Theme: Jane Eyre is a classical text that makes a new model of gender relation and gender ideology as its central concern. She makes an attempt to find out herself by the experience of feeling and soul between body and spirit, society and individual. This paper confines itself to discussion of the heroines difficult loving choice in such the case of contradiction between poor and rich. Through this way I want to search for the pilgrim’s mind of the heroine and the reason of loving selection.
Key words: self-abasement revolt and independence
sense of security happy marriage
Main body: In 1847“when the majority of authors get into the state of depression”[1] in Britain, there was a novel which signed CURREL BELL on it was published. Just like “all of a sudden a piece of drowned land is risen up in the center of ocean” [2] that was an autobiographic novel Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontě’s masterpiece, told a story of an orphan girl, Jane Eyre, the daughter of a poor minister. Shortly after birth she lost her parents. Her aunt, Mrs. Reed, a harsh, unsympathetic woman, was rude and unjust to the poor orphan. Mrs. Reed’s own children also teased and mocked Jane. Mrs. Reed was in a fit of anger and got rid of Jane by sending her to a charity school for poor girls in Lowood. There Jane spent eight years long amid intolerable living conditions and then Jane got the position of governess in the family of Mr. Rochester, a rich squire, he fell in love with Jane, but their marriage was prevented by the revelation on their wedding day that was Rochester had a original wife, a raving lunatic who was kept under lock and key in the house. Shocked by the awkward situations, Jane fled from the house and went through many hardships. Nearly perishing on the moors, she was rescued by the Rivers family and urged to marry the frigid St. John Rivers in order to undertake missionary work at his side. Shortly by sheer accident discovered she inherited a fortune of twenty thousand pounds. Unfortunately a great misfortune befell Mr. Rochester: he lost his sight during a fire which destroyed the mansion, set by his mad wife who died in that disaster in spite of his attempt to rescue her. Hearing that news Jane hurried back and became his wife . In your opinion it was not a romance. But “Jane Eyre is unique in Victorian fiction: it is the first English novel and perhaps even yet the most powerful and popular novel, which presents the free insurgent woman, free to feel and to speak as she feels.” [3]she “take a new violent into literature” because she expressed the whole civilized world the unsightly spiritual world of the bourgeoisie. In 1854, Karl Marx evaluated Charlotte with Dickens, Thakeray and Mrs. Gaskell and wrote:“The present brilliant school of novelists in England, whose graphic and eloquent descriptions have revealed more politicians, publicists and moralists added together, has pictured all sections of the middle class”. [4] This paper intends to discuss the heroine’s difficult loving choice in the case of poor in contradiction to rich .Through this method to seek the pilgrim’s mind of heroine’s “I love, I detest, I pain” and her reasons of terminal decision.
Loving is a complicated and wailful subject in our lifetime so that we can not sum up everyday how many such stories are put on performance by maids and men. Some person are full of anxiety and worry; some person are choked with tears, without exception our Jane, an isolated star, dedicated her vicissitudes of romantic rebellion she not only agitated the contemporary time’s person but also left her brilliant figure in the history literature of human being. Just as she said“If I am not formed for love, it follows that I am not formed for marriage” [5] to pursue the real and equal half under the “person eat person” society is the same as looking for needle in haystack. When we rejoiced secretly to the wedding ceremony’s music sound that came from church after Jane suffered countless hardships, why our sympathy was frozen at once, why our heart stopped beating. This paper will deal with this problem to discovery its genuine reason.
Self-abased person will be more depressed
because of the positive response
-Ke’en
一 . SELF-ABASEMENT
As you know poverty is neither Jane’s choice nor Jane’s fault when the misfortune moves toward her, Jane faces up to these unequal treatments directly with her young and tender shoulders, however, the self-abasement caused by poverty becomes her shadow that can not be expelled forever in her mind.
1. In her hardship childhood“a stem of plant is growing up painfully in the storm”. Dear Jane could not reject the arraignment from creator, she had all kinds of characteristics of little disgraceful girl: short, slim and fragile, irregular features. As an orphan lived under another’s roof. When she was put into the “red house”by her aunt, she began to persecute herself:“I know that had I been a sanguine, brilliant, careless, exacting, handsome, romping…her children would have entertained for me more of the cordiality of fellow-feeling”. [6] She got the reason of being maltreated that was her not beautiful appearance and took it to heart for this reason. Imperceptibly, it increased her burden of mood. When she was a child, she did not hear the positive response but too much negative, which often disturbed her temperament. Under the pressure of sentiment and inferiority, Jane formed her vital mourning. After more than eight year’s effort she left the charity school. Although she could do lots by herself, the changed role as a governess adhered to new contents.
2. When she stood facing her rival, Miss Ingram, in Thornfield, immediately she realized the all-directional bearing spatial differences and shamed of herself of being inferior. In front of the social butterfly, Miss Ingram was so attractive that everybody was trapped into her beauty. The first person was her master, Rochester who was attracted by her plain appearance, lower family background, superficial views of all corners of the country, primary education, no taste of the interest of upper class and even never seeing luxurious social contact occasion. All these elements forbade her sorrowing at parting. So she often “choose any quiet nook” and “sat in the shade…the window-curtain half hide her” “screened by the darkness so as not to be seen”. [7] This state of mind of putting herself in darkness so as not to be seen had to force her to fall into inferior abyss and made her be at her wits’ end.
3. When she loved Mr. Rochester, she realized the obstacles in the personal rank, wealth, and custom between them at once. She often asked herself why he would marry such a poor and humble girl. This question bored her and let her like an ant on hot pan. When she knew Rochester’s deep loving for her too, she still thought she had no right to be loved, soon or later she would failed to be loved. Therefore she announced to remember firmly “he can not care much for me” [8] and repeated continually that “we are for ever sundered”. [9]
4. St. John was “on behalf of men’s oppression”, he was not the person who Jane loved best but a man with good quality in her mind. When he implored Jane to marry, first Jane realized the threat coming from such a handsome man as her husband “I looked at his features, beautiful in their harmony, but strangely formidable in their still severity; at his row, commanding but not open; at his eyes, bright and deep and searching, but never soft; at his tail imposing figure; and…his wife. Oh! it would never do!” [10] Through Jane’s inner movement we can see she was so superficial and puerile. She still remained the surface of judging people by their appearance. At the same time, St. John was of little importance in her heart. Facing him, she still could not drive out her abasement, which was the necessity of the character’s development “unmarried to him, this would never grieve me”. [11]
The proud persons call himself the owner of fate
The modest persons call himself the slave of fate;
Besides these kinds, another persons take care of
fate not compulsorily, accepting fate not cowardly,
regarding it as their friends though.
-Zhou Guoping
二 .REVOLT AND NDEPENDENCE
On the other side because of the extreme abasement, Jane exposed her spirit of rebellion and independence with high emotion. By this method Jane grasped the “life straw”, she knew the sadness of faint-heart, the importance of revolt. Additionally, because the recognition and the constant improvement at last Jane finished her personal reformation on her personality and preserved her self-abasement, independence and self-sufficiency both in struggling with social pressure and in resting the temptation of passion.
1. At Gateshead, Jane, a poor orphan, did not evoke sympathy from other people, because she was not pretty, however no restraint from her family she formed the habit of chasing independence, advocating egocentric natural instincts. When she confronted all John Reed’s violent tyrannies, all his sisters’ proud indifference, all his mother’s aversion and all his servant’s partiality she struck table in anger to revolt. She pointed to her cousin and criticized him: “slave-driver”“murderer”“ the Roman emperors”. She announced “they are not fit to associate with me” [12] and bravely fought against Master. Reed and Mrs. Reed for her own right and freedom. When she was shut in“red room”, Jane began to realize that she needed to be saved from her blind fear of authority and would be self-reliant. Sometimes she even protested the unequal society by the way of “running away” “never eating or drinking more” and “driving mad”. In a word the isolated Jane was filled with her discontent disposition to the hierarchical society and unyieldingly defended her human dignity.
2. At Lowood Institution Brocklehurst adopted some ways to “punish her body to save her soul” [13] in excuse of maltreating orphans who came her unwilling, He often flogged them “wear on the untidy badge”. When looking at her helpless good friend was punished standing straightly, she could not endure more the humiliation and swallowed the insults. So she burst her fury from the bottom of her heart “were l in her place, it seems to me l should wish the earth to open and swallow me up” [14] “when we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard”. [15] The school lifetime in the charity school, Jane gained strength by learning from Maria Temple, the value of independence and by learning from Helen, the importance of duty and self-control so that the indomitable Jane regenerated. Through her own efforts, she began to make a living for teaching.
3. At Thornfield Hall she remained economical independence by maintaining her job as Aldéle’s governess. Rochester, her master, had seen more of the world than Jane had. He depended on his private dominant position among status, wealth and experiences wanting to control and command Jane. He spent money like dirt purchasing satin and jewels, gold and gems, which made Jane feel like a spoiled slaver by Sultan King, “the more he bought me, the more my cheek burned with a sense of annoyance and degradation”. [16] When Rochester implied fastening her with a golden necklace , Jane “unnatural and strange”and“had rather be a thing than an angel”, [17]“tired of being dressed like a doll”. [18] When called her “Young Mrs. Rochester,” she was irritated. She only wanted to be his friend and companion, but not his possession. In order to keep the independent to personality, she declared to still live on teaching to support herself, these actions entirely demonstrated her stubborn demands on rebellion and independence. As what she says “ personality would not be drowned by love and enthusiasm”. [19]
4. When her spirit-pursuing was defeated by cruel society, when the possibility seeking for equality was denied, the isolated star sent out her “Declaration of independence”: “Do you think l am an automation? ---a machine without felling? And can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because l am poor, obscure, plain, and little, and l am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! l h-ave as much soul as you, -and full as much heart!… it is my spirit that addresses your spirit;…we stood at God’s feet, equal-as we are!” [20]There was a storm in clear sky after they made a decision to have wedding ceremony in a village church, an unharmonious voice damaged the atmosphere of happy. The fact was exposed in broad daylight: Rochester had married, his original wife was living, and the isolated star fell down from heaven to hell. She submitted herself to fate or became his other woman or the owner of herself in her thoughts. In the end the quiet consciousness played an important part in this aspect so she told Rochester firmly“Sir, your wife is living: that is a fact acknowledged this morning by you. If I lived with you as you desire, I should then be your mistress: to say otherwise is sophistical -is false.”[21] She left him because she did not want to lose her integrity and became his lover, this was a forceful counteraction to customs. At Moor House she learned the pleasure of self-sufficiency through her friendship with the two sisters: Diana and Marry Rivers. She became spiritually stronger and more confident by teaching in the village school, gained social respect, and rejected St. John offer’s of marriage because she did not want to live as a tool to serve God.
There is nothing so-called fate in the world
All but is cross, punishment or compensation
-Voltaire
三 ．SENSE OF SECURITY
1. In the critical realism of 19th century traditional ideal about the demands to female is either property or beauty. As far as Jane is concerned, she was imperceptibly rejected by the common judgment standard, she had neither wealth nor pretty she even had no relatives and friends to depend on. The isolated femininity suffered from all the agonies of life and dignity. Consequently this led her into a state of trepidation. Just at that time a dramatic turn changed her embarrassed position absolutely. The helpless Jane inherited twenty thousand pounds from her transformation into woman of wealth, she paid back the debt of gratitude about St. John and his sisters. Afterwards she became Rochester’s economical protective person through this heritage, from then on she shouldered her way into the ranks of aristocrat and had the equality in both economy and personality. On the contrary, Rochester was reduced to a state of poverty and ruin. Jane cast the sense of inferiority forever. So she said:“I am independent, sir” [22]and“I am my own mistress”. [23]
2. When Jane came back to Thornfield, the Mansion had been ruined like what she dreamed of. At the sight of the person who had been yearning by day and dreaming by night, Rochester was blind and a cripple, one kind of uncontrolled bliss poured into her mind suddenly“I stayed my step, almost my breath…watch him----to examine him, myself unseen! To him invisible.” [24]Her inferior outline was disappeared in darkness“I was then his vision … his right hand… I was the apple of his eye” [25] In face of disability and torment of her beloved, surprisingly Jane did not shed tears for him but followed “there was a pleasure in my services, most full, most exquisite, even though sad.” [26] She cheered, for her facial feature would never be exposed. In the meanwhile Rochester had put down his elitish head though he was a lion in Jane’s heart. Such as to Jane extricated herself from the self-abased predicament as far as this kind of extrication and sense of security were concerned, It may be said it was timely help.
3. Bertha, a madwoman, not only had nothing love affair with Rochester but repeatedly brought disaster to safety of life, nearly burnt her husband in his bed once. Facing the deceit and the marriage that did not exist actually, Rochester fell as if a knife were piecing his heart. If the madwoman did not “act for Jane and act like Jane” [27] Rochester and Jane had no possibility to surmount the obstacle and became legal couple, The madwoman’s death and twenty thousand pounds paved the way for love. The stumbling stone was cleared away and Jane freed herself from worldly worries. Then, a glorious and magnificent prospect greeted Jane’s eyes.
Loving you, that is my own thing
-Don Quixote
四 ．HAPPY MARRIAGE
1. When feminist criticism excessively concentrated their sights on Jane’s deep heart, we unconsciously neglected Rochester’s existence, as the sacrifice of aristocratic benefit, previously he was cheated by his father so as to marry Miss Bertha, a daughter of an planter in West Indies, who was a raving lunatic. Although he inherited fortune for this marriage, it tore his youth and enthusiasm to pieces. When he wandered in Europe to indulge in getting authentic love in the end he obtained a false display of affection on polite society. Jane, Adele’s governess, she felt the difference from others’ attitudes. As soon as she got along with Rochester neither supercilious nor obsequious, she thirsted and almost seldom achieved. Her quick-witted response, sympathetic sight and nimble assist and so on made Rochester see her independent spirit, as compared to other ladies owing to lacking of moral integrity, Jane’s resistance was precious and protective of virginity itself. Jane was loyal and steadfast to love beyond his imagination, even though they had gap difference between social statuses. Rochester did not mind family status, underrate the notion of fortune, hated the vanity of high society. In front of Jane, he had the courage to acknowledge his degeneration, which proved he did not completely lose his kindly natural instinct. For this reason Jane thought “I feel akin to him”, [28] Yang Jingyuan says: “they are both the deserted person of capitalism”. [29] After undergoing, the hearts finally were struck each other and burst forth two dumplings of sparks that mutually fascinated and enhanced each other.
2. St. John was “a pure socialized legitimate figure” [30] and wanted to domesticate Jane’s nature by the way of religion. He sincerely believed in supernatural being. He said that he could not cheat God to accept his insincere loyalty. The words that she must marry him irritated Jane: “I scorn your idea of love”“I scorn the counterfeid sentiment you offer”“I scorn you”. [31] She believed that the authentic love must exist beyond by spirit. At the same time the sentimental attachment to Rochester transferred the calling from the bottom of her heart which triumph over the fetters of God. Jane commenced rushing to her happy target.
3. “Essentially Rochester is Don Juanic hero”, [32] Jane could not free herself from the attachment to Rochester, on his appearance: Rochester was edition of manly man possessing “olive face, square, massive brow, broad and jetty eyebrows, deep eyes, strong features, firm, grim mouth, -all energy, decision will --were not beautiful, according to rule; but they were more than beautiful to me; they were full of an interest, an influence that quite mastered me”; [33] On his timbre: a mellow, powerful bass, into which he threw his own feeling, his own force: finding a way through the ear to the heart, and there waking sensation strangely; On his character: “I was growing very lenient to my master.”“I was forgetting all his faults…Now I saw no bad.” [34] When he was injured in the fire, Jane thought“you are being metramorphosed into a lion”. If from the standpoint Miss Ingram she had turned up her nose at him as early as possible. Jane madly clung to Rochester that caused her return to Thornfield Hall finally.
3. Ideology restricts not only behavior pattern but also literary style. As a result of dominant ideology and the influence of Gothic plot, at the end of the novel “all shall be well”,Jane chose matrimony and played the role of “family angel”,because in that society and period, marriage was the first and foremost important thing. Women almost lived in household and sentiment, so their novels were deeply influenced by their narrow life experience. On the contrary, man was the dominator in main traditional custom and had set up a set of consequence in value conception. Meanwhile, in some extent this kind of value conception took precedence in novel. As for Jane Eyre was a poetic and imaginative story of the love of a young governess for her married employer. Undoubted, it had connections with Charlotte’s experiences and had the pronounced autobiographic character. Jane compromised with the main sexual distinction of consciousness on this point that was author’s instances in real life as well. So a few feminists often mentioned Jane and Bertha in the same breath. For example: Elaine Showalter regarded Bertha as Jane’s oppressive desire; Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar even defined Bertha as Jane’s “the trust and darkest double.” [35] This type of Gothic plot provided us annotation about heroine contradictory double personality. Terry Eagleton thinks Gothic creation is“bourgeois feminization of discourse.” [36]
All losses are restored, and sorrows end
-Willam Shakespeare
五. CONCLUSION
“Charlotte Brontě” was an exotic flower on health, she created everlasting literary production and achieved the interflow between readers and herself with her real life-experience. The Isolated star made a pilgrimage to the sacred place and absolutely covered the whole route from poor to rich, from self-abasement to rebellion and independence, from sense of security to happy marriage by the weak lights. She developed Hammlet’s colossal person’s philosophic theory of “to be or not to be, that is the question”, went up and down to seek “what am I to do”, finished the subject of life “I am what I am.” She attacked the greed, petty tyranny and lack of culture among the bourgeoisie and sympathized the sufferings of the poor people.” In the long run, Jane Eyre has the qualification to be called the milestone in history of English Literature. Jane Eyre is eternal.
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NOTES
[1] F.B.Pinion, A.BRONTE COMPANION-Literary Asselment, Background, and Reference (1975) 105
[2] Fang Weijing, Shadow under the Right of Light (Foreign Literature, Tim 1 Jan.1993) 37
[3] Fan Cunzong, HISTORY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE, A BRIEF OUTLINE (Sichuan People Press, 1983) 191
[4] WAIGUO WENXUE PING JIE CONGSHU, Brontě Sisters (Liao Ning People Press, 1983) 13
[5---34] Chanlotte Brontě,JaneEyre (ShanghaiForeignEducationpress,2002)390,10,154,163,381,379,22,58,44,49,251,246,251,246,251,236,285,407.404,423,382,162,174
[27] Ge Liang, Id, Ego and Superego in Jane Eyre (Foreign Literature, Time April, 1991) 71
[28] Yang Jingyuan, On the Semi-autobiographical Novels by the
Brontě Sisters (Foreign Literature Reviw,1998) 10
[32] Fan Wenbin, Rochester in Jane Eyre Reconsided(Foreign Literature Review Ⅲ,1991) 7
[36] Chen Shubo, The Gender Ideology in Jane Eyre (Foreign Literature Review Ⅳ，2002) 83
[30,37] Song Zhaolin, ShiJieWenHaoShuXi Bront Sisters, Vol.1 Jane Eyre (He Bei Education Press, 1996) 1.10
[35] Han Mingzhong, Feminist Literary Criticism: Mad Woman and Jane Eyre (Foreign Literature Review. 1988) 22.