jane eyre morality essay

Morality and Authority in Jane Eyre

Alexys esparza, english 0600j madmen, mystics, monsters, prophets, and perverts (2009) , brown university, 2009.

[ Victorian Web Home —> Authors —> Charlotte Brontë —> Jane Eyre (text of the novel) —> Leading Questions ]

Upon her arrival at Lowood, Jane Eyre's sense of isolation follows her as she automatically separates herself from the rest of her classmates. Jane, however, does find herself drawn to one girl, Helen Burns, whom she discovers reading a book with an intriguing title. After a short discussion with Helen regarding how the authorities conduct Lowood, Jane does not further speak with Helen for a few days.

When Miss Scatcherd punishes Helen for having unclean fingernails, Jane questions why Helen did not defend herself by explaining the lack of water for washing that morning. Jane does not understand the play of power occurring before her. Helen, trained and docile, obediently withstands her unjust punishment because she respects the great authority Miss Scatcherd holds over her and all the girls at Lowood.

Later that evening, Jane and Helen discuss their beliefs about authority, punishment, and enemies:

"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 unjust, the wicked people would have it all their own way: they would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter, but they 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 do it again."

"You will change your mind, I hope, when you grow older: as yet you are but a little untaught girl."

"But I feel this, Helen: I must dislike those who, whatever I do to please them, persist in disliking me; I must resist those who punish me unjustly. It is as natural as that I should love those who show me affection, or submit to punishment when I feel it is deserved."

"Heathens and savage tribes hold that doctrine; but Christians and civilised nations disown it."

"How? I don't understand."

"It is not violence that best overcomes hate--nor vengeance that most certainly heals injury."

"What then?"

"Read the New Testament, and observe what Christ says, and how he acts; make his word your rule, and his conduct your example."

"What does he say?"

"Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you and despitefully use you."

"Then I should love Mrs. Reed, which I cannot do; I should bless her son John, which is impossible." [80-81]

Throughout this discussion, Brontë how much Jane and Helen have disparate views of authority and morality. Jane harbors great animosity and anger towards those who punish her. She believes that those who punish her should also be punished. In contrast, Helen believes that only heathens take that position. She argues that one should follow the passive and forgiving attitude taught in the New Testament. In this conversation, Brontë sets forth a moral dilemma: should you love your enemy or should you wish that enemy harm? Furthermore, should you respect or dismiss the power of authority?

Discussion Questions

1. What effect does Helen's calling Jane's viewpoint that of "heathens and savage tribes" have on the reader's opinion of Jane?

2. Jane seems unable to understand why an individual would endure unjust punishment without complaint. Up until the red room incident, Jane, however, did just that during her years living with the Reeds. What do you think triggered the change in Jane's attitude toward enduring authority and punishment?

3. Towards the end of the passage, the conversation appears in a question-answer format in which Helen provides answers to various inquiries Jane sets forth. Does this place Helen in an authoritative teaching role and Jane in a docile student role?

4. Do you think the narrator offers a judgment on which viewpoint is preferable, Helen's or Jane's? Is this conversation challenging constant obedience to authority or further encouraging it?

Last modified 27 January 2009

Join Now to View Premium Content

GradeSaver provides access to 2354 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 11005 literature essays, 2762 sample college application essays, 926 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

Class Structure and Morality in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre Jenna Weiner

At first glance, Jane Eyre might be seen as simply a skillfully written Gothic romance. A closer look reveals layers of gender criticism and feminism. Yet, one of the most interesting readings focuses on the layers of class and Marxist commentary in the novel, especially from a deconstructionist perspective, with a careful watch for contradictions and complexities. While confusing and somewhat inconclusive, this style of analysis nevertheless produces some very interesting insights into the character of Jane Eyre and the possible intentions of the implied narrator. However, an even more baffling aspect of this novel is the role of religion, which arises in inorganic and complex ways. The solution, then, is to view the synthesis of the two aspects, and to look at how class structure relates to morality. It then becomes possible to see that the instances of class commentary and social structure are really references to morality, at least in Jane's mind, if not in the mind of the implied narrator. Thus, while it seems that Jane's class position varies - as does her judgment of her class - the reader is never encouraged to change his or her opinion of Jane. Because Jane's morality has been carefully developed and...

GradeSaver provides access to 2312 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 10989 literature essays, 2751 sample college application essays, 911 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

Already a member? Log in

Charlotte Brontë

Everything you need for every book you read..

Life in 19th-century Britain was governed by social class, and people typically stayed in the class into which they were born. Both as an orphan at Gateshead and as a governess at Thornfield, Jane holds a position that is between classes, and interacts with people of every level, from working-class servants to aristocrats. Jane's social mobility lets Brontë create a vast social landscape in her novel in which she examines the sources and consequences of class boundaries. For instance, class differences cause many problems in the love between Jane and Rochester . Jane must break through class prejudices about her standing, and make people recognize and respect her personal qualities. Brontë tries to illustrate how personal virtues are better indicators of character than class.

Yet the novel doesn't entirely endorse breaking every social rule. Jane refuses, for instance, to become Rochester's mistress despite the fact that he was tricked into a loveless marriage. Jane recognizes that how she sees herself arises at least partly out of how society sees her, and is unwilling to make herself a powerless outcast for love.

Social Class and Social Rules ThemeTracker

Social Class and Social Rules Quotes in Jane Eyre

• Switch language
• Português do Brasil

Ethics and Moral Development in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre Open Access

Cooper, elizabeth (spring 2018).

This thesis examines Aristotle’s and Charlotte Brontë’s respective treatments of character development in Nicomachean Ethics and Jane Eyre . By analyzing the works in tandem, I put Ancient philosophic discourse and Victorian literature into dialogue, thereby demonstrating the way in which the fields of philosophy and literature interact with, and illuminate, one another. While Aristotle’s ethics rest at the center of the project, I supplement my analysis of the moral narrative in Jane Eyre by drawing upon Epictetus’ Discourses, Augustine’s Confessions and Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals.

This thesis argues that Jane, Brontë’s protagonist, defies the contemporary gendered Victorian moral code and displays growth more congruent with Christian and Aristotelian teachings. To both strengthen my own analysis of Jane’s internal makeup, and demonstrate the stylistic similarity of Aristotle’s and Brontë’s modes of writing, I contrast Jane’s character with those of others. More specifically, I examine her moral character alongside that of Bertha and St. John, interpreting the three characters as literary embodiments of Aristotle’s distinction between the states of deficiency, intermediacy and excess. I not only study other characters as a means of proving Jane’s morality to be most conducive to leading a happy, autonomous life, but to also reveal the way in which they serve to test her morality and compromise her freedom. To do so, I have constructed my argument in accordance with Aristotle’s topoi , dividing my chapters based on “places,” and have studied an oppressive force in each. Tracking Jane’s character development throughout the Bildungsroman, I reveal her increasing ability to resist the Victorian patriarchy; more generally, I draw attention to the moral and psychological strategies that allow women and men to overcome hardship.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter I: Gateshead

  I. Section 1: John Reed as an Oppressive Froce

  II. Section 2: Aristotelian Morality

  III. Section 3: Demonstration of Character  Growth

Chapter II: Lowood

  I. Section 1: Mr. Brocklehurst as an Oppressive Force

  II. Section 2: Christian Morality

  III. Section 3: Demonstration of Character Growth

Chapter III: Thornfield

  I. Section 1: Morality and Agency

  II. Section 2: Morality and Self-Restraint

Chapter IV: Marsh End

  I. Section 1: Jane's and St. John's Varying Moral Philosophies

  II. Section 2: Demonstration of Autonomy

  III. Section 3: Demonstration of Morality

Works Cited

About this Honors Thesis

Primary PDF

Supplemental files.

Essays About Jane Eyre: Top 5 Examples and Prompts

Writing essays about Jane Eyre? Take a look at our essay examples about Jane Eyre and be inspired by our additional prompts.

Jane Eyre is widely considered a classic novel that poignantly exposed the struggles of Victorian women through a story of love and emancipation. Jane Eyre is a Victorian novel written by Charlotte Brontë and published in 1847. Many aspects of the novel are said to derive from the personal story and experiences of the author herself. 

Brontë published this masterpiece with the gender-neutral pen-name Currer Bell to evade criticisms as the rebelliousness of Jane Eyre was defiant of the accepted social mores of its period. While it stirred controversy in its time, the heroine of the novel, with her grit to conquer adversities, break the rules and achieve her desires, offers many lessons that inspire many to this day. 

Read on and see our top essay examples and writing prompts to help with your essays about Jane Eyre.

1. Jane Eyre And The Right To Pester by Olivia Ward Jackson

2. jane eyre: content warnings are as old as the novel itself by jo waugh, 3. the tension between reason and passion in jane eyre by nicholas johnson, 4. reading jane eyre: can we truly understand charlotte brontë or her heroine today by sam jordison, 5. christianity as a form of empowerment in charlotte bronte’s jane eyre by noam barsheshat , 1. summary and personal reflection, 2. pervasive imageries, 3. jane eyre in the perspective of feminism, 4. best jane eyre film adaptations, 5. how is jane eyre’s life story similar to brontë’s, 6. what are the primary themes in jane eyre, 7. describe the characters, 8. how did jane eyre find her “true home” , 9. jane eyre as a bildungsroman, 10. jane eyre and economic independence, top 5 essay examples.

“Indeed, parallels can be drawn between Jane Eyre and those trapped in a professional hierarchy today. In rejecting an unwanted pass from a superior employee, far worse than damaging a fragile male ego, a woman could offset a chain of consequences which could threaten her entire career.”

The essay pays attention to the similarities between the class conflicts during Jane’s time and the hierarchies in the modern workplace. Finally, as feminists today argue over what practices and behavior would qualify as sexual misconduct, the essay turns the spotlight to Jane, with her determination to stand up against those who pester her, as a possible model.

“Why was the novel considered inappropriate for young girls, in particular? Many Victorians considered it “coarse and immoral”…The novel’s addictiveness might also have been an issue.”

The essay takes off from a university’s warnings against reading Jane Eyre and fellow Victorian novel Great Expectations, citing the “distressing” passages in the novels. The essay collates and presents the commentaries of people in shock with the warning. However, the piece also shows that such cautionary measures were not exactly new and, in fact, the first reaction when the book came to light.

“​​At the end of many trials Charlotte permits Jane to return at last to her lover…. They feel no passion or intrigue..  Instead of fire and ice, Charlotte gives us warm slush. Perhaps she never resolved the tension between reason and passion for herself, and so was unable to write convincingly about it.”

Johnson dives deep into how Brontë juxtaposed reason and passion in her novel’s imageries, metaphors, and even characters. In his conclusion, Johnson finds the resolution to the tension between passion and reason unsatisfactory, surmising that this weak ending conveys how Brontë never resolved this conflict in her own life.

“It’s easy to think we are more sophisticated because we now know more about – say – the early history of Christianity. Or because Brontë is, of course, ignorant of modern feminist theory, or poststructuralism. We can bring readings to her work that she couldn’t begin to imagine. But she could easily turn the tables on us…”

The essays reflect on how one from modern society could fully comprehend Brontë through the protagonist of her masterpiece. Jordison emphasizes the seeming impossibility of this pursuit given Brontë’s complex genius and world. Yet, we may still bask in the joy of finding an intimate connection with the author 200 years after Jane Eyre’s publication. 

“Through her conflicts with various men―specifically, Mr. Brocklehurst, Mr. Rochester and St. John Rivers―Jane’s spiritual identity empowers her and supports her independence.”

This critical essay points out how Jane Eyre reconciled feminism and Christianity, highlighting the latter as a vehicle that empowered Jane’s transformation. Despite Jane’s determined spirit to find true love, she reflects her spiritual view of Christianity to prevent falling into an illegitimate love affair, preserving her well-being and self-empowerment. 

10 Best Prompts on Essays About Jane Eyre

Check out our list of the best prompts that could get you started in your essay about Jane Eyre:

Provide a concise summary of the life of the young, orphaned Jane Eyre. First, cite the significant challenges that have enabled Jane’s transformation into a strong and independent woman. Next, provide a personal reflection on the story and how you identify with Jane Eyre. Then, explain which of her struggles and experiences you relate with or find most inspiring. 

From the chestnut and the red room to the ice and fire contrasts, investigate what these imageries signify. Then, elaborate on how these imageries impact Brontë’s storytelling and contribute to the desired effect for her writing style. 

Jane Eyre is highly regarded as one of the first feminist novels. It is a critical work that broadened Victorian women’s horizons by introducing the possibilities of emancipation. Write about how Brontë portrayed Jane Eyre as a feminist if you do not find that the novel advances feminist ideologies, write an argumentative essay and present the two sides of the coin. 

It is estimated that over 16 film adaptations have been made of the book Jane Eyre. Watch at least one of these movie versions and write an analysis on how much it has preserved the book’s key elements and scenes. Then, also offer insights on how the movie adaptation could have improved production, cinematography, cast, and adherence to the book plot, among other factors. 

Draw out the many parallels between the lives of Jane Eyre and her maker Charlotte Brontë. Suppose you’re interested in knowing more about Brontë to identify better and analyze their shared experiences and traits. In that case, The Life of Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Gaskell is highly recommended. 

Some of the themes very apparent in the novel are gender discrimination and class conflict. First, point out how Brontë emphasizes these themes. Then, dive deep into other possible themes and cite scenes where you find them echoing the most. 

Describe the characters in the novel, from their roles to their traits and physical appearances. Cite their significant roles and contributions to Jane’s transformation. You may also add a personal touch by focusing on characters with whom you relate or identify with the most,

While Jane grew up in Gateshead with the Reed family to whom she is related by blood, the despicable treatment she received in the place only motivated her to take on a journey to find her true home. First, map out Jane’s search for love and family. Then, explain how finding her “true home” empowered her. 

A bildungsroman roman is a literary genre that focuses on a protagonist’s mental, spiritual, and moral maturation. Discuss the criteria of a bildungsroman novel and identify which parts of Jane Eyre fulfill these criteria.

You may also compare Jane Eyre against heroes of other bildungsroman novels like Pip in Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations. Lay down their similarities and key differences.

In the latter part of the novel, Jane gains greater economic independence thanks to the substantial wealth she inherited. But before this discovery of inheritance, Jane had struggled with economic stability. So, first, tackle how finances affected Jane’s life decisions and how they empowered her to see herself as an equal to Rochester. Then, write about how women today perceive economic security as a source of self-empowerment. 

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers . 

If you’re still stuck, check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

Yna Lim is a communications specialist currently focused on policy advocacy. In her eight years of writing, she has been exposed to a variety of topics, including cryptocurrency, web hosting, agriculture, marketing, intellectual property, data privacy and international trade. A former journalist in one of the top business papers in the Philippines, Yna is currently pursuing her master's degree in economics and business.

View all posts

• Life & Times
• Speaking of Smith

The Foundation of Jane Eyre’s Moral Education

lectures on rhetoric and belles lettres charlotte bronte

“Society, however, cannot subsist among those who are at all times ready to hurt and injure one another. . . If there is any society among robbers and murderers, they must at least, according to the trite observation, abstain from robbing and murdering one another. Beneficence, therefore, is less essential to the existence of society than justice. Society may subsist, though not in the most comfortable state, without beneficence; but the prevalence of injustice alone must utterly destroy it.”

Emotional and Moral Development in Jane Eyre Essay Example

• Pages: 3 (721 words)
• Published: August 26, 2016
• Type: Essay

Throughout the course of her life, Charlotte Bronte's character Jane in Jane Eyre is forced to confront herself as she struggles to balance her desire for self-sufficiency with her desire for emotional honesty. From her childhood struggles at Gateshead, to her final contentment with Mr. Rochester, Jane undergoes a transformation of moral and emotional development. One of the most important lessons Jane learns throughout her life is to rule her heart with her will. Every hardship and experience Jane goes through in her life develops her into the person she is at the end of the novel.

At Gateshead, as a child, Jane was abused, both emotionally and physically. She was taught to serve and be obedient at all costs, or else a punishment would follow. Anything that would b

ring a punishment or abuse upon her, she would regard as morally wrong. As her time at Gateshead continued, she grew in her moral stability. Finally, when Jane leaves Gateshead for Lowood, she has grown enough emotionally and morally to stand up to her abusive aunt and tell her that her aunt is the deceitful one and Jane no longer believes that she is in the wrong. Once at Lowood, Jane develops even more emotionally and morally.

Instead of her values depending on what would bring her punishment, she developed into defining what is right by what was accepted by the social norms and standards. To function correctly in the school, Jane obeyed rules to succeed. Throughout her time at Lowood, she grew as a person and grew to be emotionally and morally stable through her Christian beliefs, and then as

teacher, she led students with her morality. During her time at Thornfield is when Jane grew the most emotionally and morally. Jane falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and they are to be married.

But, when Jane discovers that Mr. Rochester is already married, she has to make an emotional and moral decision of whether or not to continue her engagement to Rochester. This conflict between her love for Rochester and her morals forces her to make a tough decision. She must fight within herself, what her emotions desire, and what her morals tell her what is right. She begins to lose her own personality in her love for Rochester. Her inner conflict resulted in her leaving Thornfield, and following her moral conduct because it was what she believed was right, contrary to what her heart wanted.

She refused to let her passions overshadow her moral convictions. After Jane flee’s Thornfield, she develops into a stoic, emotionally cold woman. She then arrives at the home of St. John when she is cold, alone, and near death. The family takes her in nurses her back to health, and through the help of St. John, her happiness is somewhat restored as he is the second strong male figure in her life. St. John proposed to Jane for the purpose of taking her to India with him to serve as his helper and wife as missionaries there.

Initially Jane turns down because emotionally she does not feel it is right to go to India and serve as his wife because she did not love him. But, then Jane did change her mind and agreed to

marry St. John to help serve because she felt it was morally her calling to serve Christ in any way possible. But, the closer the time came to leave for India, the more Jane felt her calling to be with Rochester, and her emotions took over. In the end, she goes back to be with Rochester and they end up together, albeit the disaster which finally brought their conflict to a close.

In the end, Jane finally finds a balance between her morality and her emotion. She becomes honest with herself emotionally to accept that being with Rochester is not immoral, and she is not forced to punish herself by being with a man in a situation she does not want. She is given the stability in herself as she marries Rochester and finds true happiness and peace. Jane Eyre develops from a small, child, only listening to her elders to avoid punishment, to growing into a mature adult who has a balance between her conscience and emotional ability to “rule her heart with her will”.

• Jane Eyre Tone and Diction Essay Example
• Moral Issues Essay Example
• Abortion: Moral Problems in Contemporary Life Essay Example
• Moral Dilemmas Essay Example
• Jane Eyre 1461 words College Essay Example
• Is Jane a typical 19th Century Heroine Essay Example
• The theme of Imprisonment in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Essay Example
• How Jane Eyre and the works of Robert Browning subvert gender stereotypes Essay Example
• Moral Dilemma Of Inherent Animal Rights Sociology Essay Example
• Explain what processes you use to determine moral and ethical judgment Essay Example
• Moral Relativism and Plato's Euthyphro Essay Example
• Moral Panic and media folk devils Essay Example
• How Does Charlotte Bronte Create Sympathy For Jane Essay Example
• Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte Essay Example
• How does Charlotte Bronte create sympathy for Jane Eyre in the Opening Chapters Essay Example
• 1984 essays
• A Farewell to Arms essays
• A Good Man Is Hard to Find essays
• A Hanging essays
• A Lesson Before Dying essays
• A Long Way Gone essays
• A Rose For Emily essays
• A Separate Peace essays
• A Tale Of Two Cities essays
• A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings essays
• Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn essays
• Alice in Wonderland essays
• All Quiet on The Western Front essays
• Allegory of the Cave essays
• An occurrence at owl creek bridge essays
• Animal Farm essays
• Anthem essays
• Antigone essays
• Arthur Conan Doyle essays
• As I Lay Dying essays
• Atticus Finch essays
• Barn Burning essays
• Battle Royal essays
• Beauty and The Beast essays
• Beloved essays
• Boo Radley essays
• Brave New World essays
• Candide essays
• Castle essays
• Characters In Hamlet essays
• Characters In Romeo And Juliet essays
• Christmas carol essays
• Chronicle of a Death Foretold essays
• Cinderella essays
• Crime and Punishment essays
• Daisy Miller essays
• Death of a Salesman American Dream essays
• Desdemona essays
• Diary Of A Wimpy Kid essays
• Dracula essays
• Dubliners essays
• Emma essays
• Ender'S Game essays
• Ethan Frome essays
• Eveline essays
• Fahrenheit 451 essays
• First-Person Narrative essays
• Fish Cheeks essays
• Frankenstein essays
• Genesis essays

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards.

• Enter your topic/question
• Receive an explanation
• Ask one question at a time
• Enter a specific assignment topic
• Aim at least 500 characters
• a topic sentence that states the main or controlling idea
• supporting sentences to explain and develop the point you’re making
• evidence from your reading or an example from the subject area that supports your point
• analysis of the implication/significance/impact of the evidence finished off with a critical conclusion you have drawn from the evidence.

Unfortunately copying the content is not possible

Tell us your email address and we’ll send this sample there..

By continuing, you agree to our Terms and Conditions .

Sample details

• Literature,
• English Literature,
• Words: 1351
• Views: 1,547

Related Topics

• Uncertainty
• Wife of Bath
• Rationality

Moral Messages in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Charlotte Bronte – Jane Eyre – Literature What are the main moral messages of Jane Eyre? How does Charlotte Bronte convey these moral messages to her readers? To what extent is she reflecting Victorian morality in her writing?

The novel ‘Jane Eyre’ was published in 1847, which was in the Victorian era; this is a significant fact to remember while reading the novel as the storyline portrays many different moral issues in the point of view of Victorian morality, which of course is different to the view we have nowadays. This being one of the main themes of the novel, amongst: religion, social class and gender relations; all of these things give a stark contrast between the views on such subjects between the Victorian times and today.

ready to help you now

Without paying upfront

For example when in the beginning of the novel Jane is beaten as a child; this kind of behaviour would have been overlooked and considered a normal activity, where as today this kind of action would be seen as child abuse, therefore allowing the readers to empathise with Jane through their feelings of discontent towards this subject, thus giving them a taste of how turbulent her childhood was from the immorality of hitting a child.

Charlotte Bronte conveys this moral message and others in many ways through her novel, of which, I shall be studying through the following essay. The issue of morality in Victorian times was unheard of in the terms that we may think of it today, although it was a large issue in terms of religion and other such matters, for example: we wouldn’t consider pre-marital sex a big issue if we were unreligious, where as Victorian people would consider it a huge sin, from their widespread Christian attitude to life.

However we would consider beating a child as a horrific act, where as the Victorians would think of it as normal. This kind of dilemma of right and wrong appears many times throughout ‘Jane Eyre’, a contrast between Victorian and modern morality is broadly shown from start to finish of the novel, and it shows how Jane would have responded to the very same matters. Bronte’s use of language in certain parts of the novel, or ‘Jane’s life story’ which is virtually what the book is, portrays a Victorian’s view on he morals strongly, say when Helen Burns passes away, and the teachers/nurses at Lowood don’t treat the situation with concern, nor do they treat it with seriousness, as the matter of a single child dying at a Victorian charity school is normal and each one has no specific individuality, and thus isn’t given any special care in their time of death. Basically, they are no different in terms of their rank whether alive or dead. When it is said at the end of chapter 9 that: ‘Miss Temple had found me laid in the little crib, I was asleep and Helen was – dead. The sentence itself was quite short, which gives a more dramatic impact of the words themselves; the use of the words ‘found me’ suggests that Miss Temple possibly feels some compassion towards Jane as she must have been searching for her in order to find her, but this does not show any or at least as much to Helen, for shortly after it is said that: ‘Her grave was only covered by a grassy mound’. Thereby showing that the school doesn’t give any special funeral rights to the dying children, nor do they waste time or money on giving them proper graves.

The use of the word ‘only’ shows the grassy mound as inferior, and small, which amplifies the school disregard to the children as anything of worth. This kind of morality issue shows that Victorians did not see children as equals, and to far extents mistreated them, where as today, even if babies die, they are given the equal funeral and death rights of a grown person. Bronte reflects Victorian morality particularly in this chapter, through the sentences which are structured to exaggerate each word that describes the Victorians cruelty to children.

There are many examples of this cruelty to children throughout ‘Jane Eyre’, however, I am going to choose another topic to explore, and I have chosen to look at marriage in Victorian and modern times. Towards the end of the novel, Jane and Mr Rochester are due to be married, and on their wedding day, it is discovered that: ‘Mr Rochester has a wife now living’ and their wedding is cancelled. Later in the story, Jane is proposed to by another man named St John, this she refuses because she is in love with Mr Rochester.

This entire episode displays the role that love and religion had to play in Victorian marriage, and also how Jane responds to moral dilemma. It shows that Jane could not marry Rochester as he had another wife who was still alive, and if he had gone ahead with the marriage, it would have been considered committing bigamy, a largely immoral sin on religious terms; however, on terms of love she rejects St John’s proposal as she believes she cannot enter into marriage unless she loves him.

As ‘love was out of the question’, she returns to Mr Rochester because she truly loves him. Bronte uses many types of language in the entire novel, some to express types of anger or negative feeling, others to express love or positive feelings. It is not only in expressing feelings which Bronte uses her language, although that is a major part of the storyline and evoking atmosphere, but also to convey her moral messages such as the undermining of women by men during this era, and the understating of them as well.

Bronte, being a feminist alike to the title character Jane, writes the novel in a style that would empower women to possible do things as Jane does in her story. For example when Jane speaks her mind and gives her opinion even when not asked, it shows that women, like men, can be bold and express themselves. This kind of style may have been unpopular at the time it was written, as men wouldn’t have wanted women to understand that they could do these things, for fear of an uprising to become equals by the women.

This kind of literature could have inspired the suffragettes of England in 1903, as they fought for their right to vote and have an equal say as men did. This is an amplified version of what Jane intends to achieve during the novel, her life is based around this immorality of feeling worthless and the various obstacles such as beatings that appear in her life, and yet she still remains her outspoken self and wanting the equality she is always shown as desiring.

In conclusion, the main moral messages of Jane Eyre, such as the beatings, marriage, attitudes to women and gender equality, all reflect and summarise the principles of Victorian times within themselves; Bronte conveys these messages in each event in the novel, as they represents an ideal or ethic that was common in Victorian times. Her use of language, such as the short sentence structure, and the emotive words all intensify the empathy which is felt by the readers, thus allowing her messages about morality to get across to the reader from the feelings they experience as they read the novel.

This kind of writing style which is used to communicate messages, is particularly useful in this case, which is to bring the female readers to realise that may be they are not alone in the way they feel about having to stay underfoot of men, or perhaps to realise that there is hope for an equal life amongst both genders, Both of these are sure to empower women to become more extrovert and show their opinions more often, which they were not allowed to do in Victorian times. Bronte’s main moral message is therefore: don’t hold yourself back, and don’t let anyone else hold you back either. – – –

Cite this page

https://graduateway.com/moral-messages-in-jane-eyre-by-charlotte-bronte/

You can get a custom paper by one of our expert writers

Check more samples on your topics

How does charlotte brontë create sympathy for jane eyre.

The main way that Charlotte Bronte creates sympathy for Jane Eyre is by telling the story through her. We see everything from her point of view. The effect is that, even if we see her behaving in a way we do not like, we understand why she behaves as she does, and share her feelings.

Theme of Love in “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte

Charlotte Bronte s Jane Eyre is about a immature adult female s quest to be loved. Despite all the jeer and humiliation, she undergoes, her belief in herself and in God, conveying her to excel the people who feel they are better than she is. So Jane goes from a immature hapless orphan miss to

Charlotte Bront Jane Eyre

In Charlotte Bront Jane Eyre, the main character faces many struggles. One of the struggles she faces is the temptation to run away with the man she loves and be his mistress or to marry a man who offers her the contrary where it would be a legal and highly respectable marriage but with no

The Colonial Subtext in Bronte’s Jane Eyre and Dickens’ Great Expectations

Colonialism

"It should not be possible to read nineteenth-century British literature, without remembering that imperialism, understood as England's social mission, was a crucial part of the cultural representation of England to the English." The Victorian novel functions as an imperative examination of colonial ideologies. The colonial discourse that is established throughout Victorian literature formulates the concept

The Sisters Charlotte Bronte

Bronte, name of three English novelists, also sisters, whose works, transcending Victorian conventions, have become beloved classics. The sisters Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855), Emily (Jane) Bronte (1818-1848), and Anne Bronte (1820-1849), and their brother (Patrick) Branwell Bronte (1817-1848), were born in Thornton, Yorkshire. The Bronte children's imaginations transmuted a set of wooden soldiers into characters in a

Jane Eyre – Miss Temple’s Influence on Jane

"Jane Eyre" takes place in the Victorian era, a time characterized by societal restrictions, oppressive gender roles, and clear class distinctions. During this period, one of the few socially accepted occupations for educated yet financially struggling women was that of a governess. The novel "Jane Eyre" not only follows one woman's life journey, but it also

Moral Reconciliation in Jane Eyre

Moral reconciliation is described when one loses their moral, but reconciles with it at the end. In the novel, Jane Eyre, the main character Jane never goes through moral reconciliation because her morals were never broken. As he reward, she returns to Rochester and marries him. Through the journey of Jane, she approaches many new

Review of Jane Eyre Characters

In Jane Eyre, the characters undergo a noticeable transformation as a result of their wealth. The individuals who possess money perceive themselves as superior to those without it, which is exemplified by Mrs. Reed and her family following Mr. Reed's demise. Likewise, Blanche Ingram displays disrespect towards Jane at a party, dehumanizing her because of

Miss Temple’s Influence on Jane in the Novel Jane Eyre

In the novel Jane Eyre, Miss Temple has a significant impact on Jane. In the Victorian era, Jane Eyre is set during a time when societal roles for women were restricted and social classes were clearly defined. For educated but financially struggling women, becoming a governess was one of the few reputable job options available.Brontë's novel,

Hi, my name is Amy 👋

In case you can't find a relevant example, our professional writers are ready to help you write a unique paper. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best match.