An Analysis of Jane Eyre’s Personality in Jane Eyre 对《简·爱》中人物简爱性格的分析摘要《简爱》是英国著名的作家夏洛蒂·勃朗特根据她的自身经历写的一部小说，也是她的成名作。
它在英国文学史上占有重要地位。
小说所写的是一位坚强独立的女性，她追求真爱，平等，是女性的楷模。
作者在其作品中成功的塑造了英国文学史中第一个对爱情，生活，社会以及宗教采取了独立自主积极进取态度和敢于斗争，敢于争取自由平等的女性形象—简·爱。
简·爱鲜明的性格特征给广大读者留下了深刻的印象。
这篇论文主要结合简·爱的生活经历，分析她正面和负面的双重性格特征，使人们更深地了解《简爱》及其现实意义。
旨在给生活在现代女性提出建议，即使现在女性地位有所改善，但由于保守的习俗根深蒂固，女性应该更勇敢，更锲而不舍的反抗那些不合理习俗。
关键词：夏洛蒂·勃朗特；简·爱；双重性格安阳师范学院人文管理学院本科毕业论文AbstractJane Eyre was written in 1846 by the famous British writer Charlotte Bronte, which was based on her own experiences. It is also her masterpiece. The novel enjoys a high appraisal in English literature. The novel depicts an independent and tough woman who pursues equality and true love. The author successfully portrayed a great female image—Jane Eyre. The bright characters of the heroine give readers a deep impression.This paper gives an analytical study of dual characters of Jane Eyre, so as to help people understand Jane Eyre deeper and comprehend its realistic significance more. The author of this thesis aims to gives advice to modern women, although women’s status is improved now, the conservative conventions is deep and ingrained root. Women should have the courage to fight against the conservative conventions.Key Words: Charlotte Bronte; Jane Eyre; dual CharactersContents摘要 (I)Abstract (II)1. Introduction (1)1.1 Introduction to Charlotte Bronte (1)1.2 Introduction to Jane Eyre (1)2. An Analysis of the Personality of Jane Eyre (2)2.1 Jane Eyre’s Positive Personality (3)2.1.1 Jane Eyre’s Independence (3)2.1.2 Jane Eyre’s Pursuit of Equali ty (4)2.1.3 Jane Eyre’s Pursuit of Liberty (4)2.1.4 Her Pursuit of True Love (5)2.2 Jane Eyre’s Negative Personality (6)2.2.1 Jane Eyre’s Self-abasement (6)2.2.2 Jane Eyre’s Worship of Traditional Marriage (7)3. Causes of Jane Eyre’s Personality (8)3.1 Causes of Jane Eyre’s Positive Personality (8)3.1.1 Influence of Jane Eyre’s Sufferings (8)3.1.2 Influence of Social Background in Victorian Age (8)3.2 Causes of Jane Eyre’s Negative Personality (8)3.2.1 Influence of Jane Eyre’s Plain Appearance (9)3.2.2 Influence of Charlotte Bronte (9)4. Conclusion (10)Bibliography (11)Acknowledgments (12)1.Introduction1.1 Introduction to Charlotte BronteCharlotte Bronte (April 21, 1816~March 31, 1855) is an English writer, she is famous for her novel Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre is written in 1847, Charlotte Bronte is sister of Anne Bronte and Emily Bronte. The three sisters are as famous for their tragic, short lives as for their novels. In the past 40 years Charlotte Bronte’s reputation has risen rapidly, and feminist criticism has done much to show that she was speaking up for oppressed women of every age. Another typical work of Charlotte is Shirley, Shirley described the workers’ movement in 19 century. Charlotte was born in the north of England, she is the daughter of an Anglican clergyman. The Anglican clergyman moved with his family to Haworth amid the Yorkshire moors in 1820. After their mother and two eldest children died, Charlotte was left with her sisters Emily and Anne and brother Branwell to take care of their father, their religious, strict aunt. Charlotte attended the Clergy Daughter’s Sc hool at Cowan Bridge in 1824. Because of the harsh conditions, she returned home next year. In 1831, She went to school at Roe Head, at there Charlotte Bronte worked as a teacher. However, she fell bad, suffered from melancholia, and gave up this post. Cha rlotte’s attempts to earn her living as a governess.The collection of poems, Poems by Currer, Ellis And Acton Bell(1846), which Charlotte Bronte wrote with her sisters, sold only two copies. By this time she had finished a novel, The Professor, but during her lifetime, it never found a publisher. Undeterred by this rejection, Charlotte began Jane Eyre, which appeared in 1847, Jane Eyre became an immediate success. Her works are all about some lonely and neglected young woman with a fierce longing for love, understanding and a full, happy life.1.2 Introduction to Jane EyreJane Eyre has high appraisal in literature history. It is the typical work of Charlotte Bronte. This work narrates Jane Eyre’s life experiences.Jane Eyre is an orphan, when she was very little, she is ill-treated. But at last, she became anindependent woman. When she was born, she is unlucky. She was sent to her uncle’s family because she lost her parents. In the family, she was ill-treated. She is timid, little, ugly and is a “little thing”. She has no clear identity. The power presses her, strangles her personality. Although the reality is cruel, Jane Eyre is not destroyed by it. And, she learns how to live, she becomes strong. She struggles against the pressure in life and the cruel, she take her courage to struggle with the reality. She shows a completely new woman image. She is very brave, independent, calm and ration.This paper also presents Jane Eyre’s viewpoint about love. Jane Eyre is very poor, she has nothing but the power of individual spirit. She thinks love must be based on equality. Love needs equality. Jane Eyre denies the inequality of marriage. Jane Eyre pursues equality on social status, economy and personality. She believes in equality between men and women.2. A Detailed Analysis of the Personality of Jane EyreThe Industrial Revolution opened up a new world for lower-class women, offering them new factory jobs. But it did not do much good for the middle class. A single woman at this economic level still could not have a good job, there are only one job for these woman: governess. Jane Eyre is pretty attractive. Jane Eyre is a kind girl with soft heart who always brings love to people around her, she helps Helen Burns and Mr. Rochester when they are in trouble. Her self-respect is related to her life environment. She is plain but aspiring, her figure is small but her soul is huge. In Jane Eyre’s opinion, everyone is the same at God’s feet. Though there are differences in property, appearance and also status, all the human beings are equal in personality. Jane Eyre is exposed to a bad environment but continuously and fearlessly struggling for her ideal life. Jane shows her determination in pursuing her self-esteem and independence at every stage of her life, both in struggling with social pressure and resisting the temptation of passion and love. And Jane is a straight person, she never flatters others, for example, she hates her aunt, so she told her the truth and when Mr. Rochester asked her if he is handsome, she answered “no”without any hesitation.Jane is tolerant, although her aunt hurt her deeply, she can forgive her aunt. She has sense and morality, when she knows Mr. Rochester was a married man, she leaves Mr. Rochester resolutely. Jane is strong and brave, she is very kind. Her idea of equality and self-respect impress us so much and let us feel the power inside her body. Under the pressure of life, Jane Eyre is hard-working. She is wisdom. Although Jane Eyre has little figure, she never gives in on her way. She is very loyal to her true love. She is the master of her own life. She deserves to be loved.Jane Eyre has the character of female consciousness. She is a small, plain-faced orphan-girl, but she is smart, independent and passionate. In the novel, Jane Eyre’s bright characters give readers a deep impression.On the one hand, Jane Eyre is calm and independent. On the other hand, she is self-abased and conventional.2.1 Jane Eyre’s Positive PersonalityJane is independent and brave. After she knows she has fallen in love with her host, whose condition differs from hers deeply, she thinks that people are equal spiritually. Her courage to love a rich gentleman is like a beggar hopes to be the king.2.1.1 Jane Eyre’s IndependenceBeing an orphan, she is poor and lonely in the world. She seems doomed to have a life of failure. Her aunt Reed and her cousins treat her cruelly as an alienation. They deepen her determination of rebellion. She realizes that she will never find a true sense of home, she will never find a true sense of community, she feels the need of belonging, to find “skin,” or at least “kindred spirits.”The “red-room” life deepens her courage in resisting her aunt’s unfair punishment, which foreshadows Jane’s independence or rebelliousness. The experience at Gatehead makes her realize that she needs equality and freedom. The unfortunate experience at Gatehead makes her realize it is not necessary to fear authority. As an orphan, she was sent into Gateshead Hall of her uncle Mr. Reed. However, after Mr. Reed’s death, her aunt, Mrs. Reed treats her cruelly. Jane suffers lots of abuse, her cousins also found pleasure in teasing and mocking her. Though living under this circumstance, Jane did not surrender. After a series of sharp conflicts with the families, Jane was sent to Lowood school, a school for orphans. Jane studied as a student for 8 years and worked as a teacher for 2 yearsthere. Later, she accepted a governess position at a manor called Thornfield, where she taught a lively French girl. She rarely gained love and warmth from the family and lived her childhood unhappily. In a word, Jane Eyre starts her life without parents, money and good family environment.2.1.2 Jane Eyre’s Pursuit of EqualityJane Eyre insists on pursuing equality throughout her whole life. She struggles to overcome oppression and achieve equality. Because of the class hierarchy, she has to fight against those who believe women are inferior to men. There are three people who threaten her, Mr. Brocklehurst, Edward Rochester, and St John Rivers, who want to keep Jane Eyre in a submissive position, make her unable to express her thoughts and feelings. In her quest for independence, she has to escape Brocklehurst, reject St John and comes to Rochester after ensuring that they may marry as equals. She spends at Moor House during this time. She doesn’t depend on Rochester for love, she can be financially independent. Finally, Rochester is bind, Jane becomes his wife. Women are supposed to be ordinary, they need to stay at home. If they want to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex, they are not allowed. After a long time, Jane becomes a maternal, independent, sensitive and artistic young women. Jane refused to marry to Rochester because she understands she must forfeit her independence in the unions and marry Rochester when she has attained financial independence to maintain a marriage of equality.2.1.3 Jane Eyre’s Pursuit of LibertyIn order to lead a life of independence, Jane Eyre worked at Thornfield Hall. She was looked down upon by the rich ladies of the society, but Jane never despised herself. She was proud of her work. Rochester was attracted to her qualify, strong personality, courage, and independence, he even fell in love with her. But Jane makes it clear to him, “Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless?” she cries, “You think wrong. I have as much soul as you—and full as much heart! And if god had gifted me with some beauty, and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you through the medium of custom, conversation, nor even ofmortal flesh—it is my spirit that addresses your spirit ;just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at god’s feet—equal,--as we are!” (Charlotte Bronte, 2006:9). Equality is what she strives for, and in him she strives for. Without Rochester, her material life can’t be affected, but she can not part from Rochester in spirit and emotion. Jane loves Rochester, she feels they are kind by nature, Rochester is the first person to offer Jane lasting love. Rochester offers Jane a real home. Rochester is superior to Jane socially and economically. In Victorian period, men were considered to be naturally superior to women. Jane decides to leave Rochester after she knew Rochester has a mad wife, she doesn’t want to be his mistress, she doesn’t want to lose her dignity.In Victorian era women was arranged by wealth and class. Jane’s independence could have been considered a huge accomplishment. If Jane had stayed at Lowood, she could have never met Rochester. In a Marxist point of view Jane’s separation from her social structure, marked by her unique boldness, helps her succeed over the average woman in Victorian era. If Jane had stayed at Lowood, she would have never met her emotional success. She is searching for the strong bonds in family. Jane naturally could not be confined to a dull place. In a Marxist point of view, the average woman would be content with her position in life. She had food and a roof over her head. Before this, she had nothing. Jane’s idea of success led her to Rochester and the love she never had. Jane’s unique traits of boldness, courage, strong will all help her succeed in her time. But Charlotte Bronte wants to express the restrictions upon women during that time. By expressing these hardships she writes a work and defines the hardship of her social structure due to the economic base of its time. Although Victorian era has long since passed, Jane Eyre’s character traits have not. In each person, we can find strong will, courage, and boldness. Though her story, her traits still live on, and still lead to success.2.1.4 Her Pursuit of True LoveLove is the most beautiful thing in the world. There is no difference in front of true love. True love should not be measured by social status, fortune, age, rights. Most people like to pursue very romantic love. But I think, it is very important for a manand woman to have the same aim and find a perfect response. Shakespeare said, “The course of true love never did run smooth.” (Shakespeare,1996:31) Jane and Rochester find true love after a lot of sufferings.When Jane finds her falls in love with Mr. Rochester, who has wisdom and rich experience, she is not afraid. Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester have large social status disparity, but Jane dares to love Mr. Rochester. She believes everyone is equal. Mr. Rochester does not know whether Jane loves him, so he pretends to marry a rich woman. And the woman is very noble. When Jane hears this news, she is very angry. She pursues equality, not wealth; She pursues the equal combination of two hearts, not position. After she knows Mr. Rochester has a wife, she leaves Thornfield, but she finally goes back to Thornfield. At that time. Mr. Rochester has bad health and becomes blind, she still loves to accompany him.2.2 Jane Eyre’s Negative PersonalityOn the one hand, Jane Eyre is calm, rational, and independent. On the other hand, she is self-abased and conventional.2.2.1 Jane Eyre’s Self-abasementSelf-abasement is a normal psychology for every person. To some extent, it can make us have a clear judgment on ourselves. Self-abasement is not frightening. The vital thing is how we defeat it and walk out of its shadow. But Jane Eyre can not go out of this shadow, it surpasses the normal degree, it becomes a fixed factor in her character. It always perplexes her.Jane Eyre feels she is not good-looking, she feels tiny and low about her out-looking. It shows that she is self-contemptuous. In Thornfield, When Rochester shows her his love she shows self-contemptuous again. What makes her suspect Rochester’s love is her self-abased mood. When she faces Miss Ingram, Jane is hesitant. Miss Ingram is beautiful and wealthy. Jane Eyre compares herself with Miss Ingram, then makes a conclusion “He can not love me forever”. Jane is not brave enough, she pursues the equality. After Jane and Rochester fall in love with each other and get ready to got married, she unfortunately come to know that Rochester had got a legal wife, she seems to be the shadow following Rochester, and it leads toRochester’s moodiness all the time. At that time, the wedding is canceled. Rochester wants Jane to accompany him to the south of France, at France they would live as husband and wife, though they could not be married. Although Jane still loves Rochester, she refuses. She refuses to betray the God-given morals and principles she has always believed in—“I care for myself. Not having a friend more as being lonelier, the more wanting self-respect, as not having person help, our more” (Charlotte Bronte, 2006:11). Most of us think the sentences express Jane as the master of herself, and she is very independent. But I think, the action shows her inactive attitude towards her love. For the future, she is not confident. She loves Rochester but she is not brave enough. She is not brave to express her love, the love is not strong enough to let her fight against convention and secular vision. So, she chooses to flee from there.Knowing Rochester’s misfortune, Jane decides to stay with him forever. But Jane still chooses to leave when Rochester needed her most. So, we can see, Jane is not brave to fight for her love. She compromises to the traditional concept of marriage. Jane’s love is controlled by other things and other people.2.2.2 Jane Eyre’s Worship of Traditional MarriageJane resists to put her marriage on the religious. She can’t give up her deep love to Rochester, she can’t stand a marriage without love. Her love for Mr. Rochester has nothing to do with appearance, prosperity, social status and other such things, just for love. Her love needs courage to break traditional concepts. She dares to speak out her love for Mr. Rochester but gives up the love for personal quality.But Jane Eyre yields to traditional marriage which lets us feel disappointed. Jane thinks Bertha Mason represents the will of law. What she needs to do is to give up. She has no chance to strive for love. Because of her worship of traditional marriage, she has no courage to pursue her love. She decides to leave Rochester. At the end, she becomes the loyal defender of traditional marriage.3. Causes of Jane Eyre’s Personality3.1 Causes of Jane Eyre’s Positive PersonalityJane has a plain character, she is attractive. She is a kind girl with soft heart. She pursues equality and the equal combination of two hearts. She is poor but aspiring, small in figure but huge in soul.3.1.1 Influence of Jane Eyre’s SufferingsJane Eyre is an orphan, since early childhood, she feels deserted, exiled. The cruel treatment she receives from her cousins and her Aunt Reed makes her feel lonely. Being worried about not going to find a true sense of home, Jane feels the necessity of finding a home. Then, Jane is sent away to Lowood School, at there she wants to enrich herself with knowledge and learns practical skills for women in that age. In order to cover her shortage, Jane smartly endeavors to gain more aesthetic female accomplishment, which includes speaking French, playing the piano. In the end, Jane is almost versatile.3.1.2 Influence of Social Background in Victorian AgeIn Britain, Victorian time is a great era. Victorian spirit is still influencing Britain until now. The former British prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher has ever said that Victorian value is the value of British prosperous age. Because the prosperity of the society, the release of productive forces, those middle class has leisure time, so they can arrange their time. People are influenced by the leading ideological trend of utilitarianism, seeking the spirit of universal fraternity and democracy.In Britain, at that time, the only occupation for women was teaching as school mistresses or serving as governesses in private families. In Victorian time, the moral code for women was that they should remain ignorant. So, in the novel, young girls, who went out alone in the world and suffered various trials, temptation and miseries, had been popular in England for over a century. Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre challenged the traditional discrimination to women.3.2 Causes of Jane Eyre’s Negative PersonalityJane Eyre’s plain appearance and the author’s personal experience lead to JaneEyre’s negative Characters.3.2.1 Influence of Jane Eyre’s Plain AppearanceAppearance is very important for woman. When people evaluate a woman, appearance is very important. Jane Eyre is weak and short. In childhood, Jane Eyre is deeply self-abased for her appearance. When she sees her beautiful cousins, she thinks “I know that had I been a sanguine, brilliant, careless, exacting, handsome, romping, child-though equally dependent and friendless-Mrs.Reed would have endured my presence more complacently; her children would have entertained for me more of the cordiality of fellow-feeling; the servants would have been less prone to make me the scapegoat of the nursery.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2006:44) She thinks the reason why people do not like her is because her appearance. It makes her feel more self-abased. When Mrs.Read punishes her, she thinks it is very natural. She thinks Ingram is very beautiful. She feels self-abasement. She thinks she cannot complete with Ingram. She hides herself.3.2.2 Influence of Charlotte BronteJane Eyre has lots of similarities with Charlotte Bronte. Her experiences are the mirror of Charlotte Bronte. They have similar family background, similar boarding school experiences, similar feminism, similar vision of love and similar appearance. They are both normal, Jane is an orphan, Charlotte Bronte’s mother died when she was very young. They both live their life by working as a governess. In a word, Jane Eyre reflects Charlotte Bronte in many ways. She is eager to have a warm family even though she had experienced so many difficulties before that. She puts her experiences to Jane’s growth to make her strong and tough, letting her overcome hardship before she got her happiness. Jane Eyre’s life was Charlotte’s ideal life. Though there are a lot of sufferings, there are still a happy ending waiting for her, which is the reward of her determination.4. ConclusionJane Eyre is the famous work of Charlotte Bronte. Jane is such a great woman, for she dares to challenge people’s traditional opinions. Her so many beautiful personalities make her a charming woman. From a weak small orphan girl in lower class. Jane Eyre ultimately gains a happy life. It is seldom is British society as that time, especially she owns nothing, has a plain appearance. The success she has gained wholly decided by her hardworking and lasting pursuit.In Jane’s path of life, Jane dares to rebel and struggle for equality, freedom and happiness. When Jane knows Rochester has already got married, she is able to control herself better than many men who would n ever be able to. Jane does not want to be Rochester’s mistress. Although Jane gets heavy hit, but she leaves resolutely, poor, lonely and homeless. She thinks she can live by herself. She is not only realistic but also ideal, self-confident but shy before strangers. Charlotte Bronte gives Jane a character that full of contrasts, and Jane Eyre really has a complex character. She learns how to live because of her childhood’s environment. And Jane Eyre’s growing experience makes her wise and smart. She thinks self-respect is necessary. Jane Eyre denies the inequality of marriage. She pursues the equality between man and women. Though social condition influenced her, she has some negative characters—too devout, self-contemptuous. She is still a great woman. Although Jane Eyre is a girl with little figure, she is strong inside. She never gives in to pursue her true love.Bibliography[1] 廖素清.An Analysis of Jane Eyre’s Personality of Independence[J].牡丹江教育学院学报，2007年第3期.27-31.[2] Zhu Qingying. Jane Eyre[M]. 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Without their help, this thesis would have been impossible.I am extremely grateful to my tutorXXX for her valuable direction and suggestion, for her constant encouragement and generosity in spending her precious time on my paper.Special thanks also goes to XXX where gives me the opportunity to study English. Therefore I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the respectful teachers who have taught me during my undergraduate study.Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my dear parents, for their encouragement and always supporting to finish this paper.。
