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Charlotte Brontë populates the novel with many female characters roughly the same age as Jane—Georgiana and Eliza Reed, Helen Burns and Mary Ann Wilson. How do comparisons with these characters shape the reader’s understanding of Jane’s character? Why, as readers, do think we know more about the female characters than the male antagonists? How does the contrast of male and female perspective shape our view of Jane’s world?
Charlotte Bronte uses female characters around the same age as Jane to bring out her character traits. They are foil characters who bring out strong characteristics in each other. An example of this would be Jane’s dear friend, Helen Burns. In contrast to Jane’s very fierce and forward personality, Helen is much more calm and is very patient. The book is written from a female’s perspective, and so more is known about the female characters than the male. Charlotte Bronte was a woman, and so she was able to write about have things in common with Jane whom she created. Do you think the story would have changed if Jane had not met Helen Burns?
My question is, how do you think Jane’s life would be if she had not met Helen Burns?
Within Jane Eyre, there are many girls that are around the same age as Jane. These characters are in the story in order to compare and contrast Jane with other girls around her age. This helps us get a deeper understanding of the main character. Female characters are more prominent then male characters because the main character is a woman and the author is also a woman. The male and female relationships within the story shap Jane’s outlook because the men during this time had more rights then women. Do you think Jane became a better person because of her friends? Do you think that women were content or angry that they were being treated as lower than men during this time?
Most of Jane’s friends are female not male in order to help Jane realize that she can be more than just a simple house wife or teacher. They are Jane’s foil characters with the main one as Helen Burns because their character traits are the complete opposite of Jane’s. During the time that Charlotte Brönte was writing this book, women did not have equal rights as men; so by writing this book, Charlotte Brönte was supporting the idea that women are just as equal as men. If Jane Eyre was written in this present time, how well do you think the book would be known throughout the world? Would the book be so popular now as it was in the 1800s?
The characters of Eliza and Georgiana foil Jane Eyre so that the reader may notice how much she doesn’t have. They are spoiled beyond belief and have all the opportunities Jane doesn’t have. For instance, an respectable education other than being sent away to an institution like Jane was. Helen Burns is a patient character who has faint in her religion as well as Jane. Her calmness contrasts with Jane because Jane is a very hot headed child and Helen emphasize this characteristic in Jane with her long suffering.
We seem to know more about feminine characters rather than antagonistic male figures because Charlotte Bronte created this book as a strong feministic view. She cares not for the feelings or opinions if men but rather the emotions in which women feel.
The contrast of female and male perspectives shape our view of Janes world in a way so that we may see her understandings of both the parties. Charlotte Brinte uses Jane as a message to the world in order to show that women were not only for subservient wives and caretakers of the household but they had strong qualities such as courage and bravery as seen in Jane Eyre. Thus, men viewed women as feeble who needed men to take care of them but Jane is seen as an independent young women who can succeed life with out a man’s help.My question is do you think Jane’s main symbolism was for a feministic view for charlotte bronte? Is there more a message written to Jane other than a feministic stance?
@kl1214
If Jane had not met Helen burns than she would not be calm than she is now that she has grown up. Helen displays long suffering as she goes through pain and tornment at lowood and Jane detestifies this. She shows hostility and justice in return to the unfairness bestowed on Helen burns. Therefor, if Jane had not met Helen Burns she would not be as patient with Adele or Mr. Rochester for that matter.@ashleyfabella
The book would not. E as popular now as it was in the 1800’s because we have already established women’s rights. It was an amazing stance then because it was unfair on how they treated women. So, it being popular then is more of a profound stament rather then now when it has already been established.@hampizza When Jane Eyre was written, the author had to conceal herself because she knew that many people won’t read her book because she was a female. At that time, men were above women and treated with respect; while women were considered to be unable to do anything for themselves. There were a lot of women who thought that they could be just as good as the men in that time. So, yes, women were angry at being treated unequal to the men.
@kl1214 If Jane had not met Helen, she would have been all alone at Lowood with only Mis Temple as a friend. She would not have had the strength to think before she said something. Without Helen, Jane would not have realized that there can be a loving Father in her life.
The female foil characters in Jane’s life are very important. The girls that come through Jane’s life bring both the best and worst out of her. For example, Helen is very influential on Jane. She showed Jane to treat others how she would want to be treated, even though she may not like them. These characters also show us that Jane is not a very flexible person. I think we know more about the females because they had more of an impact on her life. Also the author is a girl and the story is written from a girl’s perspective. The contrast between male and female shows us that Jane listens to girls better. She takes more advice from girls. She also relies on the female characters opinions much more than the males. Do you think Jane takes people’s advice to heart?
Many of Jane’s friends are mainly female she has rarely an male friends due to the fact that she stays in a female orphanage. Helen’s best friend, Helen, has probably been the biggest influence on Jane’s life. Through he tough times and the joyful times, she has always been there for her. From life to death. Helen has been a light to Jane through the darkest of times. We know more about female protagonist than the male antagonist because generally protagonist are more round than the antagonist such as Mr. Brockelhurst. Jane’s view of men are evil and cruel such as Mr. Brockelhurst and sees females as kind hearted and loving such as Miss Temple.
If people in Victorian England still thought the author of the book was a man what would their opinions be?
@kadenheadington I believe so, because she takes the advice of Helen to heart when Helen is near death she brings up religious things which implies she listens to Helen’s word.
@ashleyfabella Yes and No, it would be as popular because of all of the feminism these days and the people against feminism there would be a lot of conflict
@hampizza I do believe that Jane had become a better person because of the many friends she’s made, especially Helen Burns. If it weren’t for Helen, Jane would not have matured and be the same person she becomes later on in the book.
@sarahjwilcox I feel that, if Charlotte was indeed not a woman but a man instead, people would be left in a mixture of shocked, amazed, and or appalled. They would probably question as to how this man could capture the feelings of a woman so perfectly.
Charlotte Bronte uses female characters to reveal Jane’s hidden characteristics. For example, Helen Burns acts as Jane’s anti-christ in opposing each of Jane’s ideas of God. Jane believes her personal responsibility is to achieve vengeance on all who have wronged her, and call the wrath of God upon them. Conversely, Helen believes in a kind God who is her friend and protector, and that bringing justice is his responsibility alone. Through Helen, Jane’s priority of vengeance and desire for immediate justice are made clear. I think that the reader knows more about the female characters than the male antagonists because Charlotte Bronte is using her writing as a platform to express feministic views. During the 19th century, women were generally confined to work of the household and deemed incompetent of other work. Bronte expressed the capability and relevance of females through the domination of women characters in her book.Our view of Jane’s world is shaped through this knowledge by awakening the reader to the difficulties women encountered during this time period, and emphasizing Jane’s outlook in this patriarchal system as unjust.
Knowing what we know about Jane’s paintings so far, do you see a feministic view expressed in any of them and if so how?@kadenheadington I do not think that Jane takes all advice to heart. She only truly heeds the words of her closest companions, often the ones who are opposite of her and are her foil characters. For example, I think Jane values the opinions of Helen and Bessie.
@sarahjwilcox If people of Victorian England thought the author of this book was a man, I think they would be thoroughly shocked and offended about his expressions of feminism throughout the novel.
There are many girls that compare or are a foil character to Jane, but one that stands out the most is Helen. Helen made Jane notice that women are important than they are made out to be. Helen is everything that Jane is not, religious, and even nicer than Jane is. As the readers, we know more about the female characters because its different than the usual male character. Our perspective of male and female perspective shapes our view of Jane’s world by how it is a different type of story by how back then, it was different for a girl to be a main character. Which group of people back then would have read this book?
@sarahjwilcox I think the people would still like it, because it is a interesting story. The people would still be amazed and still want to read it.
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