Commentary on "I am the only being whose doom" by Emily Bronte
Commentary on "I am the only being whose doom" by Emily Bronte The title of the poem is directly taken from the first line, which immediately conveys the poet's cynical attitude towards life and her isolation from the world. No one would care for her anymore. Despite this, she "never caused a thought of gloom" because she had been distanced from the society and lost her feelings and hopes. "A smile of joy, since I was born" is said as if the poet is trying to cheer herself up in the moment of depression. She seems very firm and does not need any consolation, but in fact, this is not true. In this stanza, the poet talks directly to us, using earnest language and direct words. She lays bare her lonely soul to us. The diction is not at all euphemistic. Words such as "doom", "mourn", "gloom", "joy" are strong and direct. In stanza 2, the poet goes on telling about her life. Her life is "secret", as shown in "In secret pleasure - secret tears". Her secret pleasure is probably achieved through writing, while secret tears mean her sadness which nobody cares or even knows. The repetition of the word "secret", furthermore, places emphasis on her desolation. Then, she mentions "This changeful life has slipped away." A sense of poignancy infuses this line when we learn that her life is almost over. She seems to feel that life is not worth it. She remains "friendless" and "lonely",
Love is the Root of all suffering in Wuthering Heights In what ways do you agree?
'Love is the Root of all suffering in Wuthering Heights'- In what ways do you agree? Many people see Wuthering Heights as a novel about love. However, for some characters such as Heathcliff and Catherine, it can have a detrimental effect. Isabella pursued Heathcliff as she saw him as a 'hero of romance'. She was besotted by him and this made her overlook all his flaws and brutality thinking that deep down he was loving and could care about her. 'She saw me hang up her little dog' despite this cruel and careless act she still eloped with him. Her love for Heathcliff made her ignore these warnings. Further into the marriage, Heathcliff acts violently towards her and deliberately mistreats her - 'I would turn her blue eyes black'. Eventually Isabella has to leave despite the fact she was married with a child to escape her suffering. She was brought up in an upper class family but ignored the social expectations of women because her suffering was so great. However, it can be argued that Isabella never really loved Heathcliff and it was just an infatuation commonly associated with Byronic heroes. As soon as she knew what Heathcliff was really like, she described him as a 'beast' and fled. Catherine described her love for Heathcliff as the 'eternal rocks beneath' and of 'little visible delight' The word 'eternal' suggests she will always love him yet the phrase 'of little
Compare Katherina and Jane Eyre's attitude towards marriage, commenting on the historical context of each character and the language they use. What are your views on marriage and its future in the twenty-first century?
Compare Katherina and Jane Eyre's attitude towards marriage, commenting on the historical context of each character and the language they use. What are your views on marriage and its future in the twenty-first century? ...The two characters Katherina and Jane Eyre both have different views about marriage but they both believe that it is necessary. In the end Katherina believes that men are superior to women, where as Jane believes that woman are equal to men. Today society doesn't make women feel that they have to be married to gain importance they are treated as equals and it is not socially wrong for people not to be married. ...Katherina had no say of who she married, anyone could have her for the right price. When married her possessions then belonged to her husband. When this was written all women were expected to be loyal to there husbands, because if they were not they could be beaten and thrown out by their husband. Women at this time could not work, only around the house. Marriages at this time do not seem to have much to do with the religious side women were just sold like objects. ...Katherina was not obedient at first though she refused to be married. There was no one that would marry her though because she was such a "shrew". The only reason why she was married was
The position of the female in 19th Century English society was of key import to Bront in Wuthering Heights, explore the validity of this statement.
'The position of the female in 19th Century English society was of key import to Brontë in Wuthering Heights', explore the validity of this statement. During the early 1800's, the period in which Emily Brontë wrote 'Wuthering Heights', English women were treated as inferior to men and as a result had sparse rights and were in possession of almost no power. Women were expected to conform to strict social protocols such as complete obedience and devotion to their husbands, were only able to pursue careers in restrictive badly paid roles such as governess, and were poorly protected by a legal system which universally favoured men- making it virtually impossible to escape from an unhappy, possibly violent marriage. Throughout Wuthering Heights, Brontë challenges the position of the female in English society by developing the characters of Catherine Earnshaw and Isabella Linton as strong, intelligent women who were ultimately broken by the social conventions which bound their spirit and ambition- forcing them into decisions which would destroy their lives. Catherine Earnshaw is the female protagonist of the novel and is described as a beautiful, passionate woman who is torn between her socially degrading eternal love for Heathcliff and the prospect of conventional marriage with the upper class Edgar Linton, Brontë skilfully uses metaphor and incorporates themes of nature from
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
Comment on the way a sense of place is created in the first chapter of "Wuthering Heights"
Comment on the way a sense of place is created in this passage. In your answer, focus on: . Bronte’s narrative voice 2. Bronte’s language choices Mr. Heathcliff, a surly, ‘dark-skinned’ man living in a manor called Wuthering Heights - “wuthering” being a local adjective used to describe the fierce and wild winds that blow during storms on the moors. The use of the noun “dwelling” is used rather than house – why? This could be because maybe Mr Heathcliff doesn’t like living here or maybe it’s a farm house. The passage from the first chapter is spoken in the voice of Lockwood, represents the mysterious figure of Heathcliff, using first of many attempts in the book to explain of Heathcliff; his character and motivations. During the first chapter, a reader discusses the question of his social position—is he a gentleman or a gypsy? This causes particular confusion. Further on the passage, it says Mr Heathcliff “love and hate equally” implying that he treats everyone equally even though he has a higher status. The use of the metaphor and personification: ‘one may guess the power of the north wind blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house, and a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun.’ By describing the "stunted firs," "gaunt thorns," and the
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
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
How Does Bronte Present Mr Rochester?
How does Brönte present Mr Rochester in the novel Jane Eyre? Mr Rochester is presented as coming from a family that has “always been well respected,” within the community and owned, “almost all the land in the neighbourhood” and so is a very wealthy man, however as we learn not everything in his life is so black and white and there is a lot more to his character than we would perhaps initially suspect. Below I will discuss how Bronte presents Mr Rochester as well as the effects of this. Mrs Fairfax, whilst discussing the subject of Mr Rochester’s character with the intrigued Jane, provides answers that although are not intriguing in themselves, present an interesting point. She says, “I have no course otherwise to like him; and I believe he is considered…” This puzzles the reader slightly as to why Mrs Fairfax stresses the “I” and why it is that her abrupt answers appear to be hiding something from Jane. This sparks several questions within the readers mind and also suggests that Brönte wants Mr Rochester to appear as a man of mystery. As Jane is being shown around the house by Mrs Fairfax, Jane appears to take notice and become almost fascinated with the rooms and their decorations, noting that one of the rooms is “dark and low yet interesting.” It is said that the personality of a person is reflected in the décor of their house, and as we learn
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
