Self-Acceptance In Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bronte's, Jane Eyre, a story of an unfortunate you who's morals and self-respect continue to fluctuate as she matures. Jane Eyre begins her life in the wrong place at the wrong time. During the novel, Jane endures love, hate and friendship, though maturity allows her to forgive. Settings surrounding Jane's life alter her own ideas of self-acceptance, her actions taken to release herself from certain settings have effect on her. In the first few chapters, Bronte establishes Jane's character as a young girl who is the object of hatred from her cousins and aunt. In Chapter Five, Jane encounters numerous problems with her cousin John. After a confrontation, Mrs. Reed forces her to the Red-Room for punishment. Though, Jane resists which is unlike her, she is still
…show more content…
placed in the Room. Jane recalls contents resting in a drawer in her aunts wardrobe, "[. . .] a miniature of her deceased husband, in those last words lies in the secret of the Red-Room -- the spell which kept it so lonely in spite of its grandeur (Bronte, 3rd Ed. 2001 p.11)." The Red-Room becomes a symbolic part of the novel but also an important setting. The Red-Room is "[. . .] the largest and stateliest chambers in the mansion (p. 11)," the atmosphere of the room lingers an ominous and creepy tone. Jane's inferior position among the Reed family is set by her punishment in the Red-Room.
Jane explains her hatred towards the Reed's and shows no remorse for them. Soon after Jane's experiences in the Red-Room, Jane leaves to attend Lowood. As she leaves Gateshead, Jane emotions are overflowing with joy. The Lowood Institute assists in education impoverished and orphaned children, receives majority of its funds through charity. Beginning out at Lowood,
Jane is ecstatic. After a period of time Jane expresses, " My first quarter at Lowood seemed an age; and not the golden age either: it comprised an irksome trouble with difficulties in habituating myself to new rules and unwonted tasks (p.50)." Thus, her thoughts of life at
Gateshead with her aunt and cousins become increasingly different. Befriending classmate,
Helen Burns, Jane realizes a friend can help in improving herself. As Jane shows great progress in class Helen begins to have a religious effect on her. Though Jane does not always believe in
Helen's ideas she grows to respect them unlike, Mr. Brocklehurst who preaches his ideas.
Character Influences from Setting 3
All the religious ideas Jane faces force her own ideas of self-respect and morals to constantly change. "A new chapter in a novel is something like a new scene in a play (p.79)," as Jane ends her nine year stay at Lowood, she accepts a governess job at Thornfield. Jane feels that a change in setting might allow her to grow more as her own person, opposed to living up to everyone else. In the beginning the tone of Thornfield attains a comforting but an eerie tone at the same time. Jane's first night at Thornfield, she is greeted and welcomed by many of the servants.
Mrs. Fairfax helps Jane to be comforted by warming and feeding her. Jane's first few months at
Thornfield have no encounters with the owner, Mrs. Rochester, though Jane experiences Bertha
Mason, who as she knows is Grace Poole. Bertha's effect on Jane makes her wonder the true reality behind the Thornfield house, and the history of its presence. According to other servants,
Mr. Rochester is rarely seen and if he is there, no one can tell. One night, Jane's curiosity leads her to wander outside Thornfield, she encounters an injured middle-aged man. To Jane's dismay, the middle-aged man turned out to be Mr. Rochester. After spending time with Mr.
Rochester and Adele together, Jane's thoughts of Thornfield allow her to be more comfortable. With Jane's insight on Rochester's history, she feels for him. After learning that
Rochester will be away for the next week, Jane becomes heavy-hearted. Soon Jane learns
Rochester's accompany will be a wealthy,beautiful woman, Blanche Ingram. Jane does not understand her despondence to the news of this. Soon, Thornfield becomes dismal for Jane, she attempts to erase any thoughts and imaginations she my have held about Rochester. On what seemed a typical night, Jane awakes to the sound of a door creaking. Jane leaves her room to find, "a strong smell of burning (p. 127)." The smoke led to Mr. Rochester's room, Jane scanned the room seeing, " Tongues of flame darted round the bed: the curtains were on fire. In the midst of blaze and vapour, Mr. Rochester lay stretched motionless, in deep sleep (p. 127)."
Jane panicked and quickly woke him and assisted him out of the room. As the next few days went by, Jane became increasingly nervous.
Character Influences from Setting 4 She does not understand why Rochester took no actions in the excusing of Grace
Poole.
Thornfield becomes a dangerous place, the atmosphere soon becomes dangerous and somber. Soon after Jane learns of her cousins death and her aunts health. She quickly departs to
Gateshead. As she arrives, Bessie welcomes her gleefully and shuttles her inside. Jane reminisces about , " Old times crowded fast back on me as I watched her bustling about-- setting out the tea-tray with her best china, (p.193)" Jane's first years as a child were spent at
Gateshead, everything related to Gateshead left abhorred, unloved, and unfavored atmospheres.
Jane's first encounter with her Mrs. Reed gave her insight on Jane's true history, Jane now knew why her aunt had treated her so maliciously during her childhood. A short period of 10 days went by before Jane and Mrs. Reed spoke again. Jane could not help but to think of Mr.
Rochester at Thornfield. Jane sketched a portrait of Rochester, that is the only time she felt
"absorbed and content." (p. 199). during her month at Gateshead. Learning of her uncles wishes to find her and give her his fortune, Jane soon began to feel mislead and begged for forgiveness.
As her aunt opposed to forgiveness Jane expressed, " Love me then, or hate me as you will ,[. . .] you have my full and free forgiveness : ask now for God's, and be at peace." (p.205). Jane's time at Gateshead allowed her to actually understand the extent of meaning that Thornfield holds on her. Jane feels she has closed a chapter in her life, and is ready to begin a new one. Upon returning to Thornfield Jane declares her love for Rochester, to her astonishment,
Rochester replies, " my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane will you marry me?" (p. 217).
Jane's reaction gives Rochester the feeling that she does not believe him. He continues to ensure his question and that he remains truthful, at last Jane agrees. As time proceeds, to Rochester's departure, Jane experiences a few unfortunate events that lead her to reconsider her agreements to Rochester. To Jane, marring Rochester would be stripping herself of the freedom that she cares so much about. Also Jane's social standing compared to Rochester's is quite different, she feels she would "owe" him, due to this factor. Jane preaches that she would never marry wealth to improve herself, she believes she needs this wealth on her own.
Character Influences from Setting 5 On her wedding day, as she walks to the church Jane sees two strange people standing outside the church. She can not help but to wonder who they are and what they are doing. As the wedding begins a speaker comes forward and expresses about Rochester's present marriage to another woman, Bertha Mason. Ironically this speaker is the brother to Bertha Mason. Jane's,
"[. . .] nerves vibrated to those low-spoken words as they had never vibrated to thunder." (p.
247). Rochester assure Jane of this marriage and leads everyone in the church to Bertha, " she parted her shaggy locks from her visage and gazed wildly at her visitors ." (p. 250). Jane could not believe what she was looking at, she felt it a dream. As she thought about Rochester's plee for her to remain, to accept his wishes to be his mistress, she left Thornfield. To continue Jane's difficult time, Bronte forces Jane to sleep outdoors and go hungry.
Jane shows her endurance and strength here, but is still deeply saddened by Rochester. She soon begins her life at Marsh End and Morton, here Jane develops a new sense of belonging, and the ability to become acquainted with people similar to her. Jane starts her new life among people she can relate to, this allows her to be herself and accept her self for who she is. The feel of
Morton and Marsh End provides acceptance and contentment. Jane's happiness is due to an equal status among Diana and Mary, as they too share the governess title. In a new enlightenment, Jane learns of her relations to Diana and Mary after expressing her false identity.
St. John addresses her inheritance of 20,000 pounds from her Uncle John. He also wishes for her to accompany him as his wife and a missionary to India. Jane considers his offer, but she constantly thinks of Rochester, and believes she has heard his calling for her. If agreeing to St.
John, Jane would be going against her beliefs to find a true love. Staying with Diana, Mary and
St. John allowed her to get away from Rochester and truly understand her need of him, that leaving him made her unhappy. Jane leaves Marsh end to return to Thornfield, upon returning she learns of the fire at Thornfield. She walks to its remains to find nothing but ashes and the spirit of Bertha Mason. In learning of the fire, she also is told that Bertha Mason set it up in flames in hopes of killing Rochester.
Character influences from Setting 6
Though Rochester exited safely Bertha did not. Left with little vision is Rochester souvenir of the fire and his mad wife. Jane's feelings and thoughts of a equal life together return. Jane realizes that they both need each other, Rochester is now physically dependent on her. But, Jane is emotionally dependent upon him, thus equality is attained. Receiving the happy ending, Jane realizes that pursuing her needs and her wants remain the only way to be truly happy. As her life progresses her actions to things happening around brought her to the end of her life. Other people and her maturity remain large impacts on her decisions and actions. She learns of ways to accept what she wants to accept and no one can force beliefs upon her, only contribute. Thus
Jane's quest for love and her desire to belong are fulfilled.
placed in the Room. Jane recalls contents resting in a drawer in her aunts wardrobe, "[. . .] a miniature of her deceased husband, in those last words lies in the secret of the Red-Room -- the spell which kept it so lonely in spite of its grandeur (Bronte, 3rd Ed. 2001 p.11)." The Red-Room becomes a symbolic part of the novel but also an important setting. The Red-Room is "[. . .] the largest and stateliest chambers in the mansion (p. 11)," the atmosphere of the room lingers an ominous and creepy tone. Jane's inferior position among the Reed family is set by her punishment in the Red-Room.
Jane explains her hatred towards the Reed's and shows no remorse for them. Soon after Jane's experiences in the Red-Room, Jane leaves to attend Lowood. As she leaves Gateshead, Jane emotions are overflowing with joy. The Lowood Institute assists in education impoverished and orphaned children, receives majority of its funds through charity. Beginning out at Lowood,
Jane is ecstatic. After a period of time Jane expresses, " My first quarter at Lowood seemed an age; and not the golden age either: it comprised an irksome trouble with difficulties in habituating myself to new rules and unwonted tasks (p.50)." Thus, her thoughts of life at
Gateshead with her aunt and cousins become increasingly different. Befriending classmate,
Helen Burns, Jane realizes a friend can help in improving herself. As Jane shows great progress in class Helen begins to have a religious effect on her. Though Jane does not always believe in
Helen's ideas she grows to respect them unlike, Mr. Brocklehurst who preaches his ideas.
Character Influences from Setting 3
All the religious ideas Jane faces force her own ideas of self-respect and morals to constantly change. "A new chapter in a novel is something like a new scene in a play (p.79)," as Jane ends her nine year stay at Lowood, she accepts a governess job at Thornfield. Jane feels that a change in setting might allow her to grow more as her own person, opposed to living up to everyone else. In the beginning the tone of Thornfield attains a comforting but an eerie tone at the same time. Jane's first night at Thornfield, she is greeted and welcomed by many of the servants.
Mrs. Fairfax helps Jane to be comforted by warming and feeding her. Jane's first few months at
Thornfield have no encounters with the owner, Mrs. Rochester, though Jane experiences Bertha
Mason, who as she knows is Grace Poole. Bertha's effect on Jane makes her wonder the true reality behind the Thornfield house, and the history of its presence. According to other servants,
Mr. Rochester is rarely seen and if he is there, no one can tell. One night, Jane's curiosity leads her to wander outside Thornfield, she encounters an injured middle-aged man. To Jane's dismay, the middle-aged man turned out to be Mr. Rochester. After spending time with Mr.
Rochester and Adele together, Jane's thoughts of Thornfield allow her to be more comfortable. With Jane's insight on Rochester's history, she feels for him. After learning that
Rochester will be away for the next week, Jane becomes heavy-hearted. Soon Jane learns
Rochester's accompany will be a wealthy,beautiful woman, Blanche Ingram. Jane does not understand her despondence to the news of this. Soon, Thornfield becomes dismal for Jane, she attempts to erase any thoughts and imaginations she my have held about Rochester. On what seemed a typical night, Jane awakes to the sound of a door creaking. Jane leaves her room to find, "a strong smell of burning (p. 127)." The smoke led to Mr. Rochester's room, Jane scanned the room seeing, " Tongues of flame darted round the bed: the curtains were on fire. In the midst of blaze and vapour, Mr. Rochester lay stretched motionless, in deep sleep (p. 127)."
Jane panicked and quickly woke him and assisted him out of the room. As the next few days went by, Jane became increasingly nervous.
Character Influences from Setting 4 She does not understand why Rochester took no actions in the excusing of Grace
Poole.
Thornfield becomes a dangerous place, the atmosphere soon becomes dangerous and somber. Soon after Jane learns of her cousins death and her aunts health. She quickly departs to
Gateshead. As she arrives, Bessie welcomes her gleefully and shuttles her inside. Jane reminisces about , " Old times crowded fast back on me as I watched her bustling about-- setting out the tea-tray with her best china, (p.193)" Jane's first years as a child were spent at
Gateshead, everything related to Gateshead left abhorred, unloved, and unfavored atmospheres.
Jane's first encounter with her Mrs. Reed gave her insight on Jane's true history, Jane now knew why her aunt had treated her so maliciously during her childhood. A short period of 10 days went by before Jane and Mrs. Reed spoke again. Jane could not help but to think of Mr.
Rochester at Thornfield. Jane sketched a portrait of Rochester, that is the only time she felt
"absorbed and content." (p. 199). during her month at Gateshead. Learning of her uncles wishes to find her and give her his fortune, Jane soon began to feel mislead and begged for forgiveness.
As her aunt opposed to forgiveness Jane expressed, " Love me then, or hate me as you will ,[. . .] you have my full and free forgiveness : ask now for God's, and be at peace." (p.205). Jane's time at Gateshead allowed her to actually understand the extent of meaning that Thornfield holds on her. Jane feels she has closed a chapter in her life, and is ready to begin a new one. Upon returning to Thornfield Jane declares her love for Rochester, to her astonishment,
Rochester replies, " my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane will you marry me?" (p. 217).
Jane's reaction gives Rochester the feeling that she does not believe him. He continues to ensure his question and that he remains truthful, at last Jane agrees. As time proceeds, to Rochester's departure, Jane experiences a few unfortunate events that lead her to reconsider her agreements to Rochester. To Jane, marring Rochester would be stripping herself of the freedom that she cares so much about. Also Jane's social standing compared to Rochester's is quite different, she feels she would "owe" him, due to this factor. Jane preaches that she would never marry wealth to improve herself, she believes she needs this wealth on her own.
Character Influences from Setting 5 On her wedding day, as she walks to the church Jane sees two strange people standing outside the church. She can not help but to wonder who they are and what they are doing. As the wedding begins a speaker comes forward and expresses about Rochester's present marriage to another woman, Bertha Mason. Ironically this speaker is the brother to Bertha Mason. Jane's,
"[. . .] nerves vibrated to those low-spoken words as they had never vibrated to thunder." (p.
247). Rochester assure Jane of this marriage and leads everyone in the church to Bertha, " she parted her shaggy locks from her visage and gazed wildly at her visitors ." (p. 250). Jane could not believe what she was looking at, she felt it a dream. As she thought about Rochester's plee for her to remain, to accept his wishes to be his mistress, she left Thornfield. To continue Jane's difficult time, Bronte forces Jane to sleep outdoors and go hungry.
Jane shows her endurance and strength here, but is still deeply saddened by Rochester. She soon begins her life at Marsh End and Morton, here Jane develops a new sense of belonging, and the ability to become acquainted with people similar to her. Jane starts her new life among people she can relate to, this allows her to be herself and accept her self for who she is. The feel of
Morton and Marsh End provides acceptance and contentment. Jane's happiness is due to an equal status among Diana and Mary, as they too share the governess title. In a new enlightenment, Jane learns of her relations to Diana and Mary after expressing her false identity.
St. John addresses her inheritance of 20,000 pounds from her Uncle John. He also wishes for her to accompany him as his wife and a missionary to India. Jane considers his offer, but she constantly thinks of Rochester, and believes she has heard his calling for her. If agreeing to St.
John, Jane would be going against her beliefs to find a true love. Staying with Diana, Mary and
St. John allowed her to get away from Rochester and truly understand her need of him, that leaving him made her unhappy. Jane leaves Marsh end to return to Thornfield, upon returning she learns of the fire at Thornfield. She walks to its remains to find nothing but ashes and the spirit of Bertha Mason. In learning of the fire, she also is told that Bertha Mason set it up in flames in hopes of killing Rochester.
Character influences from Setting 6
Though Rochester exited safely Bertha did not. Left with little vision is Rochester souvenir of the fire and his mad wife. Jane's feelings and thoughts of a equal life together return. Jane realizes that they both need each other, Rochester is now physically dependent on her. But, Jane is emotionally dependent upon him, thus equality is attained. Receiving the happy ending, Jane realizes that pursuing her needs and her wants remain the only way to be truly happy. As her life progresses her actions to things happening around brought her to the end of her life. Other people and her maturity remain large impacts on her decisions and actions. She learns of ways to accept what she wants to accept and no one can force beliefs upon her, only contribute. Thus
Jane's quest for love and her desire to belong are fulfilled.