Jane Eyre – the forerunner of feminism movement.doc

Jane Eyre the forerunner of feminism movementJane Eyre the forerunner of feminism movementAt the beginning of the presentation, I have to point out that Jane is absolutely the forerunner of feminism movement. I would like to support my view point with the three main stages of Janes life: childhood at the Reeds, school life at Lowood, and her attitude toward love and marriage.Firstly, Jane Eyres childhood at the Reeds, when her feminism consciousness emerged.Jane was living in Victorian Age. At that time, women were supposed to stay at home and make housework for the family. The socity was man-centered. Woman should not make their own voice. But Jane, our heroine, did not take whatever was given to her, instead she resisted the unfairness and spoke out loud in expressing her feelings.Thats why she shouted to John at his contant beat.Wicked and cruel boy! You are like a murderer you are like a slavedriveryou are like the Roman emperors!And she defended herself when Mrs. Reed tells Mr. Brocklehurst that Jane has a bad character and a deceitful dispositionSpeak I must: I had been trodden on severely, and must turn.“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 girl, Georgiana, for it is she who tells lies, and not I.Secondly, School Life at Lowood Institution, when Janes feminism consciousness developed.In Lowood, Jane met Helen, who suffered a lot from the brain-wash education that students should have absolute obedience to the rules, otherwise they would receive severe punishment. Whatever happened to them, it is their fate. There is nothing you can do but to bear it. We can catch a glimp from Helens words.Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you and despitefully use you.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 it is your fate to be required to bear.But Jane said to Helen,And if I were in your place I should dislike her; I should resist her. If she struck me with that rod, I should get it from her hand; I should break it under her nose.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.The difference between Helen and Jane was quite clear. Jane was not willing to put up the unjust punishment. She resisted.Thats why when Janes favourite teacher Miss Temple left Lowood, she couldnot endure the routine any longer but yearned for liberty. Jane was more concerned with what woman can do as an indepent individual. She would rather take adventures than stucked in a place she did not like.And now I felt that it was not enough; I tired of the routine of eight years in one afternoon. I desired liberty; for liberty I gasped; for liberty I uttered a prayer; it seemed scattered on the wind then faintly blowing. I abandoned it and framed a humbler supplication; for change, stimulus: that petition, too, seemed swept off into vague space.My world had for some years been in Lowood: my experience had been of its rules and systems; now I remembered that the real world was wide, and that a varied field of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements, awaited those who had courage to go forth into its expanse, to seek real knowledge of life amidst its perils.Lastly, Janes attitude toward love and marriage, when her feminism consciousness reached to its peak. When coming to Janes love issues, we have to mention two men. The first one is Mr. Rochester Janes love for life.Jane consider woman as an independent soul. Each woman has every right to persuit and choose their love, regardless of social status, wealth, gender, etc. Every human being was equally borned. Womans feelings about love should never be ignored. Thats why when Jane learned that Mr. Rochester was about to marry Miss Ingram, she was so determined to leave Thornfield Hall and later she escaped when she knew Mr. Rochester had a wife already. The following lines was considered as the most famous feminism speech in Jane Eyre.I tell you I must go! I retorted, roused to something like passion. Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automaton?- a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? 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 now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh;- it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at Gods feet, equal,- as we are!I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will, which I now exert to leave you.The other man we have to talk about is St. John. St. John does not love Jane. He just needs Janes help on the preach in India. He said to JaneGod and nature intended you for a missionarys wife. It is not personal, but mental endowments they have given you: you are formed for labour, not for love. A missionarys wife you must- shall be.and do not forget that if you reject it, it is not me you deny, but God. Through my means, He opens to you a noble career; as my wife only can you enter upon it. Refuse to be my wife, and you limit yourself for ever to a track of selfish ease and barren obscurity. Tremble lest in that case you should be numbered with those who have denied the faith, and are worse than infidels!St. John made their marriage so holy but to his surprise, Jane refused the proposal. Her attitude toward marriage never changed. Man and woman should not get married if they do not love each other, no matter how noble the purposes are.No: such a martyrdom would be monstrous. I