The Feminist View of Love in Jane Eyre
Outline
1. Introduction
2. The Reasons Why the Feminist View of Love Is Popular 2.1 Background of the Society 2.2 The Author’s Experience
3. The Development of Jane Eyre’s Resistance 3.1 Outburst Period at Gateshead
3.2 Jane’s Resistance at Lowood Institution
3.3 Jane’s Resistance becomes Perfect at Thornfield and Moor House 4. Jane Eyre’s Pursuit of Independence and Freedom 4.1 The Definition of Feminism View
4.2 Jane Begins to Realize the Importance of Independence and
Freedom
4.3 Jane Gains Strengths from Her Teacher and Her Friend to Achieve Her Independence
4.4 Jane Develops Her Independence fully and Enjoys the Pleasure of It 5. Jane Eyre’s View of Love
5.1 True Love should Be Based on Equality
5.2 The Marriage Pursued by Women must Be Based on True Love 6. Conclusion
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The Feminist View of Love in Jane Eyre
School of Foreign Languages, Jinggangshan University, Ji’an, Jiangxi 343009
Abstract: Jane Eyre is written by Charlotte Bronte who is the famous English novelist. It successfully presents the first female character in the history of English literature that takes an independent and positive attitude towards love, life, society and religion and dares to struggle and strive for freedom and equality. Because the novel throbs with the heart-beats of its author, both literary critics and the readers have taken great interest in its heroine. Jane Eyre, whose unconventionality is shown in the heroine’s pursuit of liberty, equality and independence. This essay attempts to prove Jane’s feminist view of love through the analysis of her personality. The image of Jane Eyre is brilliant for her rebellious character. She always insists on her principle to fight bravely against the unfair world. She still tries her best to pursuit freedom, equality, independence and true love. By unremitting efforts, she finally gets dignity, freedom and true love.
Key Words: Feminist; Independence; Equality; True love
简爱中的女权主义爱情观
摘要：《简?爱》是英国著名小说家夏洛蒂.勃朗特的代表作。它成功的塑造出了第一个在英国文学史上敢于追求真爱，同社会和命运抗争的女权主义形象。因为它不仅触动了作者的心，同时也震撼了文学评论界以及使读者对非传统的女主角产生了极大的兴趣。简爱，她的不平凡的特点表现在对自由，平等以及独立的追求。这篇论文试图对简爱性格的分析来阐述简爱的女权主义爱情观。 简爱，这个正面人物形象主要是她的反抗精神。她坚持自己的原则去不断反抗不公平的社会。她用尽全力去追求自由，平等，独立和真爱。经过坚持不懈的努力她最终获得自尊，自由和真爱。 关键词：女权; 独立; 平等; 真爱。
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1. Introduction
Jane Eyre is an image which is written by Charlotte Bronte, who is a great critical
realist in19th century. She has written a lot of works in her life. But Jane Eyre is her famous work. She tries to creat a new image. Followed by that, Jane Eyre comes into being. However, how does the author creat this new image? In some extent, Jane Eyre is a mirror of the author. Charlotte Bronte endows her characters and experience to Jane Eyre. Actually, she writes about herself and express her ideas in her mind. The author aims at awakening women’s consciousness to fight against the unjust world. The analyses of Jane Eyre’s personalities and her attitudes towards love have shown the independence of Jane’s love. The story has opened a new dimension for women. She leaves great influence in English literature.
2. The Reasons Why the Feminist View of Love Is Popular 2.1 Background of the Society
In that period, women had a very low social status, especially governess. Governess usually lived in their master’s home and educated children not only in academical fields but also in arts. But governess were always looked down by people in family. Governesses were not treated the same as other family members.
In Charlotte Bronte’s novel, Jane Eyre is a governess. She is often looked down upon by upper class. It is a mirror that reflects the real of the society. These unfair things had also happened to the author. The novel is written to criticize the society. In that time, Jane Eyre is a feminist work. She dares to love his master Mr.Rochester and fight against the unjust world. She is brave enough to pursue love. She is a representative of middle-class woman, who fights against fate and longs for basic rights.
2.2 The Author’s Experience
Charlotte Bronte was born in a poor family. Her father was a poor minister, who
graduated from St.John’s college, Cambridge. He taught his children. Their mother was a lovely woman and good at expressing her emotions in words. Unfortunately,
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