Characterizaion- The Many Layers of Jane

"Now readers, lets observe Characterization. When Charlotte Bronte wrote her novel, she didn't simply throw random names on a piece of paper and then hoped that all of the characters would get along. No, no, no reader, she had to develop each character into the story, to give them depth and texture in their personalities and characteristics."

"Lets analyze our Jane Eyre, the firstly, fearless, and independent main character of the novel."

Charlotte Bronte build Jane's potential as a child, introducing her feisty attitude and hash environment. By making the family break Jane down as a child, Bronte actually builds Jane's character when Jane is later revealed to strive past her childhood and defy her family's undermining.

A perfect example is Jane's experiences at Lowood. As she carried her unforgiving immature nature to the orphanage school, and her attitude was met with many challenges to her confidence and judgment.

Upon being humiliated my Headmaster Brocklehurst, Jane had the clear intention of revenge in her heart, she stated:

"You are good to those who are good to you...If people are always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust, the wicked people would have it all their way: they would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter, but grow worse and worse. When we are stuck at without reason, we should strike back very hard...so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again” (57).

However, the soothing mediation of sweet Helen Burn's philosophy of forgiveness and faith left an imprint of Jane's own philosophy. This graceful lesson changed Jane at heart, and as she was smitten to a stool of shame for an entire day of behalf of Mr. Brocklehurst, Jane took a new initiative on her thoughts of inner peace:

“I mastered the rising hysteria, lifted up my head, and took a firm stand on the stool”

Even further was Jane's forgiveness stretched into her adult life, and went as far as forgiveness shown in the utmost loyal and mature way:

When the wicked Mrs. Reed had failed to forgive Jane, even on her own death bed, she blatantly stated to Jane, "You were born, I think, to be my torment:"(243). Jane, however,

declared to the miserable woman, “you have my full and free forgiveness..”(243). 

This shift in spirit from vengeance to peace, inner acceptance, and Faith was accomplished through the teaching of a girl no more than a few years older then she as well as outward experienced that she faced throughout her life. These small lessons have stitched onto the brain of Jane, and from then on had changed her outlook on life. It is an example of Jane being a Dynamic Character, or one that grows and develops over time. This shown throughout Jane's entire story, from her defying the expectations of her family, her education potential at Lowood, and even her expectations in her love life. Jane's complex character creates interest and texture to her as a character and readers begin to love or hate Jane as a Person.

Later in life, Jane rises from being subordinate to the men in her life to almost becoming the dominant figure.

Mr. Rochester and St John were always demanding men, from the day Jane met them to the day she left she had taken orders from them- to sit, speak, stand, and stay. But as Jane grew older, richer, and more secure, she began to assert her newly found dominance:

“I had silently feared St John till now...He had help me in awe, because he had held me in doubt...I saw his fallibility's:...I sat at the feet of a man, erring as I. The veil fell from his hardness and despotism. Having felt in him the presence of these qualities, I felt his imperfection, and took courage.(413-414).

After having a few months to properly understand her new cousin, Jane replaces her role as being a follower to that man’s harsh superiority to growing into her own independence. She took courage in her ability to judge a person and became even more willing to stand up to St John. An example is in the quote below:

“No, St John, I will not marry you. I adhere to my resolution.” (419).

Aside from being a very controversial subject of the time- declining a marriage- this statement remains constant for Jane, even when St John continually request her hand. Nevertheless, Jane shows a growth in character in her ability to be stern in her morals, making her a likeable character as well as a strong symbol.

Finally, Jane deals with Mr Rochester:

"Summoning Marry, I soon had the room in more cheerful order...There was no  harassing restraint, no repressing of glee and vivacity with him; for with him I was at perfect ease, because I knew I suited him: all I said or did seemed either to console or revive him. Delightful consciousness! It brought to life and light my whole nature: in his presence I thoroughly lived; and he lived in mine." (444)

Once more, little Jane is growing up. The beginning relationship between the young couple was a very uncomfortable one, with Mr Rochester being the boss and Jane the insecure follower. She had little to no say in anything that had to do with their relationship- not even her own wedding dress! But times have changes and Jane had found a new comfort in her new life with more opportunities. Jane no longer stands in the shadows of her own live and relationships, she takes command and has a very strong say. This growth in development represents the complexity in Jane's character and shows how her alone grows and develops a story.