Independence of women: Jane Eyre(Yiling Feng)

In the history of the literature, there are a lot of classic novels. However, “Jane Eyre” catches many peoples’ eyes successfully. It attracts thousands of readers, and influence spirit world of people. I am deeply attracted by “Jane Eyre”. Jane is an independence women, she is always seeking independence and fighting any injustice in her life, especially in that age.
The author – Charlotte Bronte is the third of six children. In August 1824, Charlotte was sent with three of her sisters; Emily, Maria and Elizabeth, to the Clergy Daughters' School at Cowan Bridge in Lancashire (which she would describe as Lowood School in Jane Eyre). Its poor conditions, Charlotte maintained, permanently affected her health and physical development and hastened the deaths of her two elder sisters, Maria (born 1814) and Elizabeth (born 1815), who died of tuberculosis in June 1825 (William). Charlotte Bronte hated this school. She describes it very poor in “Jane Eyre”.
Jane Eyre is an independent girl. She knows independence is very important from her experiences. To some degree, the novel can be interpreted as a symbol of the independent spirit. Jane shows readers that how to fight at every stage of her life by herself.
Jane Eyre is an independent, pure and contemplating well girl. She lives at the bottom of the society, and she is going through all kinds of hardships. Jane lives without parents who have died when Jane is a kid. She only lives with her Aunt Reed and cousins. They always insult and hit her. Jane does not a resigned person. When she faces his cousins’ abuse, she always strikes back on her own. These behaviors trample Jane’s dignity, but as previously reason let Jane has an indomitable spirit and invincible nature.
Afterwards, Jane is sent to the Lowood Orphanage by her Aunt Reed. However, her destiny does not change anything. When Jane is abused by her teachers, she never yields and hopes someone can help her. She always insists belief; and she use her independent spirit to seek freedom belong to her. For example, her friend, Helen always tolerates all injustices, such as beating-up and taunt. Jane never yields. She tells Helen that “if they hit my by batten, I will wrest it, and will break it” (Bronte). This saying shows reader that Jane has an obstinate nature and she never yields to destiny. Moreover, Helen’s death makes Jane angrily believe her own words once more “strike back very hard, resist in justice, return dislike to dislike” (Bronte). This is the typical rebellion of Jane. At Lowood, Jane’s independence rises to a higher level.
She leaves the Lowood Orphanage and finds a job to teach Mr. Rochester’s daughter in the Thornfield Hall. Mr. Rochester has a cold face outside, but he has a warm heart. After a period of time, Jane and Mr. Rochester fall in love. However, when she knows Mr. Rochester has had a legal wife in despite of she has psychosis. Jane chooses to leave. Jane speaks out these words angrily: “Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am automation, a machine without feeling, and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water” (Bronte)? At this time, her feeling of preserving independence becomes obvious. She just wants to preserve her self-respect by scarifying her marriage. As a governess, Jane has financial independence, she can feed up herself. She has her own idea. In addition, she chooses a way by herself. She does not abandon herself to love of Mr. Rochester. Jane’s vision of love let readers know more about her character. She thinks love should build on the basis of equal spirit. Peoples’ loves do not build on appearance, wealth or social status.
Jane is always independently fighting against everything from childhood to marriage. She aspire her life and love. She never gives up for seeking. She also expresses her real emotion when she meets her true love. She shows readers a new image of women, which is independent.
Jane has an estimable nature, she is an independent woman, and she never yields to unfair things in her life. Her spirit is very important in the society. Nowadays, more and more people want to get profit by other people. It is ridiculous. Like Jane’s thinking, “Who in the world cares for you? I care for myself”. People need to know that they need to be independent to do anything. No one needs to help you when you have troubles. In addition, destiny cannot always fair. When you feel your destiny is unfair, you should think about Jane’s, and study her spirit when she faces her unfair destiny.
Moreover, Jane also tells readers, women need to control their destiny of emotion. Women need to be independent in their emotion and marriage. Women should have a work, finance and adamant believes after they are married. More and more women do not want to have a job after they married. They think work is very hard, and they want to marry with a wealthy husband, then they will have a happy life. In my opinion, this is an immature thinking. If women want to get their true love, they need study with Jane. Jane keeps her independence in her marriage, and gets her husband and other peoples’ respect.
“Jane Eyre” is a famous novel in the world. The author creates an independent woman in that society. As Jane is a child, her life is poor and unfair. However, she never gives up fighting with her destiny. Jane changes her life and gets her true love by fighting. She is the owner of her life. She always insists her position. She finds her true love. Although the end of “Jane Eyre” is too perfect, it still shows us if a person keeps his independence, he will find respect and real happiness.








Reference
a. William, John. “A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature”. Dec. 7, 2009. Access Date: Dec. 15, 2009
Wikipedia Network.
b. Bronte, Charlotte. “The Evolution of Genius”. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1967
Studa Network.
c. Bronte, Charlotte. “Jane Eyre”. Dec. 21, 1847. The third edition.
d. Bronte, Charlotte. “Jane Eyre”. Dec. 21, 1847. The third edition.
e. Bronte, Charlotte. “Jane Eyre”. Dec. 21, 1847. The third edition.