Based on Jane Eyre’s early life, one’s status, class, and position are all determined at birth. During her time under Miss. Reed’s care, Bessie continually reminds over again that “if [Miss. Reed was] to turn [Jane] off, [Jane] would have to go to the poor-house” (16). From the society’s view, status change and any attempts to climb the social ladder are disreputable. The reprimanding tone Bessie applies heightens Jane’s silent understanding of her position within the household. Driven into her mind since birth, the public’s opinion about social classes becomes clear: the poor longed while looking up at the rich who expected honor and recognition. The constant emphasis on social class around Jane has even influenced her own way of thinking …show more content…
While conversing with Mr. Rochester, Jane declares “[his] claim to superiority depends on the use [he has] made of [his] time and experience” (157). Affirming that status is irrelevant, Jane is able to convince Mr. Rochester of her wisdom, in spite of her poor background. Moreover, her subtle tone suggests a challenge to Mr. Rochester and his past - was he truly superior to Jane? Many characters in the book tend to judge first on the class as Jane does, yet after getting to know Jane, they change their perspective from plain and poor to more respected. Yet, while social class, age, and experience divide Jane and Mr. Rochester, their relationship makes Jane waver in her ideals. Amid their conversation, Mr. Rochester questions, "You are my little friend, are you not?" (250) and Jane responds in a roundabout way, "I like to serve you, sir, and to obey you in all that is right”. Mr. Rochester subtly questions if they could bypass status, therefore, when Jane avoids answering directly, she accents their difference in status and hesitates to cross the boundary between them. While not saying ‘no’, she also does not say ‘yes’, implying there is room to grow more fervent and confident in the
Social with No Class The words social class are defined as a division of a society based on one’s socioeconomic status. Different divisions of social class and their effects on other people play a big role in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and in Tate Taylor’s movie version of The Help. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the Jim Crow era.
Jane Eyre Discussion Questions Mrs. Amato Honors English 11 Gabby Sargenti CHAPTERS 1-4 1. Review the details Brontë provides about the weather in the opening chapter of the novel. How does this establish the mood of the story when it begins? “Cold winter” “Leafless” “Cloud” “Chilly” “Protruding rain”
Finally, the details about society show that Jane recognizes the standards of her victorian society and needs to abide by them. After Jane had thought awhile, she no longer “felt justified in judging” Mr. Rochester and Blanche for “acting in conformity to ideas and principles instilled into them.” Though Jane wishes to be loved by Mr. Rochester, she comes to the realization that rich men do not marry lower-class women in her
Jane requests to return to the Reed house, after learning about her cousin’s suicide and her aunt, Mrs. Reed’s, illness; however Rochester questions, “And what good can you do her… you say she cast you off,” Jane replies, “Yes, sir, but that is long ago; and when her circumstances were very different: I could not be easy to neglect her wishes now” (Brontë 227). Jane looks beyond that Mrs. Reed “cast[ed] her off,” implying that she has grown to let go of grudges and developed a mature mentality. The irony of Jane’s inability to “neglect her wishes,” infers how the injustice treatment of Mrs. Reed unaffectedly brings Jane to look past the situation by visiting the Reeds in a time of sorrow. In addition, Rochester attempts to convince his wedded Jane to stay with him, after learning about his mad wife; Rochester claims that his father had “sent [him] out to Jamaica, to espouse a bride already courted for” him but only so his brother and father to get “thirty thousand pounds,” Rochester further admits to Jane that “you know now that I had but a hideous demon. I was wrong to attempt to deceive you…
Both characters, venturing out of their gender roles, find ways to compliment and figure out who the other person really is, and, in the end, a burgeoning love fully blooms. When examining the gender roles of Mr. Rochester and Jane, both are a blend of each and life seems better when conventional gender roles are forgotten. In Rochester and Jane’s first meeting, the two begin to show their blended gender roles immediately. Rochester is first described as having a “dark face” with “stern features”, with a complexion that seems, “ireful and thwarted” (146).
Both authors believed that a change in the American status system would not change if people were not aware about these class issues. The diversity of classes might be obvious to some, but others are blindfolded from it because they keep within their bubble and do not go outside of their boundaries. Those who are grouped within the same class share social interests and behaviors which therefore lends themselves to stick with each other and become comfortable with their style of life. Usually when a routine if formed, individuals do not like to change their habits which is the reason for them keeping within their own social class. Those who believe America is a classless society are completely unbeknownst and blind regarding this issue.
One’s social class can addict one’s honesty and morality, as the social class defines one’s characterization and
In this society, social class plays an extensive role. It can determine who one associates with, what type of education one has, and predominately, how successful one is in the world. Parents try to motivate their children to be his or her best in life, to change the social class that they grew up in. But can one legitimately change his or her social class? In the novel The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby was raised from nothing and worked to escape his circumstances by building a name for himself.
It can be seen that they are in the relationship for different reasons; Rochester is there for more of the romance while Jane is there to be herself. As a result of these views from Rochester, Jane doesn’t want to submit to Rochester’s view points and prefers to keep her sense of self-respect. Jane, still wanting the relationship to work, realizes that his personality and goals may lead to the eventual dismissal of her sense of equality and self-respect. For example, after the problem with the fire in Rochester’s bedroom, he lies to Jane when questioned about it. He goes into the attic and comes back without revealing to her what really is happening.
Since the beginning of history, humans have organized themselves into social classes. The caste system of India and the modern-day working, middle, and upper classes are two common examples of this. Simply put, people feel more comfortable when they associate with others similar to themselves. When social classes intersect with one another, the result is often conflict. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, readers are introduced to a class system that often seems arbitrary and unfair, yet forms the basis for how the entire story plays out.
Rochester was a major influence on Jane as this was a critical time she was maturing, yet she did not let him get in the way of her work. The work that was expected of her what always her top priority, Rochester was her second. “I believe he is of mine;—I am sure he is,—I feel akin to him,—I understand the language of his countenance and movements: though rank and wealth sever us widely, I have something in my brain and heart, in my blood and nerves, that assimilates me mentally to him” (Bronte 266). The relationship between Rochester and Jane was undeniable.
Individualism is the political and social philosophy that emphasizes the moral worth of the individual. It is the idea that the individual’s life belongs to him and that he has an inalienable right to live it as he sees fit, to act on his own judgment, to keep and use the product of his effort, and to pursue the values of his choosing. It’s the idea that the individual is sovereign, an end in himself, and the fundamental unit of moral concernIndividualism in a novel refers to characters’ unique qualities as well as the way in which they express themselves. It is also called non-conformity, which implies standing out from the rest. Societal expectations in a novel refers to standards of behavior set and accepted to be “normal” by the society
Both of their pasts significantly contribute to the lack of cultural acceptance between them. Rochester grew up in a large family, and being the youngest, developed a competitive nature. This trailed him through his entire life, however as Rochester matured, his competitiveness quickly transformed to prejudice, putting his relationship at great risk. This character provides insight to the societal norms of this period through his pedantic, critical comments. “...but her language is horrible and she might hold her dress up” (Rhys 77).
- Edward is an economically independent man with a favorable status and influential connections still looking for a profitable match. Jane will be the one in charge to unmask him to the audience: “I saw he was going to marry her [Blanche Ingram] for family, perhaps political reasons, because her rank and connections suited him” (Brontë 205) This manner of conduct converts Mr. Rochester from a hero into a villain, a perpetrator and “his project of