The Struggle for Freedom

Chela Blunt, Tiffany Huynh, Eint Phoo, Jenny Song, & Jonathan Vallow6th Period

What it quite literally implies

• Aside from how straight forward this prompt is, it is prudent to make note of how the struggle for freedom shapes not only the events of the novel but also how it shapes the character itself. This point is especially important for round, changing characters that the reader pays attention to carefully throughout the whole novel. While the struggle itself is usually continuous over the whole novel, significant moments can often serve as the pinnacle toward individual struggles a character may be facing for just a portion of the novel.

One of the strongest human drives seems to be a desire for power. Discuss how a character in a novel or a drama struggles to free himself or herself from the power of others or seeks to gain power over others. Be sure to demonstrate in your essay how the author uses this power struggle to enhance the meaning of the work.

How this relates to the novel and era

• The novel of Jane Eyre itself goes not only into the struggles as a women in male dominated Victorian era England, but also goes into the struggles of belonging to the lower class. Being a woman of lower class in this situation sealed her fate into a life of misery until she was able to be resolute enough and put her foot down to tell the people in her life that she wouldn’t be treated in such a manner.

Gateshead After John Reed, Jane’s cousin, flung a book at her head, Jane could no longer accept and endure his

abuses. Jane retaliates by calling John a “murderer”, “a slave driver”, and a “Roman

emperor.”

Lowood

Jane tries her best

to be invisible, however, she brings attention to herself after dropping her slate. Mr. Brocklehurst calls her out in front of everyone.

Jane meets Helen

Burns and Miss Temple at Lowood.

Examples

“‘Wicked and cruel boy!’ I said. ‘You are like a murderer—you are like a slave-driver—you are like the Roman emperors!’ I had read Goldsmith’s History of Rome, and had formed my opinion of Nero, Caligula, &c” (Bronte 5).

“’You must be on your guard against her; you must shun her example—if necessary, avoid her company, exclude her from your sports, and shut her out from your converse. Teachers, you must watch her; keep your eyes on her movements, weigh well her words, scrutinize her actions, punish her body to save her soul… this girl is—a liar!’” (Bronte 67).

Thornfield

Jane, will you marry

me?NO

After discovering Rochester is already married to Bertha Mason, Jane declines Mr. Rochester’s marriage proposal.

Moorshead

St. John proposes to Jane, asking her to be his wife and

join him on his journey to India, but Jane declines his

proposal.

“But as his wife—at his side always, and always restrained, and always checked…would be

unendurable” (Bronte 443).

"I want a wife: the sole help meet I can influence efficiently in life, and retain absolutely till death" (Bronte 413).

More Examples

“Though when I appeared before him now, he had no such honeyed term as ‘love’ and ‘darling’ on his lips: the best words at my service were ‘provoking puppet,’ ‘malicious elf,’ ‘sprite,’ ‘changeling,’ &c. For caresses, too, I now got grimaces; for a pressure of the hand, a pinch on the arm; for a kiss on the cheek, a severe tweak of the ear” (Bronte 295).

“But as his wife—at his side always, and always restrained, and always checked—forced to keep the fire of my nature continually low, to compel it to burn inwardly and never utter a cry, though the imprisoned flame consume vital after vital—this would be unendurable” (Bronte 443).

Pivotal Moments

Mrs. Reed falsely accused her niece of being a deceitful child and she decided to send Jane to Lowood. Jane struggled to break free from her aunt so she attempted to liberate herself from her aunt by stating that she’s glad they’re not blood related and that the thought of Mrs. Reed made her sick. Jane also said that she would never visit Mrs. Reed and she would reveal how cruel her aunt is. Jane’s bold statements depicts how she tries to gain power and sever relations with Mrs. Reed.

The discovery of Rochester’s previous marriage to Bertha Mason (who was locked in the attic of Thornfield Hall) led to the cancellation of the wedding. Rochester kept insisting that Jane stays with him, the title “Mrs. Rochester” doesn’t matter, and their love for each other is important. Even though Jane loves Rochester, she decides to break away by calling off the marriage and leaving Thornfield. Jane’s difficult decision reveals the struggle she must overcome to take control her life.

Pivotal Moments

REJECTED

Jane Eyre first met St John Rivers in Moor House after leaving Thornfield. St John Rivers offers Jane a shelter and companionship to her inadequate life. St John was described as hard and cold but he’s a good and sincere man who plans to go abroad as a missionary. When he proposes to Jane because he thinks of her as a perfect wife for a missionary, Jane rejects him. This shows Jane’s struggle to take control of her own future and her defense against the integrity of her essential self, with the hope of gaining absolute freedom.

Citation

Brontë, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. 3rd ed. New York: Bantam Dell, 1987. Print.

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