18. Jane Eyre: (pg. 378)
“ ‘My spirit,” I answered mentally, “is willing to do what is right; and my flesh, I hope, is strong enough to accomplish the will of Heaven, when once that will is distinctly know to me.’”
Religion played a strong role in Charlotte Bronte’s life. Her father was a minister and Jane attended a school called the Clergy Daughter’s School at Cowan Bridge. The person Charlotte Bronte married was her father’s religious assistant. Religion and references to religious thought is written throughout Jane Eyre. One of the main characters, St. John Rivers, is a minister who helps to save Jane when she is in trouble and eventually wants to marry her. In this quote, Jane is thinking spiritually about what she is going to do. Bronte used religious ideas in developing Jane’s character, and she may have used Jane’s character to explore her own views about religion.
“Charlotte Bronte, A Brief Biography.” The Victorian Web. Literature, history and culture in the age of Victoria. 1987. 25 November 2009. http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/bronte/cbronte/brontbio.html
“Charlotte Bronte.” The Literature Network. Jalic, Inc. 2000-2009. 25 November 2009.
http://www.online-literature.com/brontec/.
Erlich, Julie. Afterword. Jane Eyre. By Charolotte Bronte. The Reader’s Digest Association. September 1984. 25 November 2009.
Jackson, Mark. Tone and Context in Tennyson's "Tithonus" (1833) and Brontë's Jane Eyre. The Victorian Web. 1996. 27 November 2009. http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/bronte/cbronte/73tone.html.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
17. Jane Eyre: (pg. 378)
17. Jane Eyre: (pg. 378)
“It was my time to assume ascendancy. My powers were in play and in force, I told him to forbear question or remark; I desired him to leave me: I must and would be alone.”
Jane Eyre was and continues to be a very popular book. Bronte created a strong, female character that could overcome obstacles and find happiness. People admire this in a character and Jane gave people something to be hopeful for – love, personal strength, and strong convictions. Victorian women traditionally belonged in the home but mission work that women began doing led to a changing role for women. Bronte took these moved these changes forward with her portrayal of Jane.
Abrams, Lynn. “Ideals of womanhood in Victorian Britain.” History Trails Victorian Britain. British Broadcasting Corporation. 9 August 2001. 25 November 2009. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/victorian_britain/women_home/ideals_womanhood_01.shtml
“It was my time to assume ascendancy. My powers were in play and in force, I told him to forbear question or remark; I desired him to leave me: I must and would be alone.”
Jane Eyre was and continues to be a very popular book. Bronte created a strong, female character that could overcome obstacles and find happiness. People admire this in a character and Jane gave people something to be hopeful for – love, personal strength, and strong convictions. Victorian women traditionally belonged in the home but mission work that women began doing led to a changing role for women. Bronte took these moved these changes forward with her portrayal of Jane.
Abrams, Lynn. “Ideals of womanhood in Victorian Britain.” History Trails Victorian Britain. British Broadcasting Corporation. 9 August 2001. 25 November 2009. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/victorian_britain/women_home/ideals_womanhood_01.shtml
16. Jane Eyre: (pg. 377)
16. Jane Eyre: (pg. 377)
“ ‘Jane! Jane! Jane!’ – nothing more.”… “ ‘Where are you?’ I exclaimed.”…The hills beyond Marsh Glen sent the answer faintly back. ‘Where are you?’ I listened. The wind sighed low in the firs: all was moorland loneliness and midnight hush.”
A moor is a large land area where most things cannot grow because of poor soil quality. Moors are boggy areas. It is interesting that Bronte would have the voice of Jane’s love coming to her from a moor; you would think that a character who hears a voice coming out of a barren wasteland would think the voice was bad or evil (popular creepy tone again). Instead, Jane recognizes hearing the voice as a good sign. This falls in line with the romantic tone that Bronte develops in the novel and her theme of finding love. Jane’s character believes in love and recognizes love even when it calls to her from strange places.
"Moor." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 1 December 2009 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Moor
“ ‘Jane! Jane! Jane!’ – nothing more.”… “ ‘Where are you?’ I exclaimed.”…The hills beyond Marsh Glen sent the answer faintly back. ‘Where are you?’ I listened. The wind sighed low in the firs: all was moorland loneliness and midnight hush.”
A moor is a large land area where most things cannot grow because of poor soil quality. Moors are boggy areas. It is interesting that Bronte would have the voice of Jane’s love coming to her from a moor; you would think that a character who hears a voice coming out of a barren wasteland would think the voice was bad or evil (popular creepy tone again). Instead, Jane recognizes hearing the voice as a good sign. This falls in line with the romantic tone that Bronte develops in the novel and her theme of finding love. Jane’s character believes in love and recognizes love even when it calls to her from strange places.
"Moor." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 1 December 2009 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Moor
15. Jane Eyre (pg. 235)
15. Jane Eyre (pg. 235)
"I was thinking, sir (you will excuse the idea; it was involuntary), I was thinking of Hercules and Samson with their charmers--"
This is a reference to Hercules (who is of Greek mythology) and Samson (who is from the Bible). Both of these men are know from their strength and both were hurt by women. Jane says this when Mr. Rochester speaks of the “thrill up my (his) arm to my (his) heart.” Using character development, Bronte shows that Jane seeing it as comical to think that she can have power over a man and to give a man these sensations. This serves to make Jane a character that the reader can relate to and want to be like.
“The Life and Times of Hercules.” Hercules Greece’s Greatest Hero. Persues Project Digital Library. 2 September 2008. 29 November 2009. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/bio.html
“The Sampson Bible Story.” The Bible Stories Library. 2009. 29 November 2009.
http://www.bible-stories-library.com/samson-bible-story.shtml.
"I was thinking, sir (you will excuse the idea; it was involuntary), I was thinking of Hercules and Samson with their charmers--"
This is a reference to Hercules (who is of Greek mythology) and Samson (who is from the Bible). Both of these men are know from their strength and both were hurt by women. Jane says this when Mr. Rochester speaks of the “thrill up my (his) arm to my (his) heart.” Using character development, Bronte shows that Jane seeing it as comical to think that she can have power over a man and to give a man these sensations. This serves to make Jane a character that the reader can relate to and want to be like.
“The Life and Times of Hercules.” Hercules Greece’s Greatest Hero. Persues Project Digital Library. 2 September 2008. 29 November 2009. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/bio.html
“The Sampson Bible Story.” The Bible Stories Library. 2009. 29 November 2009.
http://www.bible-stories-library.com/samson-bible-story.shtml.
14. Jane Eyre (pg. 235)
14. Jane Eyre (pg. 235)
“I might as well ‘gild refined gold’ I know it; your request is granted, then—for the time. I will remand the order I dispatched to my banker.”
Gild refined gold is an expression derived from "gild of lily." This phrase is referring to something that has unneeded decoration or is extravagant or to cover something already lovely with extra. It also symbolizes trying to improve an object that does not need to be improved. Bronte is showing that Mr. Rochester understands Jane’s desire not to “crowned with roses.” All Jane desires is Mr. Rochester's love; she wants to be treated as an equal in the relationship and for Mr. Rochester to show her his love for her through this treatment rather than gifts. "Crowned with roses" may be another tie in to the religious theme. Catholics recite the rosary as prayer; the holy rosary is known as Mary's "crown of roses." Throughout the book, Jane is trying to figure out her own religious beliefs. Ties to the theme of religion are seen as Jane meets and interacts with different characters and sorts out what she believes and what she doesn't believe about religion.
“Gild refined gold, paint the lily.” The Phrase Finder. 29 November 2009.
"The Holy Rosary." The Congregation of the Apostolic Carmel. 17 Jan. 2010. 17 Jan. 2010. http://www.catholic-church.org/apcarmel/rosary.htm
“I might as well ‘gild refined gold’ I know it; your request is granted, then—for the time. I will remand the order I dispatched to my banker.”
Gild refined gold is an expression derived from "gild of lily." This phrase is referring to something that has unneeded decoration or is extravagant or to cover something already lovely with extra. It also symbolizes trying to improve an object that does not need to be improved. Bronte is showing that Mr. Rochester understands Jane’s desire not to “crowned with roses.” All Jane desires is Mr. Rochester's love; she wants to be treated as an equal in the relationship and for Mr. Rochester to show her his love for her through this treatment rather than gifts. "Crowned with roses" may be another tie in to the religious theme. Catholics recite the rosary as prayer; the holy rosary is known as Mary's "crown of roses." Throughout the book, Jane is trying to figure out her own religious beliefs. Ties to the theme of religion are seen as Jane meets and interacts with different characters and sorts out what she believes and what she doesn't believe about religion.
“Gild refined gold, paint the lily.” The Phrase Finder. 29 November 2009.
"The Holy Rosary." The Congregation of the Apostolic Carmel. 17 Jan. 2010. 17 Jan. 2010. http://www.catholic-church.org/apcarmel/rosary.htm
13. Jane Eyre
13. "Now, King Ahasuerus! What do I want with half your estate? Do you think I am a Jew-usurer, seeking good investment in land?”
King Ahasuerus is a biblical king named in the book of Esther (Bible). He ruled Persia, Media and Babylonia. He reined over these kingdoms for 20 years and invaded Greece. This invasion was stopped at the Pass of Thermopylae by Leonidas and the famous “300.” After Ahasueus was defeated by Themistocles at Salamis he returned home and took Esther as his Queen. Jew- userer is a derogatory term as a person who overcharged interest when lending money. In this case, Jews took advantage of other people. Bronte is expressing Jane’s desire to not be treated special by Mr. Rochester. Bronte describes Jane as not wanting to be given lavish or expensive gifts but to be considered and treated as an equal.
Ahasuerus. Bible Encyclopedia. Films for Christ. 1995-2009. ChristianAnswersNet. 29 November 2009.
Book of Esther. Bible Encyclopedia. Films for
Christ. 1995-2009. 29 November 2009. ChristianAnswersNet. http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/estherbookof.html
King Ahasuerus is a biblical king named in the book of Esther (Bible). He ruled Persia, Media and Babylonia. He reined over these kingdoms for 20 years and invaded Greece. This invasion was stopped at the Pass of Thermopylae by Leonidas and the famous “300.” After Ahasueus was defeated by Themistocles at Salamis he returned home and took Esther as his Queen. Jew- userer is a derogatory term as a person who overcharged interest when lending money. In this case, Jews took advantage of other people. Bronte is expressing Jane’s desire to not be treated special by Mr. Rochester. Bronte describes Jane as not wanting to be given lavish or expensive gifts but to be considered and treated as an equal.
Ahasuerus. Bible Encyclopedia. Films for Christ. 1995-2009. ChristianAnswersNet. 29 November 2009.
Book of Esther. Bible Encyclopedia. Films for
Christ. 1995-2009. 29 November 2009. ChristianAnswersNet. http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/estherbookof.html
12. Jane Eyre: (pg. 234)
12. Jane Eyre: (pg. 234)
“...Wherever I stamped my hoof, your sylph's foot shall step also.”
A sylph is a mythological creature that inhabits the air. Saying someone is a sylph is representing them to be a beautiful and slim woman. In this passage, Bronte depicts Jane Eyre as a beautiful, mythological person rather than the short, plain character she has previously been portrayed as. Bronte perhaps makes these changes because it is Mr. Rochester describing Jane. Do not all lovers see their significant other beautiful in someway?
"Sylph." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 29 November 2009. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Sylph
“...Wherever I stamped my hoof, your sylph's foot shall step also.”
A sylph is a mythological creature that inhabits the air. Saying someone is a sylph is representing them to be a beautiful and slim woman. In this passage, Bronte depicts Jane Eyre as a beautiful, mythological person rather than the short, plain character she has previously been portrayed as. Bronte perhaps makes these changes because it is Mr. Rochester describing Jane. Do not all lovers see their significant other beautiful in someway?
"Sylph." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 29 November 2009. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Sylph
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