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Throughout 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. Jane is an intelligent, honest, plain-featured young girl forced to contend with oppression, inequality, and hardship. Although she meets with a series of individuals who threaten her autonomy, Jane repeatedly succeeds at asserting herself and maintains her principles of justice, human dignity, and morality. She also values intellectual and emotional fulfilment. Her strong belief in gender and social equality challenges the Victorian prejudices against women and the poor.
The development of Janes character is central to the novel. From the beginning, Jane possesses a sense of self-worth and dignity, a commitment to justice and principle, a trust in God, and a passionate disposition. Her integrity is continually tested over the course of the novel, and Jane must learn to balance the frequently conflicting aspects of herself as to find gratification. After Janes departure and emotional liberation from Gateshead, we are invited onto the next chapter of her life. She is introduced to the daily routines at Lowood, which are largely made up of religious aspects.
It is in the next chapter where we are introduced to two figurehead characters in the path of Janes development, Helen Burns and Maria Temple. In lesson, Helen informs Jane of the circumstances of Lowood and that all the children are charity children. One of the nastier teachers, Miss Scatcherd mistreats Helen; Jane is impressed with the tranquillity of Helens emotions as she willingly bears the punishment. This may be perhaps a stepping-stone for which Jane to build upon as one of her closet friends and her biggest influences bears the punishment, which Jane, coincidently has had problems with as we have seen in the previous chapters. Helen delivers to Jane, her Christian beliefs of forgiveness and endurance, one must bear the sins of others, turn the other cheek, and love thy enemy. Jane is of course at odds with this, as standing up for herself frequently means fighting back.
We have already witnessed several situations in which she availed herself of these tactics, particularly the fight with John Reed and the consequences was that she was locked in the Red Room, and also the lashing out at Mrs Reed were she feels a short-lived victory that soon turned to remorse. While Helens Christianity is not useful for Jane, neither is Janes attitude of self-defence; she must find and develop her own brand of spirituality. The apocalyptic literature Bronte uses foreshadows one of the main themes of the novel which is Janes search for a religion and the constant dictation from the teachings at Lowood and the preaching she receives from Helen, furthers her development not only as an established character, but also as a devoted Christian. Jane receives different models of Christianity throughout the novel, all of which she rejects either partly or completely before finding her own way.
Brocklehursts Evangelicalism is full of hypocrisy, spouting off on he benefits of privation and humility while he indulges in a life of luxury and emotionally abuses the students at Lowood. Also at Lowood, Helens beliefs of absolute forgiveness and tolerance are to meek for Janes taste, and this aspect of Helen of constant absorbing of punishment causes her to eventually dying silently. Helens philosophy of Christian forgiveness is tested as Mr Brocklehursts unjustly punishes Jane. Though Jane does not fight back, she inwardly seethes and thinks, I was no Helen Burns. Janes development of character in regards to her temper is shown here, as she remains calm on the inside, which is an improvement to her normal self-anger. Mr Brocklehursts Christianity shows more hypocritical flaws.
Though he claims that privation leads to purity, his relatives are dressed to the nines. He even wants to cut off one girls naturally curly hair, demonstrating his lust for absolute power over others. Jane has to develop a sense of independence, which is one of her major developments in the novel. Helen correctly states in chapter nine, that she need to be less reliant on others. The Main quest in Jane Eyre in Janes search for her kindred spirits, for a sense of belonging and love, but her search is constantly tempered by her need for independence. Jane begins the novel as an unloved orphan and overly relies on the love for others for happiness.
But she gains self-esteem through the loving surrogate maternal figure of Miss Temple and her own success at Lowood. As Janes stay at Lowood progresses, we become more aware of the other important character, Maria Temple. Miss Temple has a religious undertone in her name, which suggests a religious person, and we come to realise, is the only person who upholds the Christian faith out of the superior delegates at Lowood. She acts as Janes surrogate mother and this aspect underlines a main theme for Jane in her development of character in the novel.
After receiving no parental love from Mrs Reed, she turns to Miss Temple for affection. As we have seen before, ice is a motif in Jane Eyre for cruel, negative, destruction, and here fire fans out as a symbol of goodness and creation. The fire in Miss Temples room warms the girls and so does her kindness, conversation, and treats (bread and cheese. ) The role of surrogate mother adopted by Miss Temple is pivotal to Janes development as a character as she provides Jane with the love and care she needs and in the same sense reinstates her own self-esteem and confidence. After Helen dies in her deathbed from consumption, the book has a brief transitional period of eight years where Jane has developed and matures greatly from an angry child bent on self-survival into a mostly independent young woman seeking to serve others.
Also, the mention of Mr Eyre's arrival at Gateshead foreshadows latter events in which Jane will inherit riches of 20, 000 pounds. Janes exit from Lowood ends the second stage of her life. We conclude this chapter in her life and give emphasis towards her development of her character and the way in which she has matured. She has had to face much distress and has had to come to terms with her own development at her...
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Research essay sample on Jane Eyre Helen Burns
