Essay about Finding the Balance of Love and Freedom in...

Similar to many of the great feministic novels of its time, Jane Eyre purely emerges as a story focused on the quest for love. The novel’s protagonist, Jane, searches not only for the romantic side of love, but ultimately for a sense of self-worth and independence. Set in the overlapping times of the Victorian and Gothic periods, the novel touches upon both women’s supposed rights, and their inner struggle for liberty. Orphaned at an early age, Jane was born into a modest lifestyle, without any major parent roles to guide her through life’s obstacles. Instead, she spent much of her adolescent years locked in imaginary chains, serving those around her but never enjoying the many decadences life has to offer. It is not until Jane becomes a†¦show more content†¦Bronte, however, deliberately avoids many of the conventional ways of Victorian fiction, instead using many motifs from Gothic works. Throughout the course of the novel, it becomes clear that the no vel is not atypical Romance novel and does not dote on the mundane life of a Victorian woman but instead draws parallels from many sources. For the 1800s, Jane Eyre proves to be a revolutionary novel and paves the way for many feministic books to come. Jane stretches the boundary for a woman’s role in society, as the concept of individual freedom was virtually unknown during the precarious times of the 1800s. Arnold Markley further laments, â€Å"In the nineteenth century women had far less personal freedom, and there were few options available for them to support themselves outside of choosing to marry and raising children.† During the nineteenth century, many women accepted that their only place in society would be the home. There, they would cook, clean and take care of their children, living without any political rights or any freedoms. A women’s life was essentially chosen for her, as she had no social mobility unless it was through a planned marriage. Of ten, it was a custom during this century to marry not for love, but for security and status. Many women were rarely concerned with their independence in such a way that Jane Eyre does. But then again, many women areShow MoreRelatedThis essay is on Jane Eyre. The question was: How does Janes character change through the course of the novel?862 Words   |  3 Pagesthe abusive Reed family, her friendships at Lowood, her love of Mr Rochester and her time with the Rivers family, Jane s character remains strong and vigilant despite the hardships she endures. Through the course of the novel, Jane s character changes slightly but moreover reinforces itself as Jane uses people, situations and her personal experiences to gain knowledge, and assist her gaining her full character. From when she was a child, Jane had forthright values of herself and an example is whenRead More The Subtle Truth of Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre Essay2221 Words   |  9 PagesThe Subtle Truth of Jane Eyre      Ã‚  Ã‚   The role of a woman in Victorian England was an unenviable one. Social demands and personal desires were often at cross-purposes. This predicament was nothing new in the 19th century, yet it was this period that would see the waters begin to stir in anticipation of the cascading changes about to shake the very foundation of an empire on the brink of global colonization and industrialization. The question of what role women would play in this transformationRead MoreJane, By Jane Eyre Essay2110 Words   |  9 PagesThroughout the first section of the novel, we are constantly reminded of the barriers in which Jane is suppressed by. Through this figurative element we can come to terms with the development of the character of Jane Eyre. 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This was later to become an acceptedRead MoreLiterary Criticism : The Free Encyclopedia 7351 Words   |  30 PagesAgathon, by Christoph Martin Wieland (1767)—often considered the first true Bildungsroman[9] Wilhelm Meister s Apprenticeship by Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1795–96) 19th century[edit] Emma, by Jane Austen (1815) The Red and The Black, by Stendhal (1830) The Captain s Daughter, by Alexander Pushkin (1836) Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontà « (1847)[21] Pendennis, by William Makepeace Thackeray (1848–1850) David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens (1850) Green Henry, by Gottfried Keller (1855)[22] Great ExpectationsRead More Comparing the Feminine Quest in Surfacing and Song of Solomon3530 Words   |  15 Pageswas a lesser one anyway).   If for some reason he does pass back through his sponsoring community, he is not received as a prince returning home..      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The revised female journey became more fully hers, but like the male anti-hero, the Jane Eyres and Emma Bovarys become social outcasts and outlaws for refusing to remain in their duly assigned roles.   For a satisfactory conclusion to these stories, the audience required death or marriage - still generally portrayed as a final submission toRead MoreStatement of Purpose23848 Words   |  96 Pagesincreased my interest in the connection between the environment and economics: Conservation of Underdeveloped Countries and Environmental Impact Analysis. 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