How Does Jane Eyre Fulfil Your Idea Of A Romantic Heroine Essay, Research Paper

Jane Eyre

By selecting key moments in the development of Jane’s character from child to woman, say how far she fulfils my idea of a romantic heroine.

To answer that I must describe what, in my view, I feel a romantic heroine is, by saying what qualities she must have, and the type of actions she must perform to be granted the title of heroine.

For the most part, I share the common view of a romantic person, which entails many qualities. Some of these include: being able to easily express their thoughts, feelings and emotions to their loved ones. They know the right time and place to share these words and feelings and can create the right setting and atmosphere. They speak with their own hearts and minds. They love who the person is, not what the person is. Their own view of a person is not changed by what other people think or say, and they would willingly give their lives for, or to help the person they love.

In the popular view, the heroic side of of a romantic heroine, is a women who is involved in events out of the ordinary, that the average person either wouldn’t or couldn’t do, for fear of what may happen to themselves. But it is not just bravery that defines a heroine. Trustworthiness, putting others before themselves and not being afraid of speaking out for something they believe is right, are just a few different qualities of a heroine.

When people associate a romantic heroine with literature, they sometimes get a different impression of the woman. In most books she is the lead part in the novel. And as well as having the characteristics of an ordinarily thought of romantic heroine, she has great looks and is admired by all society. She seemingly can do no wrong and is liked by everyone.

I believe that Jane, on numerous occasions, proves herself to be a romantic heroine. She starts to show heroic actions at the age of ten, and impressively continues displaying them throughout her life; she demonstrates it through her courage, strength, surviving against the odds and through many of her other attributes.

However, the romantic side of her does not blossom until she is much older. She speaks very little of her love for others, and her love towards one man, throughout her childhood. It isn’t until she meets Rochester that she realises she has true love for someone. But once she has realised it, at the end of the novel, her actions prove this in an heroically romantic way. We continually know of her romantic character through the duration of the novel, by her words and thoughts, which she shares with us.

The writers and poets, at the time Jane Eyre was written, were just starting to value and use feelings and emotions, over logical reasoning. Characters in romantic novels would say they loved someone if it was logical for them to love this person. A prime example of this is the way St. Rivers tries to explain his reasons for marrying Jane, when proposing to her.

Jane on the other hand is character in the new form. She uses her feelings and heart to try to find happiness, and in using that succeeds. Although she is a romantic heroine, she is not the ordinary type for a novel about romantic heroism. In books like Pride and Prejudice, the romantic heroine is beautiful, talented, socially accomplished etc. But Jane, as we will see, has nothing you would expect, with respect usual trappings associated with a romantic heroine.

On many occasions in her childhood, when Jane is living at Gateshead, she is seen as a disruptive girl who has little discipline or self-control. Naturally Jane is not like this. She is forced into striking out to stand up for herself. The family she lives with had always had a prejudice against her. She was constantly bullied and the only person who would stand up for her was herself. Although her actions can be seen as disruptive or disobedient, I view them as acts of heroism.

It is easy for anyone to agree with policies, theories or ideas if there is a large group who believe as you do. However, it is a lot harder to speak out if no one else shares your view. It takes courage to stand up and disagree with a crowd because of how they will react and treat you. Having the courage to find your voice against a judgemental group of people, is one of the qualities of a heroine, and Jane displays it to us marvellously at a young age.

At the beginning of the novel Jane is sitting by the window, reading a book, minding her own business. When John Reed comes in he says to her…

“You have no business to take our books, you are a dependant. You ought to beg, and not live here with gentlemen’s children like us, and eat the same meals we do, and wear clothes at our mama’s expense.”

This statement, by John, shows the hardship Jane has lived with through her childhood. It also portrays for us how the residents of Gateshead regard her. Seemingly, John needs no reason to start this bullying of Jane, and does it for fun. If she does something as trivial as taking a book to read, she is punished for it, and has absolutely no protection from this harassment. This lack of protection is easily proved to us, as it’s blatant to anyone that it is John who is in the wrong, yet Jane is the one who receives punishment.

When she is described as a “dependant” it shows she isn’t wanted there. She is treated as an outcast among them because of her fathers lack of wealth. So as long as Jane stays at Gateshead, she lives with the knowledge, she will not be wanted and be bullied and tormented by John. Faced with that sort of prospect most people would breakdown and lose the will to live, but Jane shows tremendous willpower and passion that keeps her going.

Any ordinary girl, of Jane’s build, would not dare speak back to John, because of his size, and for fear of what will happen to her. Jane is not frightened enough to stay quite. She finds her voice and retaliates at John by declaring to him he is a…

“Wicked and cruel boy.”

Jane knew what would happen if she said this, but also knows she can not stay quiet for the rest of her life. She must make a stand now, against the dictatorship John is trying to impose on her. It certainly does take a hero or heroine to oppose any dictator, such as Hitler, Saddam Hussein or even someone like John because they have the power to hurt you and this instills fear in you. Jane is extremely brave to make this statement. She heroically condemns John’s treatment of her, by the words, and the way they are spoken. They show Jane has nothing but hate and resentment for John. It proves her resilience to us, that she knows she has no choice in the matter of taking this punishment, yet is still brave enough to stand up against her tormentor.

Another act of heroism by Jane is when Mr Brocklehurst comes to Gateshead. Mrs Reed tells him to watch out for Jane, and to…

“Guard against her worst fault, a tendency to deceit.”

Jane is rightfully outraged by this lie, and protests…

“I am not deceitful: if I were, I should say I loved you; but I declare I do not love you: I dislike you the worst of any body in the world except for John Reed; and this book about the liar, you may give it to your girl, Georgina, for it is she who tells lies, and not I.”

This speech by Jane is wonderfully heroic. Jane can not stay oppressed any longer, she illustrates to Mrs Reed the true story of what really happens behind her back and how she feels towards the family. Jane cleverly outwits Mrs Reed to prove her point of innocence. Mrs Reed thinks of Jane as a deceitful child who loves her, but Jane is an honest child who declares her hate of Mrs Reed. Saying if she were deceitful, she would pretend to everyone to love Mrs Reed, but instead she lets people know of her loathing towards her.

Those are two examples of how Jane can be seen as a heroine, but are both of the same nature. They show Jane’s bravery and courageousness for standing up for herself and speaking out against a crowd, to gain a better life for herself. She believes it to be a worthy cause and her protests to be of some good as she knows she will receive punishment for her disobedience, but continues to rebel.

There are several other important scenes to convey more clearly Jane’s heroism.

The time Jane saves Mr Rochester from his burning bedroom, is by far the best reference to show how she is truly a heroine. Jane is terrified out of her wits, after hearing a ghostly laughing in the hall-way late at night. But still manages to: face the fear, put out a fire, even though there is very little water in the room, consequently saving Mr Rochester from burning to death and manage to escape unscathed. She does not stop to think about how frightened she is, or whether she will be burnt or trapped in the room. She says…

“I thought no more of Mrs Fairfax; I thought no more of Grace Poole, or the laugh: in an instance I was within the chamber.”

She instinctively reacts to help others before thinking of herself. She blocks everything out of her mind in order to get the job done. Not only this, but nothing is said after she has accomplished this great feat. She neither demands nor expects praise or thanks for what she had done for him. For her it just seemed like the perfectly ordinary thing to do.

Rochester is desperately trying to thank her for what she has done, but his words can’t express his gratitude. He tries to make it clear by saying…

“You have saved my life: I have the pleasure of owing you so immense a debt.”

But Jane’s response is just…

“There is no debt, benefit, burden, obligation.”

It’s as if Rochester is pleased that he in indebted to Jane. And he wants to repay her in someway. However Jane just brushes off his attempts of reward. It is as if she is trying to tell him she doesn’t deserve it, as she has done nothing out of the ordinary.

Everyone, from the greatest, to the lowest of people want some recognition, from time to time, for the good deeds they have accomplished. However, Jane does not, and that portrays, to me, her natural heroic side.

The second instance is when Mason arrives at Thornfield. He is injured late in the night, and Jane saves his life without question.

From Janes point of view: she wakes at the dead of night, gets taken to see a man, who she barely knows, covered in blood coming from a gaping wound in his side. She doesn’t know how he has been injured. She then willing sits by his bed for the next couple of hours washing the wound, changing the bandages and keeping him alive. Then is asked never to speak of this again when he is banished from Thornfield. This again shows her remarkable heroism…

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