https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js Blog on Jane Eyre for AP Lit. en-us 2021-02-09 17:58:09 UTC 2025-03-15 13:27:09 UTC hello@padlet.com eboardman2021_1 https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1185047512 There are many parts of Jane Eyre that have touched me thus far, but one of the most important themes would definitely be the depiction of Helen Burns as a Christ figure.  In chapter six, Helen states, “Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs.  We are, and must be, one and all, burdened with faults in this world: but the time will soon come when, I trust, we shall put them off in putting off our corruptible bodies; when debasement and sin will fall from us with this cumbrous frame of flesh, and only the spirit will remain… I can so clearly distinguish between the criminal and his crime; I can so sincerely forgive the first while I abhor the last; with this creed revenge never worries my heart, degradation never too deeply disgusts me, injustice never crushes me too low: I live in calm, looking to the end.” (Brontê 60).  Helen’s character reminds me a lot about what we read in How to Read Literature Like a Professor.  To me, Helen appears as a sort of Christ figure, as she faces hardships and injustice, but never gives up on what she believes is right.  This quote resonated with me so deeply because of all that is happening in the world right now, and it reminded me that we can all learn to be a little nicer to people, even when we believe that what they are doing is wrong.  By saying, “I can so clearly distinguish between the criminal and his crime…” Helen helped me to better understand why people are the way they are and why they do what they do, and also reminded me that, even when I do bad things, or fail at something in life, that does not define who I am; just because I don’t do well on one math test doesn’t make me a bad student, or just because I made a mistake years ago doesn’t make me an evil person.  I think Helen’s quote should remind all of us that not only should we fill our lives with love and happiness and optimism, but we should also respect and forgive ourselves and those around us by remembering the benevolence that resides inside of everyone, no matter how they’ve treated us in the past.]]> 2021-02-09 23:17:04 UTC https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1185047512 eboardman2021_1 https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1189227985 After our discussion about the “ideal Victorian woman”, I realized that Charlotte Brontê’s anger towards the way women were treated in Victorian England is depicted throughout Jane Eyre.  Not only was Brontê taking initiative to present herself as a strong, independent woman by becoming an author when that profession was seen as a “man’s job”, but she also used the character of Jane Eyre to show that complying with societal rules and expectations of women is not the way to show men that women can do more than domestic work and should be treated equally.  Jane Eyre isn’t viewed as the “ideal Victorian woman” as a child, especially when compared to Georgiana and Eliza, but rather than hanging her head low, she stands up for herself and what she believes is right.  Jane Eyre, to me, is a major turning point in the women’s rights movement since it shows that girls don’t need to be complacent in order to be respected.  Although the movement itself has had a long way to go since Jane Eyre was written, this novel certainly kick-started the movement and shaped it into what it is today by teaching women that being yourself, and more importantly being independent, is the only way our position will ever become less restrictive.

]]> 2021-02-10 19:08:02 UTC https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1189227985 eboardman2021_1 https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1213294825 One of the themes that has become peculiarly prominent in Jane Eyre is focused on the spiritual and supernatural world.  Although Brontê does provide reasoning for these supernatural events, she also leaves it up to the reader to find out what the “ghost” in the red-room actually is, or what the “demon” at Thornfield is, by providing certain clues along the way.  Thornfield, in particular, has a very Gothic feel to it, and the name itself even suggests a place of pain and suffering.  The strange laughter coming from up above seems to make Jane even more suspicious of Thornfield, and although it has been years since the red-room incident, she is curious about whether or not some other entity could be in the house with them.  The use of supernaturalism in Jane Eyre is certainly a curious topic for me, and throughout the past few chapters, I have been led to wonder why Brontê felt the need to utilize this theme in her writing.  The topic itself is something that all humans and all cultures share; whether we choose to believe in the supernatural or not, we still have a certain amount of fear when it comes to ghosts, demons, the afterlife, etc.  I wonder if this is used in Jane Eyre because it is a topic that holds so much ambivalence, meaning that the reader can interpret its use in many different ways.  For example, I feel that the use of the supernatural in this novel has helped me to better understand the characters themselves, especially Jane.  Just like in real life, our deepest secrets and fears can often materialize as nightmares or demons, hence why we call our insecurities our “demons”.  The same can be said for Jane, who holds onto childhood trauma and now recognizes it as the screaming and crying that she often hears at Thornfield.  This theme, however, can be interpreted in a number of ways depending on the person, and that is precisely what I think is so neat about it.

]]> 2021-02-17 23:31:28 UTC https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1213294825 eboardman2021_1 https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1217283170 Relating to one of my previous blogs, Jane Eyre has become such an influential story for women everywhere.  Jane has continued to develop ideas and notions about what a “woman’s place” really is, and why it is ignorant and foolish to believe that women should be complacent as housewives and servants to men.  In chapter twelve, Jane thinks to herself, “Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties and a field for their efforts just as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags.  It is thoughtless to condemn them or laugh at them if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex.” (Brontê 112).  Although she isn’t allowed to voice her opinions out loud, Jane puts these thoughts into action in numerous ways, which was a huge step up for women and young girls everywhere during that time period.  When I read this quote, it makes me feel empowered; it helps me to remember that I can be whoever I want to; I don’t have to act like a lady to be recognized as intelligent and refined.  Especially with all of the incredible, powerful women in the world today, such as Amanda Gorman and Kamala Harris, I have never felt more proud to be a woman.  With this quote from Jane Eyre, I am reminded of how far we have come since the Victorian era, as well as how much farther we need to go in taking more and more steps towards equality between men and women.  Just like in Jane’s quote, women are often still expected to go into certain professions or to leave certain tasks to men, but, just as Jane did, we must recognize this inequality and overcome it entirely, even if we are afraid to make our voices heard.  I adore the way Jane, even as a young woman, picks up on the privileges of men and the general womanly duties, such as knitting or cooking, and decides that women should be able to have more without being condemned and ridiculed by men.  If you weren’t already convinced that Jane was one of the first fictional feminist characters during her time period, then read that quote again.]]> 2021-02-18 22:28:25 UTC https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1217283170 eboardman2021_1 https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1255237980 The romance between Jane and Rochester has been very interesting thus far.  Although they want to be together, it is as if everyone, and everything, around them is telling them not to go through with the marriage.  At first, it seems as if the unlikely couple is meant to be together, as Jane states,  “‘Thank you, Mr. Rochester, for your great kindness.  I am strangely glad to get back again to you; and wherever you are is my home-my only home.’” (Brontê 237).  However, once Rochester proposes to her, it seems as though Mother Nature herself is displeased with the couple.  In chapter 25, Jane recalls, “Before I left my bed in the morning, little Adele came running in to tell me that the great horse-chestnut at the bottom of the orchard had been struck by lightning in the night, and that half of it split away.” (Brontê 247).  Both of these quotes gave me conflicting opinions about the relationship between Jane and Rochester, as I want to support their relationship because of the way they bring out the best in each other, but I also recognize that there are too many signals indicating an eventual split between the two.  When Jane stated that Rochester felt like home to her, I became incredibly happy for her since she had finally found someone who treated her with kindness and loved her for who she is, and yet, when I learned that the chestnut tree, by which Rochester proposed to her, had been split apart during a thunderstorm, I began to realize that this relationship is not going to work for poor Jane.  Reading the last quote almost felt like running into a brick wall; I was so stunned, startled, and sad that I barely had time to register what this all meant.  It seems as though I am getting very invested in Jane.]]> 2021-03-01 19:56:45 UTC https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1255237980 eboardman2021_1 https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1255256564 Obviously, Jane Eyre delves deep into the idea of misogyny, which we have seen clearly through the treatment of Jane and other women throughout the story, but could Jane Eyre have also slipped in the mistreatment of mentally ill individuals during the Victorian era, especially in regards to women?  As many of us understand, mental illness and insanity were very much taboo subjects in the 1800s and even throughout much of the 1900s.  Bertha, in my opinion, is a representation of this prejudice towards women dealing with difficult emotions, as she is made out by Rochester to be an uncivilized lunatic even though he himself is the one keeping her locked up in his house, where she is unable to socialize or spend time in the outdoors.  Although Rochester complains of Bertha and her family’s unfairness, it seems as though he doesn’t attempt to resolve any conflict himself but rather ignores the issue until it must be brought up again.  As someone who has never read Jane Eyre before, I am not familiar with the exact situation of Bertha, but from first glance, I can infer that Bertha is being made out as another crazy woman who doesn’t belong in the real world.  Many people during this time, especially women who were pregnant and dealt with a lot of emotions, were locked away from the rest of society.  The article provided below even states that men would often commit their wives to the insane asylum simply because they were not being compliant.  It is obvious that mental health was rarely regarded as a serious issue in the Victorian era, which can be exemplified in many ways.  Was Bertha another victim of the stigma towards mental illness, and complicated feelings in general, or has she actually hurt Rochester in some way that has yet to be discussed?]]> 2021-03-01 20:00:36 UTC https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1255256564 eboardman2021_1 https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1304313163 Something that really stuck out to me in this reading section was the symbolism at the beginning of chapter 28.  Jane’s life is represented by many different symbols and metaphors throughout the novel, which is extremely interesting because it provides us, as the audience, with some of the outside influences that affect Jane and help mold her into who she becomes as an adult.  At the beginning of chapter 28, Brontê writes, “The population here must be thin, and I see no passengers on these roads: they stretch out east, west, north, and south- white, broad, lonely; they are all cut in the moor, and the heather grows deep and wild to their very verge… Not a tie holds me to human society at this moment- not a charm or hope calls me where my fellow creatures are…” (Brontê 309).  This quote is deeply essential to the story because it depicts how Jane is at a crossroads both figuratively and literally; she is at a crossroads in a small, unpopulated town, but she is also at a crossroads in her life, as she doesn’t know where to go, or who to run to, next.  Jane is independent, but she is also lost and afraid, and she must decide what her next move will be in order to keep her spirit, as well as her soul, alive.  Now that she has left both Thornfield and Gateshead, she must decide whether she will run back into her past, or whether she will travel forward on the unknown, unpaved roads.  Additionally, crossroads can symbolize a spiritual place, or even a spiritual awakening, which would make a lot of sense in the novel Jane Eyre being that the author continuously hints at supernatural events.  Although crossroads can be beneficial for some characters, they can be dangerous for others.  In a lot of folklore, characters often find themselves making deals with the devil at crossroads, or even simply heading down a bad path (both figuratively and literally).  These characters may think that what they are receiving from these evil forces will benefit them, and although that is often true, it is usually only for the time being; most characters simply fall into the “devil’s trap”.  This passage raises the question of what Jane’s future is going to look like and how she will adapt to the changing circumstances.

]]> 2021-03-12 21:03:41 UTC https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1304313163 eboardman2021_1 https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1304322795 Jane is certainly an interesting character to study, as she has many different sides to her personality.  One of Jane’s personality traits that doesn’t get discussed enough is her kindness and generosity towards others, even those who she barely knows.  When Jane finds out that the Rivers are her actual cousins and that their uncle had not left a fortune for them but rather for her, she decides that she will split the money with them so that they are able to live off of some of the inheritance.  Jane, who has just met the Rivers, already feels such a wholesome connection with them that she is willing to split the money she inherited four separate ways.  This part of the story truly shows how much Jane values relationships with others over money or other material items.  Jane even describes the situation as, “...wealth indeed!- wealth to the heart!...” which depicts how much she needs to have a familial connection with someone.  The amount of money left to Jane rendered her in shock more than anything, but the idea that she has a family that she can converse with and see in real life is more beautiful than anything the world has to offer from her perspective.  The fact that Jane is so willing to share this money with her cousins who she has barely even met reveals her deep desire for peace and harmony among humans.  Jane doesn’t let things like social status define her or even others; instead, she bases her friendliness towards others on whether or not they are a kindhearted person.  Jane used to compare herself to Helen by saying that she would never be like her or that she doesn’t feel like a true Christian, and yet she does many kind, gracious things throughout the novel that would say otherwise.

]]> 2021-03-12 21:06:59 UTC https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1304322795 eboardman2021_1 https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1335070743 In the final chapters of Jane Eyre, I was able to see the connection that Jane and Rochester have had since they met one another; they both harness a sort of spiritual connection between their souls, but Rochester’s wealthy position in life blocked this connection until he truly needed Jane to guide him in life.  “ ‘I had heard it- where; or whence, forever impossible to know!  and it was the voice of a human being- a known, loved, wellremembered voice- that of Edward Fairfax Rochester, and it spoke in pain and woe- wildly, eerily, urgently.  ‘I am coming!’ I cried. ‘Wait for me!  Oh, I will come!’” (Bronte 397).  This quote demonstrates the connection that Jane and Rochester have always had, despite their differences.  Furthermore, this quote also represents Jane’s independence, as she doesn’t feel compelled to marry St. John, but rather comes to the realization that she is truly in love with Rochester and doesn’t need to be his “servant” in order to marry him.  I absolutely adore the way Bronte portrays the attachment between Rochester and Jane; their relationship doesn’t feel forced or artificial, but is instead sincere and deep, unlike many other romances during that time period.  Had Jane married Rochester right away, their love would have felt rather indifferent, and I think that it would have portrayed Jane as a dependent character.  By allowing Jane and Rochester to have a deeper connection that calls her to him in a time of need, Bronte shows that Jane is an independent, strong woman. 

]]> 2021-03-21 18:48:21 UTC https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1335070743 eboardman2021_1 https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1335111157 I really enjoyed reading this novel!  The ending was a perfect way to develop Jane’s character as a strong feminist icon, even though Jane faced many struggles and questioned herself along the way.  One of the most beautiful aspects of the ending is that Jane now functions as Rochester’s eyes/ sight, showing how they are both independent people that rely on each other equally.  Jane and Rochester demonstrate the type of love that not many people, especially during Bronte’s time period, get to experience.  Their relationship further shows how women are intelligent and self-sufficient enough to make their own choices in life; marriages shouldn’t be prearranged, women should be able to decide what field of work they want to enter, etc.  When Jane stated, “‘Reader, I married him.’” (Bronte 425), I felt as though she was excited to let us, as the audience, know about her marriage, which made me feel happy and content for her.  Watching Jane grow up and become a different person makes you feel connected to her as the reader, and you begin to desire only the best in life for her, so to see the story end on such a high note made me really happy for Jane, who will forever be my feminist role-model.

]]> 2021-03-21 19:10:01 UTC https://padlet.com/eboardman2021_1/zod89vszrscjy4js/wish/1335111157