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Post by ryanwalchonski on Nov 17, 2015 16:32:45 GMT
Something that is interesting about this article, and can also be seen in modern literature/culture is changing your image to suit societal standards or what you think you should like. The article states how women would drink vinegar to obtain a certain skin tone. Another thing was to squeeze oneself into a corset, with an 18 inch waist as the ideal size. Not only was this very demanding or difficult for women to achieve, it was also dangerous. In modern times not only women, but men can be seen adjusting their body to suit standards. These include weight loss surgeries, Botox, artificial tanning and countless others. Whereas women in the 19th century were more or less forced into these practices, in modern times, people can see the "ideal person" in any magazine, television show or movie. It shows how as humans we face the same issues throughout centuries.
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Post by oliviamccubbins on Nov 17, 2015 20:22:34 GMT
I agree with your assessment but I also want to point out how the purposes that women forced themselves through all of that because they were told to. I feel that in the time of female empowerment women are as likely to get these changes because they want to feel prettier. They do it for themselves as opposed to others. Overall I think most people fall into the category you are describing. I think it is all in the pursuit of being younger and going back to younger days. I think that we should also look at Bertha's changing appearance and how Mr. Rochester's appearances change over time.
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pavansuresh
New Member
I am Pavan the Skeptical Elf.
Posts: 26 
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Post by pavansuresh on Nov 20, 2015 22:42:36 GMT
Olivia, I agree that many people nowadays just do that because they feel like they need to.
Because Jane Eyre is a novel, it is obvious that symbolism can lie in outward appearances, and it does. The mad Bertha is described by Jane as:
"'Fearful and ghastly to me—oh, sir, I never saw a face like it! It was a discoloured face—it was a savage face. I wish I could forget the roll of the red eyes and the fearful blackened inflation of the lineaments!'
'Ghosts are usually pale, Jane.'
'This, sir, was purple: the lips were swelled and dark; the brow furrowed: the black eyebrows widely raised over the bloodshot eyes.'"
Appearance, at least in old fiction such as this, usually denotes character alignment: Bertha is described as awful and monstrous, and this is an obvious pointer toward her insanity and "badness".
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Post by matthewzhang on Nov 20, 2015 22:57:19 GMT
Pavan, I totally agree with you and just want to add another example of this in "Jane Eyre". Many characters establish symbolism through their appearances in the novel, and Blanche Ingram is a great example of one. In the novel, she is described as very beautiful and pretty. This outward appearance is what Mr. Rochester uses to try and make Jane jealous. He gets into a fake relationship with Ingram for her beautiful appearances to make Jane desire him even more. Mr. Rochester uses Ingram as a prize and a possession to make Jane jealous. In this case, Ingram's beautiful appearance symbolizes the lack of personality that Ingram has and how she is only used as "fish bait". This shows how society during this time period views women.
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Post by ndefilippis on Nov 21, 2015 6:45:20 GMT
Josh, I agree with you that Rochester used Blanche just to make Jane jealous. I also wanted to point out how in the book, Rochester uses supernatural words to describe Jane, such as "fairy". I think this relates to appearance because Rochester views Jane as some sort of quaint fairy rather than a full-fledged independent woman. This trivialization makes Jane feel objectified by Rochester, and portrays Rochester as one who only cares about superficial appearances.
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Post by colleenstrohlein on Nov 21, 2015 14:51:46 GMT
Nick, I completely disgree with you about Rochester only caring about superficial appearances. Rochester has gone through a series of beautiful women, starting with Adele's mother. He was completely devoted to her, but in the end he found out she only loved him for his money. In other words, she was a gold digger. If Rochester was only looking for beauty in a partner, this wouldn't have bothered him. Later, he gets married to Bertha. At the time, she was a beautiful young woman, not crazy yet, just out of her comfort zone. As stated in the articles, Rochester made no effort to get to know Bertha, but saw her only as a "wife" that he didn't love. Once again he did not find fulfillment from a beautiful woman. Lastly, there was Blanche Ingram. Although he never truly intended to marry Blanche because he was in love with Jane, Blanche was certainly willing to marry Rochester because she wanted his money and his status. Rochester ignored Blanche's interest in him even though she was beautiful because he already had his heart set on one girl, Jane. Often throughout the book Jane is referred to as plain, simple, or even quakerlike, and it is well known there is nothing special about her appearance. However, Rochester finds love and contentment only with Jane, which shows he does not value beauty most, but brains and character.
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Post by gerryliu on Nov 21, 2015 20:57:38 GMT
It's interesting because although we still have beauty standards an what not, we also value those of strength and character as sometimes even higher than beauty. In 19th century England, women were judged by their abilities as a housewife and appearances. Nowadays, we have blended both genders to achieve a standard men and woman both strive towards, looks, personality, achievements, status, ect.
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