Virtue in Jane Eyre Essay

Jane Eyre: A Womans Virtue (Editted by Asutosh Kapadia-Dad)

Women are important to society. (Women are soul/essence of society) Women are used to bring in valuable female qualities such as strength, nurturing, and virtue in society. Through the lens of the feminist theory the 19th century classic, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, the components that shape the main character, Jane Eyres, personality are examined. These components portray Jane as a prime example of feminism at its simplest. Jane doesnt (does not) want (what she covets is not) political, legal or intellectual equality but she seeks spiritual equality of love (not love, but spiritual equality of heart and mind) within a relationship as she wants to break free of the oppressed and unfair environment she is raised in where her character (her autonomy) is constantly challenged by people in her life. She manages to repeatedly succeed at asserting herself and overcome obstacles. This is directly responsible to her being a great feminist by displaying her genuine character in relevance to her,(dignity in front of who? Men, others) sacrifice, and her ability to abide by her morality.

Jane Eyres commitment to maintaining her dignity is shown through her words ands deeds. She seeks recognition by the men in her life as an individual and all the characteristics that accompany her individuality such as dignity and self-respect. In her relationship with the man she loves, Mr. Rochester, her concern is not only the meeting of their hearts but also that of their minds by establishing a mutual understanding of the virtuous conditions she poses. At one instance Jane and Rochester were taking a stroll in his orchard when he talks about marrying his current love affair, Blanche Ingram. Aroused by hurt and jealousy Jane snaps and says, Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automation?-a machine without feelings? And can you bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soul and heartless? You think wrong! - I have as much soul as you, - and full as much heart I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh; -- it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal, -- as we are! (Bronte 376). Jane is insulted that despite her display of devotion and love towards Rochester, he chooses to marry another woman. This is a direct wound to her identity as she feels Rochester looks at her as an inferior figure. In turn, she defends herself and her pride by claiming that character is no less than any other womans despite the difference in their social standings as her virtue overpowers them all. (Once again- transition phrase), Jane has a chance support (choice of word-uphold, sustain) her dignity when Rochester finally proposes to her. She accepts his proposal but imposes a condition in order for the marriage to take place. She states, And then you dont know me, sir, and I shall not be your Jane Eyre any longer, but an ape in a harlequins jacket, - a jay in borrowed plumes. I would as soon see you, Mr. Rochester, tricked out in stage-trappings, as myself clad in a court-ladys robe; and I dont call you handsome, sir, though I love you most dearly: far too dearly to flatter you. Dont flatter me (Bronte 387). Jane is implying that Rochesters idea of showing his love for a woman by using her as a prize (awkward- objectifying her) her is distasteful. She feels that showering her in lavish gifts will not be a factor in keeping them together as much as respecting her ego would be, as it would be a disregard for her decency and self worth. Secondary source- place here. This comes to show that Jane Eyre is a woman with a true feminist spirit by preserving the qualities most important to women-dignity and virtue.

Sacrifice for the greater good is a respectable feminine trait and such is the one Jane possesses. After finding out about Rochesters first wife, Jane decides to quietly leave his estate. This is extremely hard for Jane as she loves Rochester and must let him go. She herself states, Gentle reader, may you never feel what I then felt? May your eyes never shed such stormy, scalding, heart-wrung tears as poured from mine. May you never appeal to Heaven in prayers so hopeless and so agonized as in that hour left my lips; for never may you, like me, dread to be the instrument of evil to what you wholly love (Bronte 482). This signifies Janes courage to sacrifice the man that makes her happy rather than sacrificing her integrity. She feels that as long as Rochester is married to his first wife, Jane will be nothing short of a mistress. Jane leaves knowing she is bringing grief upon herself and Rochester but she knows she has to leave for the betterment of both their lives. Fate tests Janes ability to sacrifice her personal happiness for the sake of others more than once. Janes saviour St. John Rivers, advises Jane to sacrifice her emotional relinquish her affections and passions for the sake of her duties towards God and her country. He asks her to marry him, even though there was no mutual feeling of love between them, and come with him to India as his wife and a teacher. He tells her that he recognizes in her "a soul that revelled in the flame and excitement of sacrifice (Bronte 512). St. John Rivers does not fully understand Jane but he is correct in regards to her capacity to sacrifice. She will find compensation in being his wife spiritually and will satisfy his needs, but not her own. Sacrifice is a noble gesture that only the strong can carry out, thus, Jane compliments the remarkable feminine trait.

Jane Eyre is all about morality in the strictest sense. She functions on a foundation of principles and uses them as her guide. When she finds out about Rochesters first wife, she is torn falls weak. She wants to remain at his estate, but knows she cannot or as she says, But the answer my mind gave--"Leave Thornfield at once"--was so

prompt, so dread, that I stopped my ears. I said I could not bear such words now. "That I

am not Edward Rochester's bride is the least part of my woe," I alleged: "that I have wakened out of most glorious dreams, and found them all void and vain, is a horror I

could bear and master; but that I must leave him decidedly, instantly, entirely, is intolerable (Bronte 478). Jane's moral values told her what Mr. Rochester had done wrong. Her morality- based ideals leave her no option but to flee from the estate. By doing this she, she sets an example of high moral values as she saves herself from being a mistress and also stops Rochester from committing a "fraudulent and illegal attempt by marrying her. Jane realises it is still immoral to for a woman to marry a man with another wife, despite using the wifes awful character as a justification to marry him. Janes streak of moral judgement continues further into her life. When she was penniless, homeless and was forced to beg for food after she leaves Rochester, a man named St. John Rivers takes Jane into his own home and provides her with shelter and kindness. St. John Rivers asks for Janes hand in marriage but he does it in an unjust manner and forces Jane into accepting by stating: "And do not forget if you reject it, it is not me you deny, but God" (Bronte 434). Rivers tries to guilt Jane into marrying him for the sake of God and the gratitude she owes him. Although, Jane approves of his religious ideals, she declines his proposal as it would not be morally right to marry a man she does not love and cannot wholly submit to as a wife due her strong feelings for another man, Rochester. She justifies her rejection to the proposal as what she knows would have been an immoral life and an of imprisonment of her feelings if she marries Mr. Rivers. Janes submission to her conscience, morals, and always doing what is ethically correct is an acknowleged trait of a decent female character which Jane Eyre proves herself to be. This is an inditcation of a true feminist figure.

It is clear that Janes actions mark the presence of true feminism. (how? Reword thesis - due to her sustaining her dignity in front of men through the difficult of times, her ability to command over the expression of emotions and resisting emotions outbursts, and strictly following her set principles and code of conduct for herself. Jane blindly follows her morals and protects her pride which leads to her blissful fate; she protests against wrong doings of others as well as her own. By not submitting to others and resisting strong urges in the moment of her weakness, her strong character and respect she built for herself remains intact. Her final movement of rejecting St. John Rivers and returning to Rochester after matters with his wife were settled lead her to live an honest and clean life. In conclusion, her views on various affairs are truly feminist as she always follows her womanly instincts to do the right thing. Janes actions rewarded her by allowing her to find a peaceful future with Rochester, as a result of her actions and respectable beliefs.

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