Jane Eyre Love
Jane Eyre - LoveLonging for Love Charlotte Bronte created the novel "Jane Eyre," with an overriding theme of love. The emotional agony that the main character experiences throughout the novel stem from the treatment received as a child, loss of loved ones, and economic hardships. To fill these voids, Jane longs for love. Ironically, Jane rejects affection at some point throughout the novel though it is that which she seeks. Her painful childhood experiences create an emotional center derived from this pain. Thus, she views love as consuming and it is not a high priority in Jane's life. She accepts the fact that she will probably live her life in loneliness. From the onset of the novel we view the world through the eyes of Jane, a young, penniless, orphan. At the beginning of the story she is under the care of her widowed aunt, Mrs. Reed. At the Reed household, Jane is neglected and mistreated with favoritism being given only to the three obnoxious Reed children. Jane begins her struggle for love here at Gateshead. Her temper and self-will become apparent there. She stands up for herself not only to her cousins, but to Mrs. Reed as well. "You think I Burkhart 2 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" (Bronte, 45). Her early life at Gateshead proved to be a rather traumatic period in Jane's life. Jane "dared commit no fault: [she] strove to fulfill every duty; [she] was termed naughty and tiresome, sullen and sneaky, from morning to noon, and from noon to night" (Bronte, 22). Trying to act in accordance with Mrs. Reed and the Reed children, never purposely committing a fault, Jane was continuously "naughty" in Mrs. Reed's eye. Living a childhood such as Jane's, one would expect a self-willed and rebellious personality to emerge. "I was a discord at Gateshead Hall; I was like nobody there�If they did not love me, in fact, as little did I love them" (Bronte 23). Treated with disrespect and lack of love Jane began her journey, her quest for love. Her rebellion towards the family that hated her fueled an inner subconscious conflict dealing with love and trust. Mrs. Reed eventually sends Jane to a boarding school called Lowood Institution. Lowood is a charitable school and has the worst conditions imaginable. It is here, where Jane meets her first true friend Helen Burns. At the orphanage, Jane forms a passionate attachment to Helen. Burkhart 3 Helen assumes a sisterly like role and teaches Jane love in the form of religion. "Read the New Testament," Helen instructed Jane, "love your enemies" (Bronte 69). "Then I should love Mrs. Reed, which I cannot do; I should bless her son John, which is impossible"(Bronte 69). Jane does not comprehend the act of loving thy enemies. Her lack of comprehension stems from her childhood and the lack of love she received. Never in...
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