As much as I treasure Jane Eyre as a novel, I believe that Jane Eyre the character is her own worst enemy. Jane is starving for compassion, comfort and acceptance. However, I believe that Jane needs the suffering to exist, to thrive. Jane may show actions of a naughty child in the first 60 pages, Jane is struggling with her naughty actions and even entertains the idea of repenting for her outburst towards Mrs. Reed.
Once Jane arrives at the Lowood School, Jane continues to have an internal struggle with religion and even her fellow classmates. Helen is Jane's only nirvana, however; Jane is confused by Helen's submission to the politics of Lowood and her warped understanding of "good" christian behavior. After, Helen's death Jane is scarred by the lose of Helen and begins to re-evaluate her position at Lowood and the world at large.
Thornfield Hall is a new beginning, and a place where she can leave her stormy past behind and focus on obedience, self control and living a humble life of service, everything that Helen would have approved of. However, Mr.Rochester ignites the "naughty" Jane that we all know and love.
I agree. Jane can be a hindrance to herself. she struggles with which part of herself she should be: the independent, "Naughty" version, or the obedient, quiet version.
ReplyDeleteYou have to remember too that Jane is a naughty little child. She is only 18 when she leaves Lowood. This story is written by the adult Jane looking back on her childhood. Maybe she wishes to account for some of her misbehavior, like a come to Jesus moment...(no disrespect intended). I don't know if Jane wants to let go of her personality when she gets to Thornfield Hall, I think Jane is Jane and this is Jane in another circumstance. At Thornfield she is again the Jane that we all know and love.
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