Wednesday, September 1, 2010

9-1-10 Jane's Survival

Jane's survival throughout the novel was completely due to her charm and the care she received from
others. Jane does have an extremely independent voice and manner to her; however Jane herself is not
independent. She can read and wright but she cannot live on her own. It can also be said that Jane's one
attempt at being independent ended with her "trembling, sickening; conscious of an aspect in the last degree
ghastly, wild, and weather-beaten." (Bronte, 342) .She was only taken in because of St. John's kindness, and
then only let live at the moor house because of her charm.The only reason that Jane survives is due to men
who are hypnotized by her charm. Jane's charm comes from the fact that she, unlike most women of the time,
is not afraid to speak her mind. Jane does not believe that "[superiors] have a right to command [her]".
(Bronte, 136). Rochester falls in love with her partially because she can keep his attention during
conversion. It is Jane's charm that saves her from from a death on a doorstep and lands her a place in
Mr. Rochester's heart, not her independence.




3 comments:

  1. What kind of charm does Jane initially display to St.John? Does she charm others because of her intellect?

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  2. Is it charm though? Or is it her incorruptibility? Are they drawn to her moral sense?

    Keep present/active voice throughout your writing.

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  3. I think it is a mixture of her incorruptibility, intellect, and moral sense, but mostly it is the way that she presents these traits that charms them. She expresses herself openly unlike the other women of the time, and this is refreshing and charming to St. John and Mr. Rochester.

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