Jane Eyre Essay - Rough Draft

Jane Eyre – Feminist Approach

“I am an independent woman now.” Jane Eyre is unlike most women of her time period. Living in a society where women were considered weak, Jane Eyre’s personality was looked down upon in most people’s eyes. She was strong willed and independent. She did not want to be the perfect woman everyone wanted her to be. I admire Jane because of her ability to go against society’s feelings about women. She showed them that she could make it on her own and get a good education. She did go through difficulties on the way, but everything turned out fine for her in the end. Most of Jane's struggles throughout the book were caused by the constant expectations that people had of her, especially because she was a woman.

Jane was able to accomplish many things in her life because of her independent, hardworking nature. Ever since she was a child, she was destined to do great things with her life. She was able to survive her childhood as an orphan, where her only family was abusive and hurtful to her. Afterwards, she suffered through a strict boarding school, where she became well educated enough to become a teacher. She was able to get a new job as a governess for a young girl. She married Mr. Rochester, a man who made her undeniably happy, and became a strong-willed, hardworking wife for him. Despite her hard life, she accomplished many things and became a wealthy woman, without having to give up what she believed in.

Jane had to live in a society where women were not respected as much as they are today. She went against society by believing her own thoughts about women. She believed that they should be strong-willed and independent, so she acted in that manner. Throughout her life, Jane works hard because she knows that she can make it on her own and live a happy life. Despite societies thought about her, she refuses to give in to other people who feel that they are better than her. “No, sir; I am an independent woman now.” (Bronte 366). She plainly tells Mr. Rochester that she is able to make it on her own. Even though she decides to stay with him, she wants to make it clear that she could live a happy life if she were to live alone. She fought her whole life to go against what society felt about women.

Throughout her life, Jane went against the way people thought of her. She was defiant against anyone who tried to control or change her. She believed she could make it by on her own without the help of anyone else. Her hardworking nature helped her greatly throughout her life and allowed her to achieve her goals. Even after marrying Mr. Rochester, she wanted to work. The average woman of the time was a pretty, dolled up woman who stayed quiet and obedient to their husbands. Jane was nothing like that and she seemed proud of it. Many women could see her as a good role model because of her strong-willed and hardworking nature. “I am a free human being with an independent will.” Jane is asserting that she is no different than any other human. She saw people equally, men and woman alike, and many people today would admire her for it.

Jane Eyre lived a long and successful life because she fought for what she believed in. She never let anyone phase her judgment of things and she never had to become the submissive wife everyone thought she would be. Because of her personality about things, she made it through her life despite the struggles she went through. Society believed women were weak and did not respect them, but Jane knew that everyone was equal, and she deserves to be admired for that. She explains indirectly that just because people have expectations of you, that does not mean you have to change yourself to meet those expectations. As long as you be yourself and work hard in life, you will be successful in your goals.

Body Paragraphs?

I don't remember if we have to post these here...but why not?

1.      Examples of Feminism in Jane Eyre

a.       Jane believes that she can sustain herself, by herself.

b.      She believes that all human beings should be treated equally.

c.       She works hard in school to be able to get a job.

d.      She doesn’t believe that men are in charge of everything.

e.       She refuses to give in to other people who feel that they are better than her.

f.        Example: “No, sir; I am an independent woman now.” (Bronte 366) She goes out and tells Mr. Rochester that she is able to make it on her own. Even though she decides to stay with him, she wants to make it clear that she could live a happy life if she were to live alone.

2.      How Jane Was Different than Most People of the Time

a.       She was defiant against people who tried to control her.

b.      She believed that she could make it by on her own without the help of anyone else

c.       She was a hardworking woman

d.      She wanted to work even after she was married to a wealthy man.

e.       She believed that women were just as good as men.

f.        Example: “I am a free human being with an independent will.” (Bronte 330) Jane is asserting that she is no different than any other human, male and female alike. She has just as many rights as a man of the time in her opinion.

g.       Jane disagreed that women were owned by their husbands, and didn’t have any free will of their own. She fought and worked hard to show people that, even as a woman, you can accomplish great things in your life.

3.      Jane’s Accomplishments 

a.       Jane survived an abusive childhood.

b.      Made it though Lowood School, which was a very strictly run school.

c.       She became well educated enough to become a teacher and eventually a governess for a young girl.

d.      She eventually married and became a strong-willed wife to Mr. Edward Rochester. She was not the submissive, innocent, cannot-fend-for-herself kind of wife.

She lived a happy and wealthy life and never had to become the “perfect” wife everyone of the time expected her to be.

Jane Eyre Articles

Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre and the Grimms' Cinderella

 

As somewhat explained in the title, this article is about how the German Cinderella relates to Jane Eyre. It talks a lot about how the central symbol of both stories is the hearth. It explains how the hearth is like the relationships and emotions in the book, and life in general within Jane Eyre.

The moon was also a big symbol found in both Jane Eyre and the Grimms' Cinderella. References to the moon are found all over the novel. It represents the situations of the novel, good or bad.

 

Clarke, Micael M. "Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and the Grimms’ Cinderella." Studies in English Literature, 1500–1900 40, no. 4 (Autumn 2000). Quoted as "Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and the Grimms’Cinderella" in Bloom, Harold, ed. Jane Eyre, Bloom's Guides. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2007. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts on File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= BGJE042&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 14, 2011).

 

 

Jane Eyre: Encyclopedia of Feminist Literature

 

This article talks about Jane Eyre's struggles throughout her life. She survived the abusive living at her Aunt's house, the strictness of her new school along with the typhus outbreak, hunger and fatigue, hard work, and almost marrying a man who already had a wife. It explains how all of these things were caused because of the feminist society that Jane lived in, where everyone believed she must be a proper young lady.

 

Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. "Jane Eyre." Encyclopedia of Feminist Literature. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EFL607&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 14, 2011).

 

Jane Eyre : The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Novels of All Time

 

This article speaks mostly about Jane Eyre's author, Charlotte Bronte, and how successful her novel was and is today. She was born in 1816, the third daughter in her family. She had a sister, Emily Bronte, who also took up writing. They both wrote numerous poems and stories, but they weren't the best at first. Though when you think about it, the professional as anything was once a beginner. After years of practice, Charlotte became an amazing writer. When she wrote Jane Eyre, it was a big hit, and now there have been thirteen different television shows and movies about it.

 

Burt, Daniel S. "Jane Eyre." The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Novels of All Time, Revised Edition. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2010. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= NOVLR052&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 14, 2011).

Introductary Paragraph

Jane Eyre, by Charlote Bronte was an amazing novel that had a great theme behind it. You should never give up, no matter what. Living in a feminist society, Jane Eyre’s personality was looked down upon in most people’s eyes. She was strong willed and independent. She did not want to be the perfect woman everyone wanted her to be. I admire Jane because of her ability to go against society’s feelings about women. She showed them that she could make it on her own and get a good education. She did go through difficulties on the way, but everything turned out fine for her in the end. Most of Jane's struggles throughout the book were caused by the constant expectations that people had of her, especially because she was a woman.