Name:汪晓涵
Class:英本1305班
Number：20131411052
Book Report
Book：Jane Eyre
Author：Charlotte Bronte
Content（内容梗概）：
When the novel begins, Jane is an isolated, powerless ten-year-old living with an aunt and cousins who dislike her. As the novel progresses, she grows in strength. She distinguishes herself at Lowood School because of her hard work and strong intellectual abilities. As a governess at Thornfield, she learns of the pleasures and pains of love through her relationship with Edward Rochester. After being deceived by him, she goes to Marsh End, where she regains her spiritual focus and discovers her own strength when she rejects St. John River’s marriage proposal. By novel’s end she has become a powerful, independent woman, blissfully married to the man she loves, Rochester.
Abstract(摘要)：
"Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automaton?--a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!--I have as much soul as you--and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh;--it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal,--as we are!"
Summary（总结）：
The novel is rich in poetry, symbolism and metaphor. It does not fit easily into a definite pattern, being neither a novel of "manners" in the tradition of Austen, or a
straightforward Gothic Romance in the style of Mrs Radcliffe. What Charlotte Bronte did was to create a work which cleverly blends elements of the two styles, and which remains uniquely independent of them at the same time, since it addresses issues which were at the time rather controversial.
Jane Eyre is known as one of the greatest and the most popular works in the world English Literature. Written by Charlotte Bronte, she is one of my favorite women writers. It is my favorite novel. I can’t forget how excited when I read it for the first time five years ago. I have read this work many times over the years and each time I can discover new and meaningful elements in the novel that have never failed to move me.
It is a true Jane tenacious, humble, kind and severe with pursuing of equality. She is small and plain, but has determination than any other character we meet. She has a pure, beautiful heart and passionate tender soul. It is Jane Eyre that tells me the real meanings of charming ladies.
Why do I love Jane Eyre：
What Jane Eyre impresses me most are her self-respect and her clear situation on equality. Although it is always said that everyone is equal, is that really engraved on most of people’s hearts? No, it is not. Otherwise , why so many of us still feel ashamed of our plainness and poverty,or why so many of us still laughed at others who are disabled or we think are inferior to us. Just because we do not admit that we are all equal form the bottom of our hearts, we look down on others and even ourselves. However, Jane Eyre, a girl lives in the bureaucratically society does believe in equality, and pursue for it , why people like us edified in the modern society do not?
I don’t know what others feel，but frankly speaking，I would rather regard the section that Jane began her teaching job in Thornfield as the film’s end----especially when I heard Jane’s words “Never in my life have I been awaken so happily.” For one thing，this ideal and brand-new beginning of life was what Jane had been imagining for long as a suffering person; for another,this should be what the audiences with my
views hoped her to get. But the professional judgment of producing films reminded me to wait for a totally different result: There must be something wrong coming with the excellence----perhaps not only should another section be added to enrich the story，but also we may see from the next transition of Jane’s life that “Life is like a box of chocolates，you never know what you would get.”
第二篇：Impressions of reading Jane Eyre-毕业论文-简爱读后感
Character Analysis of Jane Eyre
Impressions of reading Jane Eyre
Character Analysis of Jane Eyre
Abstract: “Jane Eyre” - The protagonist and narrator of the novel, 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 fulfillment. Her strong belief in gender and social equality challenges the Victorian prejudices against women and the poor.
Key words: Jane Eyre , Character Analysis , Against unfair ,Resistance，Freedom , Equal, Rebellious character
Bibliography: (1) 夏洛特·勃朗特著，祝庆英译《简·爱》，上海译文出版社，2002
(2) Charlotte Bronte. “Jane Eyre” [M].Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1981
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Character Analysis of Jane Eyre
Impressions of reading Jane Eyre
Character Analysis of Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bronte，an English writer，was a great critical realist in the 19th century．She wrote lots of works in her life．”Jane Eyre” was her masterpiece which has attracted readers of generation after generation．It was a world famous nove1．Why did it get such success? It vividly portrayed a female in an unfair society who struggled continuously for freedom，independence and equality．"Jane Eyre" was written in 1846, is the second novel of Charlotte. She used by a young woman who struggles experience, to express their own hearts of the thinking, was deeply touched by readers. Novels in the autumn of 1847 to Kelebeier the pen name published, and then the following year had been reprinted twice. The unknown author, Charlotte Bronte, which entered the ranks of well-known British novelist.
Charlotte Writing "Jane Eyre", the British bourgeoisie in order to split the labor movement, have taken on the surface of certain reform measures, such as through the implementation of 10-hour workdays workers bill, but women's status in society and there is no improvement, and not the right to equality, even if there were three
upsurge of the Charter movement, had attracted hundreds of thousands of workers and the working masses to participate in the struggle for their rights, nor to the issue of
gender equality. At that time, the women was not have the right to dispose of property, also in the marriage market is not competitive, and they should think that factory
work was low status. As a result, when the family teaching seems to have become the only choice, because it has to maintain a professional force a decent veil. Bronte sisters has been the family are teachers, it is clear that "Jane Eyre" in many cases depended on the author's personal experience, rallied the author's own feelings, with some autobiographical. It can be said that "Jane Eyre" is the "family female teachers Magna Carta" It is a kind of "treason independence" written in the mood, the author of the pursuit of the spirit of independent women.
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Character Analysis of Jane Eyre
“Jane Eyre” is a novel about a girl called Jane Eyre. Her parents were dead when she was a child.She lived in her uncle's house. Her aunt disliked her, her cousins maltreated her and contempted her. Such habitats make her different with other children of her age. Then she was sent to school by her aunt. In that school, no one was allowed to be a friend with her. Even her only friend Helen was dead. Under such a environment, Jane Eyre passed her childhood, she left the school and be a family teacher.
Jane Eyre was an ordinary girl that without beauty, wealth and status. But she was a kindhearted, guileless, unsophisticated and exalted girl. “Jane Eyre” Describing her as a focus for women's economic independence and love of equal rights and the struggle. The novel main from psychological, language, thinking, behavior and other aspects of Jane Eyre's character.
The Victorian Age was men-centered and men-controlled times. Women were discriminated against by men at that time. However, the ahead-of-age female consciousness of Jane Eyre, the main character of Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Bronte, challenged men’s authority. In this novel of the Victorian Age, Charlotte exposed and denounced men’s oppression of and discrimination against women. On the other hand, Charlotte was remarkable in portraying Jane Eyre as a self-respecting and rebellious girl, desiring equality.
I like Jane Eyre’s character as she was feisty and determined. She experience so much in this book, and yet comes through it all and seems able to handle everything. I love the way she speaks to Mr. Rochester when they are engaged - she obviously adores him, but will not be totally subservient to him. She stands up to him and asserts herself, which must be difficult to do as she is overwhelmed with love for him and obviously feels grateful that he loves her too. I also admire the way she deals with people and situations that are against her, like Mrs. Reed. And she is keen to gain advice and learn from others, and is always questioning and seeking to understand, like with Helen Burns.
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Character Analysis of Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre's Independent Spirit
Having analyzed Jane Eyre's image, we can know that her character was developed step by step along the personal struggling way to equal status and independent character.
First at GatesheadHall. Ten-year-old Jane, orphaned by the death of her parents and uncle, led an unhappy life under the care of her aunt, Mrs. Reed. Due to the cruel treatment of her aunt and cousins, Jane had severe outbursts of revenge, which resulted in her departure from Gates head, where Jane spent almost ten years of her life. However, the ten years is a nightmare for her. Therefore, reading is one of the ways that Jane can escape from the reality. Furthermore, going to school is another way that Jane is hoping for so she could depart from Mrs. Reed. By the age of ten, Jane is already a fearless and self-governing little girl. Once in an outbreak with John, Jane fights back and is shut up in a horrible house. It was the first time that Jane shows her resentment through action. Then Jane began to realize the importance of independence.
During the years in Lowood School, Jane suffers a lot both physically and mentally. Jane is the same as the little girls in Gateshead except she is more independent in her spirit than before. What she experiences in Lowood School carves her into a more strong-minded girl. In the school, Jane is luckily consoled by the kindness of a teacher, Miss Temple and the friendship of Helen Burns. The influence of the two representatives of religion is attractive to her because they are kind and morally impressive.
At Thornfield Hall, Is the disposition model of Jane Eyre's independent spirit, Jane expected to change the life from then on, but fate had decided otherwise. After Jane and Rochester fell in love with each other and got down to get marry, she unfortunately came to know in fact Rochester had got a legal wife, who seemed to be the shadow following Rochester and led to his moodiness all the time. Rochester was also a despairing person in need of salvation. Jane understands about the double standard showed completely when she becomes aware of her feelings for Rochester. In her search for freedom, Jane struggles with the question of what type of freedom she wants. While Rochester initially offers Jane a chance to liberate her passions, Jane comes to realize that such freedom could also mean enslavement-by living as Rochester's mistress, she would be sacrificing her dignity and integrity for the sake of her feelings. Even though Rochester insists Jane will break Page 4 of 11
Character Analysis of Jane Eyre
his heart if she refuses him. Torn between her love for Rochester and her own integrity, Jane chose the back one. So Jane flees Thornfield in the middle of the night, with very little money and nowhere to go.
At Moor House, the Jane Eyre independent spirit also follows her continuously, moreover more and more mature. The escape from St John to Mr. Rochester is the reverse of her flight from Thornfield, and in leaving Moor House she has none of doubts that she felt on leaving Mr. Rochester formerly; to return to Mr. Rochester is a mature decision now of her whole self and she is not to be dissuaded by conventional arguments. Now, Jane has grown into a mature self completely. She becomes the master of her own fate. The readers can be finally conquered by Jane's independent spirit.
Jane Eyre's Rebellious Character
Jane Eyre has spoken this kind of section of speeches in the Lowood School to Helen Burns:” When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should -so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again.”Maliciously counter-attack! This just is Jane Eyre's rebellious character.
In the Lowood School
Jane Eyre's rebellious character is not reflected through abstract conception, but is shown by concrete environments, events and detailed descriptions. Just like in Mrs. Reed's family, in the Lowood orphanage, runs away the marriage as well as with St.John's contact.
If we say that Jane's rebellious character is sprouted in Mrs. Reed's family first, then the further development of her character is in Lowood-the charity school. Here we can see her female consciousness is portrayed vividly. Little Jane Eyre had earnestly hoped that she would begin a new happy life. However, in this hell on earth, Jane witnessed and experienced all kinds of maltreatments. Mr.BroaklPhurst was actually a hypocrite and treated the girls like slaves. The charity school was a real hell for ruining the children’ bodies under the cover of religion. Because of this lots of orphan children died one by one. Jane, the poor girl, unfortunately couldn't free from Mr. Brocklehurst's control when the cruel man, who was known for maltreatment to the children Page 5 of 11
Character Analysis of Jane Eyre
for a living, ordered Jane to stand straight on the stool for punishment. The stubbed gir1 did not submit to his order. She lifted up her head, and took a firm stand on the stool silently. The soundless reticence showed her great courage and unyielding character. It is hard to imagine Jane was only a little weak ten-year-old girl. This kind of rebellion was also represented by her friend Burns. Burns' experience was a sharp contrast against Jane's. Burns was poisoned by the religion deeply, she insisted” Return good for evil; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you and despitefully use you. “Jane hated the hell on earth. She didn't think people must meekly submit to oppression, instead people should be free and equal in the world, which just represented her female consciousness. She was angered owing to Burns’compromise, she said: “And if I were in your place I should dislike her I should resist her; if she struck me with that rod, I should get it from her hand; I should break it under her nose.”
From this we can see Jane was brave enough to fight against oppression, the female consciousness for winning over human rights became much stronger than before. She encouraged Burns to be independent, not always be docile and compromising. She thought they must do everything they could to fight against the bad man; they must resist the unfair punishment. The rebellious fires burned more vigorously. She never stopped longing for living a vividly free life in a new world; she could not help giving out her call: “I desired liberty; for liberty I gasped; for liberty I uttered a prayer;”
Jane's character didn't change despite the evil environment. She won over hunger, tear, humiliation, maltreatment and a job as a teacher in the Lowood School. She completely broke away from the life of relying on others.
Jane Eyre's rebellious at Thornfield Hall
Jane's life in Thornfield was the more important period for the formation and establishment of her rebellious character. Her heaving from Thornfield made the expression of her character reach the climax.
Jane Eyre mounts the big stage of social officially is in Thornfield Hall. Thornfield Hall to Jane Eyre is a completely strange place. This young girl studies and teaching in Lowood continuously, which has not contacted with the outside. She arrives this mansion to be a governess, which she Page 6 of 11
Character Analysis of Jane Eyre
knew is one at any position and the status work. Jane lived in a hostile atmosphere when she was a child. No one loved her there, and this led to her reserved and defensive attitude in 'Thornfield. She didn't want to expose the internal world of her heart so as not to be hurt，but she was ready to deal with attacks of the outside world, When others gave respect to her in the process of association，she treated them with sincerity. On the contrary, she would resist and counterattack those who trampled her living principle. First meets with Rochester, she has demonstrated the neither arrogant nor servile demeanor. When shi did not understand Rochester, she maintained the consistent rebellious spirit. But she gradually found the sympathetic chord in many aspects between Rochester and her thought. Then they fall in love each other. Of course, the love was based completely on equality, independence and human dignity. These who treated Jane equal1y, who respected her self-esteem, and her human dignity，Jane despised the bourgeoisie' s ideas of family status, regardless of her status of being a governess, which was almost equal to a servant, and she boldly fell in love with Rochester. It was undoubtedly a kind of challenge or resistance to the rigidly stratified bourgeoisie society.
If the matter goes on with no problem, Jane Eyre has become the satisfied Thornfield's hostess, it will be happy to everyone, but her rebellious character needed to give a very big discount. However, the god of fate seemed to test her again. When they were ready to get married, she knew Rochester's mad wife was still alive. Jane Eyre still left Thornfield. She did not know where she should go, just a desire in heart: Leave Thornfield, because she has received the deceit and the insult in this place. Jane Eyre did not worry the food and clothing before, but all of a sudden became a beggar who suffers hunger and cold, the miserable circumstances, the boundless wilderness, small and weak Jane Eyre suffers greatly. Why Jane Eyre don't stay at Thornfield, but walk away, and the result is nearly starving to death nearby. But we should take this section of clean which the author arranges. Keep in Thornfield, Jane Eyre will be impossible being a governess as before; will fall inevitably to the leeway of Rochester's mistress. Jane Eyre steps the Thornfield's front door bravely, breaks through the bird cage of common custom, the another person admires.
Jane Eyre's Pursuit of Self-respect and Self-dignity
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Character Analysis of Jane Eyre
Self-respect and Self-dignity are the typical character of Jane which can be seen through out the book. They are also the goals that Jane manages to gain and keep all her life. She treats people as equals, also requests others equality to treat her. At Gateshead, after she maliciously counter-attack her male cousin Joan Reed who has beaten mercilessly her for no reason, maidservant Abbot and nursemaid Bessie accuses her not to be supposed to fight with “the master”, she refutes immediately: “Master! How is he my master? Am I a servant?” Although lives under subjugation, she is not willing to acknowledge herself one step below others humbly. The speech which she angrily rebukes Ms. Reed's also displayed this point, “You think I have no feelings, and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness; but I cannot live so: and you have no pity.” When contact with Edward, she emphasized over and over she “is a free human being with an independent will”, perhaps this point deep attracted Rochester, and Rochester treat Jane equality, the friendly causes both sides to fall deeply in love.
Jane Eyre takes “friendly and frank” at first, not the great wealth family property and high family status. Rochester places her at the equal status, this conforms to her rebellious disposition, so she fells satisfactory. When she thought Rochester wanna married with Miss Ingram, but also wants keeps her in Thornfield, she ablazing with anger and said: “Do you think I am an automaton?-a machine without feelings?… I have as much soul as you, and full as much heart!… I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh; it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal,- as we are!” Jane Eyre has her own dignity, she maintains the dignity diligently, this section of speeches not less than her manifestos. In love, Jane Eyre's sentiment is blazing, but she has not forgotten the equal actually the request slightly. Rochester has satisfied her this kind of request; therefore she agreed to be his wife.
However, the god of fate seemed to test her again. When they were ready to get married, she knew Rochester' s mad wife was still alive. If all of these just showed the proof that the rich dallied with a poor governess, Jane might leave without worrying. But his love. So deep and faithful that Jane couldn't give it up, not even cut it off. What should she do? Leave or stay? If Jane left the affectionate Rochester and took away all his life his happiness, she would feel sad; but if she stayed to share his property, she would be taken as the mistress of him by the society. Choosing the former, it must be too cruel to both sides; choosing the latter, it perhaps met Rochester's needs, Page 8 of 11
Character Analysis of Jane Eyre
but Jane would lose her personality and human dignity, also her self-esteem. And also it was unfair to another woman-his original wife. After intense psychological straggle, her self-respect made her choose the former. Although Jane loves Rochester intensely, Jane left Rochester for her self-respect and self-dignity. In order to maintain “Ego” she shows disdain for all, Jane Eyre protects personality as if protect the life.
The Significance of Jane Eyre's Characters
Jane Eyre's Independent Spirit, the very major part is in the economical independence. After Jane Eyre and Rochester fall in love, although Rochester has the property, Jane Eyre had not thought definitely must be an extravagant wife, she does not want the jewelry and so on, persisted actually “I shall continue to act as Adele's governess; by that I shall earn my board and lodging, and thirty pounds a year besides. I'll furnish my own wardrobe out of that money, and you shall give me nothing”
Without the economic status independence, then will be no true sense personality independence. Jane's consciousness that women's self-respect and self-dignity can only be based on the economic independence is one of the greatest achievements of the book. This consciousness of Jane is still of practical and immediate significance to women in our society. Respect should not be given or paid by others but earned or won by oneself by one's own honest labor and by one's contribution to the society. Today the fields in which women can enjoy equality with men are being enlarged as there are ever increasing careers for women. Women should take the advantages that the time provides them, and make every effort to prove that they are as equally able as men in every aspect of life--first in economy and then in politics, only in this way can women really enjoy self-respect and self-dimity.
Having analyzed Jane Eyre's image, we can know that her character was developed step by step along the personal struggling way to equal status and independent personality. The principal method Jane Eyre chose was pursuing the freedom and the love based on equality. In ancient society, women couldn't control their own marriages. Jane Eyre, in the way of life, cast off the trammels and temptations of money, status and authority. She didn't belittle herself at all for her poor family and low social status.
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Character Analysis of Jane Eyre
On the contrary, she defended her dignity resolutely, broke through all kinds of obstructions boldly, pursued the true love perseveringly and explored her personal liberation bravely. Her behavior was the rebellion against the traditional moral principle and unreasonable marriage system. Her behavior was the criticism of the noble society. Consequently, Jane Eyre's image is authentic and resplendent. It has profound ideological meaning and moving artistic charm.
Jane, a little woman, was brave enough to challenge and resist the noble bourgeoisie, the unequal society, the evil environment, and the social estate system of the 19th century in Britain. These were her commendable points of her spiritual world.
The limitation of Jane Eyre's Characters
From Jane Eyre, we all can found Jane Eyre had rebellious character, is one kind of pursuing. Naturally, Jane Eyre walks an individual struggle path, what does she think is only is herself obtained an equal status in the society, she had not considered the important matter of woman liberates, certainly she has not struggling with the general people together. When the first day Jane Eyre have teaching in Morton village school, she thought:
Was I very gleeful, settled, content, during the hours I passed in yonder bare, humble schoolroom this morning and afternoon? Not to deceive myself, I must reply- No: I felt desolate to a degree. I felt- yes, idiot that I am- I felt degraded. I doubted I had taken a step which sank instead of raising me in the scale of social existence. I was weakly dismayed at the ignorance, the poverty, the coarseness of all I heard and saw round me.
On the other hand, we should see the author's limitation. In that society, it is impossible for Jane and Rochester to be really equal in social class. They are just equal in spirit. They get together because Rochester has been blinded by the fire and has lost his wealth at the end of the novel. Therefore, they get married on the condition that their gap of social classes narrows. However, we should learn her virtue. We should pursue our ideals and have our opinions about everything. Jane Eyre sets a good example for women and is a good model for women forever.
Conclusion
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Character Analysis of Jane Eyre
All in above, Jane Eyre is a female who collected independence, the self-respect, the rebellious character in a body, although she is a facial expression average woman, Jane Eyre fights all her life to pursue independence, liberty, self-respect, equality, and human value. She is brave, enthusiastic enough to change her tragic fate through her own strong unyielding rebellious character from the beginning to the end in the novel, which just embodies her female consciousness. Jane's immortal image is quite different from other women portrayed by some writers at Charlotte's time. She shouts for protecting human dignity and personality. She accuses the capital system which tramples and cruelly hurts people's lives. She puts forward a basic social problem-the problem of human values. Her female consciousness and rebellious character exposes seriously and attacks the oppression of women at that time. The successful character, Jane, is one typical representative for women's liberation.
Jane's consciousness that a woman's self-respect and self-dignity can only be achieved on the basis of economic independence makes her outstanding among her contemporary literary heroines. I think that has right displayed the economical request which the female in the pursue of personality independent process. It will be of great significance to women in our time and women in all areas. For dares to rebel in her characters, dares to strive for free and the equal standing, Jane Eyre surmounted the common custom unceasingly, surmounted herself, and finally obtained her own happiness.
Bibliography：(1) 夏洛特·勃朗特著，祝庆英译《简·爱》，上海译文出版社，2002
(2) Charlotte Bronte. “Jane Eyre” [M].Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1981 Page 11 of 11