliff and Edgar as it allows the reader to gage the extremities of the two men who are, in many respects polar opposites. This is evident in the most immediate of ways: physical appearance. There is an instant difference in the "long light hair" of Edgar whose figure is "almost too graceful" to the face of Heathcliff that is "half covered with black whiskers" with eyes "deep set and singular". Further and possibly more useful comparisons include the gulfs in class and wealth of the two men. This is obviously an

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Jane Eyre - Jane's character in chapters 5-10 The Lowood chapters.

Jane's character in chapters 5-10 The Lowood chapters. In the Lowood chapters, Bronte successfully engages the reader's sympathy for Jane Eyre by using many techniques enabling the reader to examine Jane's character fully. 'Is she going by herself' asked the porters wife 'Yes' 'And how far is it?' 'Fifty miles' What a long way! I wonder Mrs. Reed is not afraid to trust her so far alone.' Bronte uses the technique in which she does not tell the reader how Jane feels but shows us using the people and the surroundings around Jane which is a good technique although it does not show exactly how Jane feels, but does show the reader how other people feel about Jane. Bronte's technique shows that Jane is isolating herself from her feelings and not letting the reader know how she truly feels, she cannot talk or reflect her feelings to anyone. During her ride to Lowood because she doesn't know anyone there, Jane then becomes shy and less confident. After Jane reaches Lowood and describes the food given to her, and her living conditions you feel sympathy for her. People need food to think properly and as Jane had no food on the night she arrived at Lowood, as she was too excited and she was unable to eat breakfast. Jane may not have been able to think to her full extent and the teachers at Lowood would punish her if she was not concentrating nor had the answer to the questions

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  • Level: AS and A Level
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Jane in Chapters 1 - 11

How does Charlotte Bronte prepare us for character of the adult Jane in the first 11 chapters of the book? From an early age Jane is portrayed as rebellious and independent in the face of repression. This is shown when she is attacked by her cousin John and she unconsciously but brutally defends herself, and again when she is later ostracized from the rest of the family: "Here, leaning over the banister, I cried out suddenly and without at all deliberating on my words - "They are not fit to associate with me." Here Bronte singles Jane out against the Reed family and this shows the confidence Jane was beginning to develop in herself. This budding independence is later reflected in her act of sending out the advertisement for a job as a governess, "...it came quietly and naturally to my mind 'Those who want situations advertise: you must advertise in the -shire Herald.'" This independence starts of early on when Jane is often left to her own element. During the time she was excluded from family activities, she expresses in thought, "To speak truth, I had not the least wish to go into company, for in company I was very rarely noticed..." When one is left to themselves, loneliness evolves into self-sufficiency as you have no one to rely on but yourself. At another instance in the beginning of her days at Lowood school, "As yet I had spoken to no one, nor did anybody seem to take

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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

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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

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  • Level: AS and A Level
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