简爱中的女性主义

The Female Doctrine Reflected in Jane Eyre IntroductionCharlotte Bronte (1816-1855) is one of the most famous female writers in English literature. She is a great critical realist in the 19th century. In this period of tense class struggle appeared a new literary trend-critical realism. English critical realism of the 19th century flourished in the 1940s and early 1950s. The critical realists described the chief traits of the English society with much vividness and great viewpoint. Charlotte Bronte wrote several works such as Jane Eyre (1847), Shirley (1849), Villette (1853), The Professor (1857). Her works are all about the struggle of an individual consciousness. She aims at awakening women’s consciousness and courage to pursue equal rights and freedom. A nd Jane Eyre is not an exception.Jane Eyre is the most famous work of Charlotte Bronte and considered as a world famous novel. It has been translated into various languages, inspiring readers from generation to generation all over the world. Jane Eyre is the novel written by Charlotte Bronte according to her own experiences. In the novel, the author shaped a tough and independent woman who pursues freedom, equality and true love and is a good example to all women.The novel narrates Jane E yre’s experience s from an orphan to an independent woman. She is unfortunate when she was born as she lost her parents in her childhood. What’s worse, she is badly treated by her aunt, Mrs. Reed, a harsh and unsympathetic woman. Because of Jane’s rebellion, she is sent aw ay to a charity school, Lowood Institution. And she suffers a lot both physically and mentally. Jane Eyre stays at school for 8 years, and then she is employed as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There she meets the master Mr. Rochester, who influences her life deeply. Rochester is attracted by Jane’s personality and positive attitude and then falls in love with her. However, their wedding ceremony is interrupted because Rochester has had a mad wife who is hidden in the house. Jane is so shocked that she makes up her mind to leave Rochester. She flees to the Moor House and is rescued by the River family. The clergyman named St. John Rivers asks Jane to marry him. Jane refuses and returns to Thornfield but only to find that it has been destroyed by a fire set by the mad wife. In a manor house, Jane finds Rochester, a blind and free man. They marry and live a happy life.In the past time, a lot of studies have been proceeded to explore the novel Jane Eyre. Some concentrate on the social and cultural backgrounds of Jane Eyre. Other focuses their attention on female doctrine shown in the novel. What’s more, there are also scholars try to find out the similarities between Jane Eyre and Charlotte Bronte. Great achievements have been made.This paper will put more emphasis on female doctrine depicted in Jane Eyre. In order to make readers understand the essence of female doctrine, it mainly analyzes the character ofJane Eyre from two aspects. This paper will first talk about Jane Eyre’s pursuit of independence and fr eedom. Then, it will show readers Jane Eyre’s attitude towards love. It will make the image of Jane Eyre much more vivid and bright. Finally, it is the conclusion of this paper.Chapter One Jane Eyre’s Pursuit of Independence and FreedomJane Eyre is such a unique woman that she makes a deep impression on readers. Jane Eyre seems to be pale, thin and weak, and nobody may pay attention to her. However, it is her good personality that strikes readers deeply. She takes a positive attitude towards life, love, society and religions, and dares to fight for the liberty and equality. The independent spirit is one of the most important aspects attracting readers. The development of Jane Eyre’s character is related to her life environment.1.1 Jane Eyre Begins to Realize the Importance of Independence and FreedomThe struggle begins early in her childhood. Jane was born an orphan. She has no parents or friends, no wealth or possession. What’s worse, she is mistreated by her aunt, Mrs. Reed, who is rude and unjust to her. Her children also find pleasure in teasing and mocking Jane. Living under this circumstance, Jane feels unjust. The cruel treatment she receives from her aunt and cousins only deepens her determination of rebellion. And the “red-room” experience makes her get up the courage to resist her aunt’s unfair punishment. She realizes that she needs to be saved from her blind fear of authority and be self-reliant. Just as she says: “unjust!I never compromise to them. I s hall be independent.” ( Bronte, 2005:36)The poor experience at Gatehead lets Jane realize the importance of independence and freedom. Although it is hard for her to be economically independent as a little girl, she makes up her mind to be independent, self-sufficient in her mind. Therefore, she is happy to be spared from the Reeds and be sent to a low budget orphan school called Lowood Institution.1.2 Jane Gains Strength from Her Teacher and Her friend to Achieve Her IndependenceAt Lowood Institution, Jane doesn’t get what she has been expectin g. Her sense of independence and her freedom of self-expression are constantly restricted. The cruel treatment from Mr. Brocklehurst and the poor condition there inspires Jane to gain independence.She gains her strength from her teacher Maria Temple and her friend Helen to achieve her independence. Miss Temple, an independent woman, is the headmaster of school. She is responsible and kind to all students. As a result, she gains respect and popularity from the people around her. From Miss Temple, Jane learns that independence is important foreveryone.Jane learns from Helen the ability of endurance and self-control. At the beginning, Jane shows much sympathy on Helen because Helen doesn’t dare to fight against people who insults her. Though Helen suffers from shame and anger when punished, she tries to endure the punishment. Jane thinks that Helen should resist against people who punishes her. However, Helen’s words strikes Jane deeply. “Yet it would be your duty to bear it, if you could not avoid it: it is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what it is your fate to be required to bear.”( Bronte, 2005:52) Through the friendship with Helen, Jane learns to be self-control to a certain degree.At Lowood Institution, Jane’s independence rises to a higher leve l. She learns to be self-restrained from Helen and she finds the way to be independent from Miss Temple. Both of them have great influence on Jane. Jane stays at Lowood Institution for 8 years. She attempts to do well in all aspects. She becomes stronger in her heart. She prefers to live a new type of life. So she finds a job by herself.1.3 Jane Develops Her Independence Fully and Enjoys the Pleasure of ItIn order to live an independent life, Jane gets a chance to be a tutor in Thornfield Hall. There she meets Mr. Rochester, the owner of Thornfield. From then on, the fate on Jane changes a lot. As a governess, Jane gains financial independence so that she can support herself. She is satisfied with, and even proud of her honest, independent work. She loves Rochester who is in possession of a large fortune and in high social position. But she never thinks of relying on these things. She attaches importance to equality and frankness but not Rochester’s countless property and status. She is not willing to give up her independence and equality. When Rochester proposes to her, Jane accepts because she feels Rochester puts her in the equal position.As Rochester’s bride, Jane continues to be the governess. She refuses all the precious gifts and reminds Rochester again and again of the responsibility to fulfill as a governess. In her opinion, self-respect, independence and equal rights are more important than money and jewelry. When Rochester asks Jane to give up her job and belong to him, Jane refuses without any hesitation. She is not willing to give up her independence and equality.Just on the wedding day does Jane know that Rochester has had a wife who is hidden in the house. Jane is so sad that she decides to leave. At that time, her feeling of preserving independence becomes obvious. In order to get dignity, freedom and independence, she runs away.After leaving Thornfield, Jane goes to the Moor House. At Moor House, she enjoys economic independence and engages in a useful work as a schoolmistress. She also finds it meaningful to teach pupils. While teaching, she gains more social respect and her students make progress quickly. Besides, she develops a good relationship with Diana and Mary. Janebecomes spiritually strong and more confident through the relationship with Diana and Mary. She is very happy and satisfies with her own conditions. At Moor House, Jane learns the pleasure of self-sufficiency and independence.Chapter Two Jane Eyre’s Attitude Towards Love2.1 True Love Should Be Based on EqualityThe love between Jane and Rochester is another most important aspect attracting readers. To most people, they would like to regard a romantic, beautiful relationship as love. In Jane’s opinion, true love should be based on equality, respect and mutual understanding, and true love cannot be measured by property, status or power. Jane is an ordinary governess, who doesn’t have high social status. Jane is so sensitive about her position in the society that she hopes she can live with the same self-esteem as everyone in the upper class. As a result, she is eager to be admitted by Rochester, a man who belongs to the upper class. Rochester is a rich gentleman with high status and reputation. However, Jane doesn’t pay much attention to the difference between their social positions, because she thinks that there should be no distinction of property, rank or age in true love. She dares to love an upper class gentleman. At the same time, she keeps her self-esteem and pursues the mutual equality of personality.Jane’s viewpoin t shows she has clear sense of love. As a woman living in the society unequal between men and women, Jane doesn’t agree with the traditional ideas. She believes men and women are equal even if not in status, but in personality. Just as Jane says to Rochester:“Do you think I am 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 breadsnatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my lips? Do you think,because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? — You thinkwrong: — I have as much soul as you ,and full as much heart! And if God had giftedme with some beauty, and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leaveme, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the mediumof custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh; it is my spirit that addresses yourspirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God’s feet, equal,— a s we are!” ( Bronte, 2005:259)Jane loves Rochester not because his wealth or high status, but because he treats her equally in a friendly manner although she is poor and in low position. It’s equality that makes her love Rochester with all heart and soul; also it is equality that makes her leave Rochester with her disappointment.With the news coming that Rochester’s wife is still alive, Jane refuses to be a mistress and makes up her mind to give up Rochester. Although love is important to Jane, she doesn’t think love is supreme. She will never sacrifice her dignity, independence for the reason oflove. So she chooses to leave to preserve her personality.2.2 The Marriage Should Be Based on True LoveAt that time, the marriage depends more on social position and property rather than on personality and love. People pay so much attention on property, rank and status that they think true love is meaningless in the marriage. For the sake of money, they can marry everyone. According to the social background, the marriage between Rochester and Blanche Ingram, who is a typical representative of the rich class, is thought to be fair and reasonable. Compared to Ingram, Jane is thought to be an ordinary looking woman without wealth, and she can never match Rochester. However, Jane is proved to be the winner. Rochester is attracted by Jane deeply and gives up Ingram. It is true love but not anything else that makes Jane and Rochester get together. Both of them don’t care about the differences of status and property. They pursue true love. But their marriage is interrupted by the news that Rochester has had a mad wife. Jane leaves Rochester without any hesitation.After leaving Rochester, Jane loses her aim. She suffers a lot and is saved by St. John. St. John wants to marry Jane and takes Jane to India with him. Jane refuses because she still loves Rochester very much. She says if she marries with John, she will abandon half herself. S he also tells John that she doesn’t believe in marriage without love. She insists that true love should be base on equality, respect and mutual understanding.Jane misses Rochester very much and then comes back to Thornfield to look for Rochester. She is sad to find that Rochester is not as rich as he used to. What’s worse, he is disabled. But Jane decides to stay with him and take care of him all her life. They come together in the end. In most people’s eyes, the marriage between Jane and Rochester is unusual and untraditional. In fact, their marriage is based on true love, rather than property, status or anything else. In Jane’s mind, true love is the meeting of hearts and minds of two people just like them.ConclusionIt’s known that Jane Eyre is Charlotte Bronte’s masterpiece. It’s very popular all over the world. In fact, Charlotte Bronte is similar to Jane Eyre to a certain degree. As common as Jane, Charlotte Bronte calls for the spiritual freedom, consciousness of self-esteem and equal rights between men and women. She aims at awaking the lower class to protest against the unfair society and pursue equal rights and freedom.The unique personality of Jane Eyre leaves a deep impression on every reader. She struggles to acquire her independence, self-respect, equality, freedom and dignity at every stage of her life. Although she is very ordinary, she is the master of herself. She always insists on her principle to rebel and fights against the unjust world. She tries her best to pursue her independence, freedom, equality and true love all the time. Whatever the condition is, sheinsists on her own view. We can draw a conclusion that Jane is a real feminist through the analysis of her personality.It is certain that Jane is worthy to love and to be loved. Her love is based on love and equality, having nothing to do with status, property or power. Jane overcomes the obstacles in the process of pursing true love although there are so many differences between her and Rochester. At last, she succeeds and lives a happy life. From Jane’s experience, it is known that whatever difficulties one encounters in his life, getting up the courage to face them is the ideal way that one can do. Jane Eyre has proved to us that everyone has the rights to pursue his personality and his own life.。