【英語論文】《簡愛》中女權(quán)主義意識（英文）Feminist in Jane Eyre

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1、摘 要 《簡愛》是現(xiàn)實主義時期著名的女作家夏洛蒂勃朗特的代表作品,她被認(rèn)為是一位卓越的女作家。因為她在小說中描述的是與傳統(tǒng)不同的女主人公簡愛的勇于追求自由、平等和獨立精神。它也是作者的自傳體小說。通過對簡愛的性格進(jìn)行剖析，證明了簡愛是一個標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的女權(quán)主義者。簡愛這個人物形象，博得讀者的愛憐，在英國文學(xué)史上是位具有代表性的人物，不僅表現(xiàn)在外表的樸實無華，而且表現(xiàn)在她性格上的獨特魅力。簡愛因其性格中所具有的強烈反抗意識而特別地引人注目。她堅持自己的原則去不斷反抗不公平的社會。她用盡全力去追求自由，平等，獨立和真愛。經(jīng)過堅持不懈的努力她最終獲得自尊，自由和真愛。 關(guān)鍵詞：女權(quán), 反叛, 獨

2、立, 平等, 真愛 ABSTRACT Jane Eyre is the most famous work of Charlotte Bronte, who is considered as an extraordinary woman novelist. Because the novel throbs with the heart-beats of its author, both literary critics and the readers have taken great in

3、terest in its unconventional heroine Jane Eyre, whose unconventionality is shown in the heroine’s pursuit of liberty, equality and independence. It is an autobiographical novel in a certain degree. This essay attempts to prove Jane is a real feminist through the analysis of her personality. Jane Eyr

4、e is a typical and magnificent representative in English literature, not only for her plain but famous appearance but also for her character’s outstanding and alien thoughts. The image of Jane Eyre is brilliant for her rebellious character. She always insists on her principle to rebel and fights bra

5、vely against the unjust world. She still tries her best to pursue freedom, equality, independence and true love. By unremitting efforts she finally gets dignity, freedom and true love. KEY WORDS: feminist, rebel, independence, equality, true love Contents Introduct

6、ion ………………………………………………………………………..(9) Chapter One The Development of Jane Eyre’s Resistance ……………………...(10) 1.1 Outburst period at Gateshead …………………………………………...(10) 1.2 Jane’s resistance at Lowood Institution ……………………………… (11) 1.3 The perfection period at Thornfield and Moor House ……

7、…………….(13) Chapter Two Jane Eyre’s Pursuit of Independence and Freedom ……………….(14) 2.1 Jane begins to realize the importance of independence and freedom …(14) 2.2 Jane gains strength from her teacher and her friend to achieve her independence ………………………………………………………....(14) 2.3 Jane d

8、evelops her independence fully and learns the pleasure of it ...... (15) Chapter Three Jane Eyre’s Attitude Towards Love …………………………… (18) 3.1 True love should be based on equality and mutual understanding………..(18) 3.2 The marriage pursued by women must be based on true love ……........ (19) Co

9、nclusion ……………………………………………………………………….(23) Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………………(24) Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………(25) Introduction Charlotte Bronte, an English writer, is a great critical realist in the 19th century. She writes lots of works in her life. She

10、sets to work on a new novel, Jane Eyre, which is published in August, 1847. Jane Eyre is her masterpiece which is a world famous novel. Jane Eyre has been translated into many languages and is always high in reading popularity. Jane Eyre, a plain, timid, weak and pale girl who appears to be a heroin

11、e, exists in numerous people’s minds. It seems to be a strange phenomenon. How can she arouse the eminent attention of the readers throughout the world? Because Jane Eyre stands for an idealized woman in the 19th century. Charlotte Bronte aims at awakening womens consciousness and courage to equal r

12、ights and freedom. Jane Eyre cuts a completely new woman image. She represents those middle-class working women who are struggling for the recognition of their basic rights and equality as a human being. Jane strives with all difficulties to gain women’s liberation and to pursue freedom, equality an

13、d true love. The analysis of Jane’s personalities and her attitudes toward love has shown partly Jane’s love — a kind of direct, enthusiastic and faithful love. The story of the independentminded Jane and her love affair with Mr. Rochester opens up new dimension for women. She is a typical ch

14、aracter of awakening bourgeois intellectual women. The heroine Jane moves most readers as a kind and unique image in spite of her plainness, poverty and low position. The profound meaning of Jane’s personalities makes this novel an extremely important work lists in the history of world literature as

15、 well as in the English literature. Chapter One The Development of Jane Eyre’s Resistance 1.1 Outburst period at Gateshead Jane Eyre seems to be pale, thin and weak. She is like a piece of dust, nobody pays attention to her. At any time she may disappear. She was born an orphan, w

16、ith an unfortunate family and long time repressive feeling; she builds up her resistant emotion. Under this background, everyone looks down upon her. Jane asks herself “why was I always suffering, always browbeaten, always abused, for ever condemned.” (Bronte, 2002:13) Her reason says “unjust!-unjus

17、t!” (Bronte, 2002:14) A first angry voice bursts out from her deep heart. When John beats her again, she attacks him viciously. She shouts at him, “Wicked and cruel boy! You are like a murderer —you are like a slavedriver—you are like the Roman emperors!" (Bronte, 2002:7) When Mrs. Reed tells Mr.

18、Brocklehurst that Jane has a bad character and a deceitful disposition, she defends that “I am not deceitful: if I were, I should say I loved you; but I declare I do not love you: I dislike you the worst of anybody in the world except John Reed; and this book about the liar, you may give it to your

19、girl, Georgiana, for it is she who tells lies, and not I." (Bronte, 2002:48) However, Jane is a brave soldier who dares to face up all kinds of injustice and fights against them. Before she leaves Gateshead, she rebukes her aunt’s cruelty, “How dare I, Mrs. Reed? How dare I? Because it is the truth.

20、 You think I have no feelings and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness; but I cannot live so: and you have no pity. I shall remember how you thrust me back—roughly and violently thrust me back—into the red- room, and locked me up there, to my dying day; though I was in agony; though I c

21、ried out, while suffocating with distress, ‘Have mercy! Have mercy, Aunt Reed!’ And that punishment you made me suffer because your wicked boy struck me—knocked me down for nothing. I will tell anybody who asks me questions, this exact tale. People think you a good woman, but you are bad, hard-heart

22、ed. You are deceitful!” (Bronte, 2002:49) Jane suffers various violent treatments by her aunt and cousins; she tries her best to be a good girl but only results in failure in Mrs. Reed’s eyes. Jane resists and resists, but finally breaks out and speaks all her anger; Jane’s courage frightens Mrs. R

23、eed, for she knows Jane is right. In those days at Gateshead Hall, Janes strong, brave and unbending characteristics are expressed step by step. Her every behavior shows her great indignation. Isolation, poverty, discrimination and oppression cause her to revolt against the unfair society in her own

24、 way. Jane is driven away from and escapes from Reed’s house partly because of fearless courage. Jane fights not only for just treatment, but also for equality. This is the first step of the development of Jane Eyre’s rebellious character. 1.2 Jane’s resistance at Lowood Institution Lowood Insti

25、tution is a charity school for poor clergymen’s daughters. Jane lives here for eight years. Her rebellious sprits become mature. In fact it is a hell for poor girls. The school is like a prison dominated by cold, implacable cruelty and Brocklehurst. Children here are not supplied with enough food, c

26、lothes and good treatment of disease. Many of them die of illness. They have no love and sympathy at all, living in hunger and cold. Children must pray for God and thank for oppressors. Helen, a clever, intelligent and beautiful girl receives curse and beat, finally loses her young life. She believe

27、s in God. She says to Jane, “I am sure there is a future state; I believe God is good; I can resign my immortal part to Him without any misgiving. God is my father; God is my friend: I love Him; I believe He loves me.” (Bronte, 2002:121) Just because of these ideas, Helen hasn’t a little rebel again

28、st that kind of cruel treatment. However Jane is not like Helen. She always tries to rebel, though she is still a child. She tells Helen: “A great deal: you are good to those who are good to you. It is all I ever desire to be. If people were always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjus

29、t, the wicked people would have it all their own way: they would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter, but would grow worse and worse. When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should—so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to

30、do it again." (Bronte, 2002:82) This rhythmic and forceful speech embodies the deep bourgeois oppression of the lower women and Jane’s rebellious spirit. To achieve independence as an equal human, Jane never yields to fate and background. She does as she says. Her attitude towards her cousins, her a

31、unt and Mr. Brocklehurst all proves it. Another woman, Miss Temple, is also admired and deeply loved by Jane. Miss Temple’s learning stimulates Jane’s longing for intelligence and Miss Temple’s kindness stirs up her enthusiasm for ideal life. So when Miss Temple leaves Lowood, Jane can’t put up wit

32、h dullness and isolation there. She thinks that now she is left in her natural element, and begins to feel the stirring of old emotions. Jane looks forward to a new life and a free sky. No matter what will happen in the future, she will face it bravely. The rebellious fury is burnt again. Then Jane

33、makes an advertisement and gets a governess profession at Thornfield. In this period, Jane’s rebellious spirit is up to a new standard and catches a more profound meaning. Her fighting is not only against a person, but against the social convention. 1.3 The perfection period at Thornfield and Moo

34、r House At Thornfield, Jane, as a grown-up, changes her harshness into a refined woman with good education, delicacy of feeling and gentleness of manners. At Thornfield she gets along well with everyone. Jane is mild to everyone. Adele, a girl without talent is carefully taught by Jane and made saf

35、e and happy. In such a wild world, she forgets her pain and her misery. Furthermore, she learns to be tolerant to others’ shortcomings. Hearing that Mrs. Reed is dying, she comes back soon to Gateshead. Although she once has told Mrs. Reed that she never wants to see her again, she forgets and forgi

36、ves her. Jane’s delicate feeling is best revealed when she meets Rochester, who is hurt. She gives him a hand in a polite way. In spite of his rude rejection, she says, “I can not think of leaving you, sir, at so late an hour, in this solitary lane, till I see you are fit to mount your horses.” (Bro

37、nte, 2002:173) When Jane falls in love with Rochester, she is awaken and still keeps her resistance; she makes her every effort to rebel against social prejudice and customs, struggling for independence and true love. She dares to say “no” to anyone, including her master, Mr. Rochester who is domi

38、neering and arrogant. When she talks with Mr. Rochester, she doesn’t avoid saying what she thinks whether Mr. Rochester is happy or not. On the wedding between Jane and Rochester, Jane is told that Rochester has married before. Bertha Mason, a mad woman is his wife who has been living in Thornfield.

39、 At the bad news, Jane knows if she lives with him, she will fall into the category of mistress and lose her respect. The dream of freedom, happiness and the independence which she was looking forward to would become fancies. The strength of reason is power over emotion. Jane leaves Thornfield resol

40、utely to meet unknown fate in the future. When she almost starves to death, St. John helps her. Jane’s spirit of revolt is obviously expressed by her refusal of St. John’s offer of marriage .Jane never changes her will to follow St. John. She thinks, “If I join St. John, I abandon half myself, if I

41、go to India, I go to premature death”, “if I do make the sacrifice he urges, I will make it absolutely: I will throw all on the altar—heart, vitals, the entire victim.” (Bronte, 2002:642) Jane says to St. John, “I scorn your idea of love.” (Bronte, 2002:649) Jane dares to rebel against St. John’s of

42、fer because she thinks they are equal. She has the right to rebel against him. This period is the perfection of Jane Eyre’s rebellions. Chapter Two Jane Eyre’s Pursuit of Independence and Freedom 2.1 Jane begins to realize the importance of independence and freedom I

43、ndependence is the outstanding quality throughout the whole process of the novel. Jane Eyre is not pretty and her character is unique. She is maltreated by her cousins and aunt. One day, when Jane takes John’s book to read, he beats her once more. John says that Jane has no business to take his book

44、s; “You have no business to take our books; you are a dependant, mama says, you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemen’s children like us, and eat the same meals we do, and wear clothes at our mama’s expense”. (Bronte, 2002:7) When she fights

45、against him severely, she is sent to Red Room. In the Red Room, she is frightened, but she keeps a clear mind that she realizes she needs to be saved from her blind fear of authority and be self-reliant. Her mind is in tumult, and all her heart in insurrection, her reason says “unjust! I never comp

46、romise to them. I shall be independent.” (Bronte, 2002:14) She hates Gateshead, hates everyone there. She hates Mrs. Reed who is a bad, hard-hearted woman. She treats her with miserable cruelty. Gateshead is a shelter for her, which teaches her a lot of things. Only when she is independent, can she

47、be respected by others. After all, she is a little girl, it is hard for her to be economically independent. Therefore, she decides to be independent, self-sufficient in her mind. The Reeds are really mean to her and she thinks they suck. Of course, the feeling is mutual. Therefore, she is spared f

48、rom the Reeds and is sent to a low budget orphan school called Lowood Institution. 2.2 Jane gains strength from her teacher and her friend to achieve her independence At Lowood Institution, under the hypocritical Evangelicalism of the headmaster, Mr. Brocklehurst, she suffers further privation i

49、n the austere environment. The condition there is disgusting, but Jane doesn’t submit to it. She gains her strength from her teacher and her fellow students to achieve her independence. Maria Temple, an independent woman, is the headmaster of the Institution. She is a responsible teacher, and kind t

50、o the students, even the low students. Consequently, she gains respect and popularity from the people around her. From Maria Temple, Jane learns that independence is a very important thing for everyone. In our modern society, it seems to be more important to be independent. Jane learns the importa

51、nce of duty and self-control through the friendship with Helen. At the beginning, Jane has much sympathy for Helen. Because Helen doesn’t dare to fight against the person who insults her. When Helen is to be flogged and to be asked to stand in the middle of a room that full of people. Jane thinks th

52、at Helen should turn against others when she is bullied; she should resist against Miss Scatcherd, and dislike Miss Scatcherd. From these we can see that Jane is not obedient to anyone if someone bullies her, she will do the same thing to others. As known to all, it is not violence that best overcom

53、es hatred, nor vengeance that most certainly heals injury. And Jane learns these from Helen. Jane is deeply moved by Helen’s actions and words. “Yet it would be your duty to bear it, if you could not avoid it: it is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what your fate to be required to bear”. (Bront

54、e, 2002:79) Then through the friendship with Helen, she learns to be self-control in a certain degree. “It is far better to endure patiently a smart which nobody feels but yourself, than to commit a hasty action whose evil consequences will extend to all connected with you; and besides, the Bible bi

55、ds us return good for evil”. (Bronte, 2002:79) Jane stays at Lowood for 8 years. She attempts to do well in all aspects. She makes rapid progress both in study and work. She becomes stronger than before in her heart. The idea of breaking out the conservative puritan life does not occur to her.

56、She longs for a new form of life. So she gets a job by herself. 2.3 Jane develops her independence fully and learns the pleasure of it In order to lead a life of independence, Jane works as a governess at Thornfield Hall. She is looks down upon by the rich ladies of the fashionable society, but

57、 she never despises herself, she never feels herself inferior. She is satisfied with, and even proud of her honest, independent work. She loves Rochester who is in a large possession of fortune and in a high social position, but she never thinks of relying on these things. Once she immediately answe

58、rs Rochester’s question about what else she needs, by saying, “Your regard: and if I give mine in return, that debt will be quit.” (Bronte, 2002:424) This kind of independence is irrevocable out of her pure soul which hasn’t been contaminated by the earthy care at all and represented the pure uprigh

59、tness. When the happiness reaches the highest point where she is about to be the dreamy person’s wife, Jane keeps a clear mind, protecting her independence and her personality. She refuses all the precious gifts that could have been owned as a fiancee and reminded Rochester again and again of the re

60、sponsibility she should continue to fulfill as a governess. As Rochester’s bride, she continues to be Adele’s governess; when Rochester intends to give her a lot of jewelry and beautiful clothes, she refuses. Generally, beautiful clothes and jewelries are the favorite things to women. Jane thinks

61、that real love is not based on money and jewelry. Her love doesn’t mix with other strange ideas. In her opinion, self-respect, independence and equal rights are the fundamental elements of one’s love. She doesn’t want to be the slave of money, and she doesn’t want to rely on others. They fall in dee

62、p love with each other. Rochester doesn’t want Jane to go on working，he wishes Jane belongs to him and considers Jane as his property．Jane refuses his suggestion without any hesitation．In her opinion，if she loses her job, she must depend on Rochester to live，thus independence says goodbye to her. Sh

63、e doesn’t want to be a thing of Rochester. At last, she decides to preserve her independence. With the news coming that Rochester’s wife is still alive, Jane is driven back to her original status. It means that Jane is just a lover to him. By this time, there are two roads in front of her: One is

64、to be the lover of Rochester. The other is away from Rochester to begin a new life. Actually, it’s very sad for Jane to leave the place she liked, and the man she deeply loved. However, Jane is the unique! She is determined to leave Thornfield without any hesitation. As we know that nothing can succ

65、eed in confining her before her resistant spirit .The powerful shout of the born independent spirit from her heart remains her independence. The natural strength of independence overwhelms her, “still indomitable was the reply—I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, and the more u

66、nsustained I can be, the more I will respect myself.” (Bronte, 2002:467) With Jane and Rochester’s suffering the readers’ compassion is also aroused besides the feeling of pity. There is no defying that the blood of independence is going through Jane’s whole body from the day she was born. Fleeing from calamity solitarily, she does not hesitate all prices to maintain her own personality, dignity, and rebellions and independence is portrayed more perfect, and richer. Nowadays, as to wome