People talk of natural sympathies From their first meeting, Jane and Rochester are well-matched. Discuss.

‘People talk of natural sympathies…’ From their first meeting, Jane and Rochester are well-matched. Discuss. A running theme from Charlotte Bronte throughout her novel, Jane Eyre is the idea, I have previously used that ‘conventionality is not morality’. This idea is continued throughout the novel. It would be thought, in the Victorian era far more conventional for Jane and Rochester to just be Governess and Master; however Jane, throughout the novel, rejects the norm for what she believes to be morally correct, and this is why she could ‘never unlove him;’ she believes, despite what society thinks, something that her late friend Helen Burns taught her, that they are in fact a good match. From their first meeting it would be easy to say that Jane and Rochester aren’t well matched and there are various reasons for this is. The moment that Rochester appears into Jane’s life the weather is ‘cold’ and the wind had ‘froze keenly’ highlighting the Gothic nature of Rochester and the fact that it would be seem completely unconventional for Jane to ever love this man. The atmosphere of the lane reflects Rochester. There is a mystery and suspense that Jane creates due to her love and certainty of the supernatural world, such as stating that the object that is moving towards her has no name, she says ‘it approached’. The fact that she refuses to believe

  • Word count: 1503
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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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

  • Word count: 1492
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Assess the Importance of Hareton's Character in Wuthering Heights.

Wuthering Heights - The importance of Hareton. Holly Anderson. 'Assess the importance of Hareton's contribution to Wuthering Heights.' The character of Hareton is seemingly a mirror of the character of Heathcliff. The difference in the two being that Hareton is kind-hearted, compansionate and almost heroic, while Heathcliff shows very little in the way of these endearing qualities. Perhaps the sole purpose of his character, is to show the reader the Heathcliff they so desperatly wished would appear. As we read the first few chapters with bated breath, waiting for this rough and hostile creature to reveal his true, charming self, we realise that Heathcliff is as Heathcliff is first written. Towards very few characters does he show true emotions, other than anger, resentment and a wish for revenge. As we conclude that no hero would emerge from underneath this dark facade of our leading man, Hareton appears. Once again, we hope to see this uncivilised, aggressive 'Heathcliffian savage'. turn out to be a lovable rogue, and this time we are not disappointed. Hareton is a heart-warming, good-natured character who helps the novel come to a happier ending than we would have initially anticipated. Throughout the novel, we can see several similarities between the life of the characters in Wuthering Heights and the life of the author, Emily Bronte. Like Emily, Hareton's mother dies

  • Word count: 1468
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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In Jane Eyre love and marriage are important in different ways. In some relationships the two aspects are disconnected and in one they are eventually united

“It is not personal, but mental endowments they have given you: you are formed for labour, not for love...I claim you not for my pleasure, but for my Sovereign’s service.” In the light of St John’s proposal, discuss the importance in Jane Eyre of love and marriage. In Jane Eyre love and marriage are important in different ways. In some relationships the two aspects are disconnected and in one they are eventually united. St John views marriage as a practical arrangement. ‘It is not personal’ shows that St John views marriage as separate from his emotions and love. This supported when he addresses his claim on her ‘for [his] Sovereign’s service.’ He feels that marrying Jane is something he has to do, and he is marrying her for the purpose of duty. This links to Victorian morality because marriage was generally viewed as something that was done for a purpose such as marrying for status, money or duty. The society would have frowned upon wild marriages based on love without a valid reason. Apart from St John’s loveless marriage principles, there are elements in the novel where love outweighs marriage, but eventually equalises which is reflected in Rochester and Jane’s relationship. There is also a passionate at first marriage which then becomes incomplete and loveless and this is shown through Bertha and Rochester’s marriage. St John and Jane’s

  • Word count: 1428
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Explore Brontes presentation of Mr. Rochester as a Byronic hero in Jane Eyre.

Explore Bronte's presentation of Mr. Rochester as a Byronic hero in Jane Eyre. Bronte's literary character of Rochester is often referred to as the "Byronic" Rochester: a dark, somewhat mysterious, and perhaps even criminal protagonist. To a certain extent, the character of Mr. Rochester embodies many of the characteristics of the Byronic hero; however, in many respects Bronte has made Mr. Rochester quite conventional. It is other characters in Jane Eyre who mistakenly characterize him as such, but Bronte, through Rochester's own actions and words, ultimately rejects this categorization of Rochester as a Byronic hero. In Chapter 11 of Jane Eyre, Jane asks of Mrs. Fairfax, "What, in short, is his character?" To this Mrs. Fairfax replies, "He is rather peculiar, perhaps: he has traveled a great deal, and seen a great deal of the world, I should think. I dare say he is clever". This account by Mrs. Fairfax of her master establishes Rochester as a sort of wanderer. Similarly, there is the account of Rochester's promiscuous travel throughout Europe before his marriage to Bertha, where he has an affair with Celine Varens. Several times throughout the novel Rochester mysteriously arrives at and departs from Thornfield Hall, and frequently the residents of Thornfield must wonder at his return, as does Jane at the opening of Chapter 17: "A week passed, and no news arrived of Mr.

  • Word count: 1426
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Wuthering Heights. Catherine and Hindleys mistreatment of Heathcliff during their childhood leading him to revenge in the future demonstrates character development. Heathcliffs desire to fulfill his wicked needs of revenge due to unfortuna

ISU: Wuthering Heights The past influences the future. This is a fact in the novel Wuthering Heights, by the author Emily Bronte. As quoted by a reviewer, this novel is: "An intriguing tale of revenge in which the main characters are controlled by consuming passions." It is clearly consistent throughout the novel that mistreatment during the childhood of an individual, leading them to seek revenge, reveals character development. Catherine and Hindley's mistreatment of Heathcliff during their childhood leading him to revenge in the future demonstrates character development. Heathcliff's desire to fulfill his wicked needs of revenge due to unfortunate events encountered at a young age also reveals a change of character. Lastly, Heathcliff's corruption towards his wife and son due to mistreatment encountered during his childhood leading him to revenge, illustrates an evolution of character. With the aid of these points, the author is successful in proving her theme. Catherine and Hindley's mistreatment of Heathcliff during their childhood, leading him to seek revenge, reveals a change of character. This is first portrayed during the Earnshaws' first dinner with the Lintons, where Hindley disapproves of Heathcliff's presence at the dinner table and sends him away: "'He shall have his share of my hand if I catch him downstairs again till dark,' cried Hindley. 'Begone you

  • Word count: 1382
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Wuthering Heights - How does Bront present Catherine

Adeebah Iqbal Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights How does Brontë present Catherine in Chapter 12, pages 122-124? Catherine earnshaw is one of the most significant characters in Wuthering Heights, as the novel is based on her uncontrollable, passionate love for Heathcliff, and its devastating consequences. Therefore, Brontë displays Catherine in many ways, for example in her youth she is shown as strong-willed, carefree and rebellious. However, in the chosen extract Cathy is shown as highly agitated and delusional. Much of the language and structure in the extract shows dimensions of Cathy's character, and the feelings which she is experiencing, as well as reflecting the attitudes and values seen in Victorian times. The syntax throughout the extract is one of long complex sentences; for example the paragraph beginning "a minute previously she was violent..." is one sentences separated by punctuation. It is not rare for this syntax to be used in Victorian novel as it was commonly used by Victorian authors. The novel focuses on the mysterious connection Cathy feels with Heathcliff, who is her soul mate and more herself then she is. However, upon seeking higher status Cathy breaks the connection and marries Edgar Linton, consequently the line "That's a Turkey's, she murmured to herself," shows the deep isolation she feel upon leaving Heathcliff. She is reduced to

  • Word count: 1379
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Explore Bronte's use of symbolism in Jane Eyre

Olivia Cooper Explore Bronte’s use of symbolism Jane Eyre is a romantic novel in which gothic imagery and the genre of romanticism play significant roles that continue right through Bronte’s bildungsroman novel. Throughout the novel, Jane Eyre, Bronte embeds symbolism to assist conveying the story through giving certain aspects deeper context. This is seen when Bronte uses symbolism to aid the reader’s perception on certain aspects of the novel, for instance representing Jane and Rochester’s love through manipulating the object, the Chestnut tree, converting it to become symbolic of their adoration. The Red Room and Bertha are also other aspects where symbolism is significantly portrayed. Eyre escapes through the imaginative world of interpreting stories told in the ‘Berwick’s History of British Birds’. Bronte uses this to symbolise how Jane herself yearned to fly away. Despite Jane’s strong will, her traumatic experiences at Gateshead had left her with fear of “enslavement”. Jane is continuously referred to as a bird throughout the novel which assists the readers view on Jane’s subjugation. This is quite ironic as during the Victorian era (when Jane Eyre was published) as Parakeets were a common pet amongst the upper class. As the upper class are physically symbolic of the Reed family, while the bird is symbolic of Jane. The red room merely symbolises

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How charlotte Bronte conveys the experience of childhood and school.

How charlotte Bronte conveys The experience of childhood And school In this essay I will be investigating how charlotte Bronte conveys the experience of childhood and school through the media of Jane Eyre. This novel has many varied examples of charlotte Bronte's picture of childhood and school in the early 1900's and is the perfect book to chose to display my points. I will be reviewing the first 10 chapters of Jane Eyre that cover Jane's transformation from child to young woman. I will start by looking at the first segment of the book, at the period where she is living in her aunt 's (Mrs Reed) house with her three cousins Eliza, Georgina and john. I think that the first example of childhood in this particular part of the book is the way the children are treated, the way that is shows the very Victorian way that children should be " seen but not heard". The children are allocated there own nursery room with there own nanny to look after the children which makes it seem that Mrs. reed and the children have a very isolated relationship with Mrs. reed only dealing with her children when it was at her own leisure, relying on Bessie (the nanny's) opinion of how the children behave and are instead of getting to know them personally. For example " She regretted to be under the necessity of keeping me at a distance; but that until she heard from Bessie that I was endeavouring

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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The opening chapters of Jane Eyre are not an account of childhood but rather the beginning of the discussion of the female identity. Discuss.

' The opening chapters of Jane Eyre are not an account of childhood but rather the beginning of the discussion of female identity' The fact that this essay is based on a very small chunk of the novel makes it hard to fully discuss the female identity of Jane. this requires me to thoroughly explore the context in which the novel is written in order to have a complete understanding of the circumstances surrounding Charlotte Brontë in the Victorian era which may have influenced her in the writing of Jane Eyre. At the time of writing 'Jane Eyre' Charlotte was living in Victorian England in the middle of the 19th century. 19th century women living in Britain had a much more submissive role in society than they do today. Women were not allowed to vote and the law completely ignored then as humans. a woman was legally bound to her nearest male relative and any property that she only became her husband as soon as she was married. They were also not allowed to attend university. We can believe this because it is alleged that Charlotte Brontë published her book under the name of Currer Bell which suggests that she had to sell it under a male identity otherwise her work would have never been published this way Brontë's work was published and not discredited for written by a irrational woman. The novel opens with Jane's narrative and we are immediately thrust into the world of a

  • Word count: 1336
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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