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Post by emsykes on Nov 17, 2015 16:45:29 GMT
One of the topics we were asked to discuss in the Madwomen in the Attic packet was the similarities and differences between Jane and Antoinette, aka Bertha. I would like to take the time to focus on one major difference. One contrast between these two powerful women is that Jane had an intellectual love with Rochester, whereas Bertha had a physical love. We often hear cliche sayings like "Its whats on the inside that counts", and I believe that Jane Eyre is a great example of this theme at work.
Rochester and Bertha had a flaming love story straight out of Jamaica, but we never read about how deep their love was. It was physical, but clearly that wasnt enough for Rochester. After stealing her money, Rochester hid Bertha away in his own house. He was willing to give up the love that they had in order to search for what he really wanted-a love that was mentally strong. Jane came along and their love was purely based on the passion in their heart, and the intelligence in their brain. With a love like that, they were able to feed off of each other in order to grow into stronger individuals. I guess what I am trying to say is that it seems to me that the strongest relationships are built off of our personalities, not our physical features. Would you agree? Also, how do you think this difference between Jane and Bertha might have led them to their own fate?
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Post by Ms. McGettigan on Nov 17, 2015 19:21:26 GMT
Great point Emily. Jane and Rochester's attraction for each other is definitely based on their witty repartee, their intellectual conversations, etc. It is sort of mocked (like on the SNL skit about Jane Eyre) how often Bronte describes Jane's plainness or lack of beauty, and she makes the point several times that Rochester is not a handsome man. I think she does this to really drive home the point you identify above.
Do you guys think it would be a different story, or might be interpreted differently, if these characters were described as good looking?
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Post by emsykes on Nov 19, 2015 2:10:20 GMT
Ms.McGettigan,
I definitely think it would be a different story if the characters were attractive because it would change the mood of the novel. When Jane and Rochester are characterized as relatively "plain" people, I think it allows the readers to relate more to the storyline. For example, even though we wish it were reality, most women cannot directly relate to Cinderella. We do not find a fairy godmother who gives us gorgeous dresses and glass slippers. Instead, we must create our own happiness. In this way, if Jane were beautiful and won over the heart of the handsome Rochester, the reader might imagine the story as one more like a fairy tale, instead of a real-life experience. Overall, if the characters were pretty, it would effect how we read into the novel.
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Post by harleen5 on Nov 21, 2015 15:01:53 GMT
Emily, I completely agree with your point about how it is what is on the inside that counts. I also feel that Mr.Rochester could not love Bertha because he simply considered her a piece of property and could not give her any love, which is what she was looking for. In my opinion, Jane's journey itself would have panned out much more differently if she were pretty, because one of the reasons her relatives despised her so much was because she was so "plain." She is constantly told this by multiple people, but it does not faze her. In fact, it makes her a stronger person as she uses her intellect and beliefs to reach her goals, not her outward appearance.
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amyyu
New Member
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Post by amyyu on Nov 21, 2015 15:46:01 GMT
Harleen, I think you made some good points but overall, I don't believe that Jane's journey would have gone on an entirely different route if she had been pretty. Under the scenario that Jane is portrayed as extremely beautiful, her outward appearance wouldn't drastically affect the way that the Reeds treated her. Jane would continue to be an outsider at Gateshead, and they would still regard her as the rebel girl who refuses to act like a "proper woman". The Reeds treated Jane harshly and bullied her mainly because she didn't fit the standard of the ideal woman rather than because of her "plain" image.
Jane's journey would go on a similar path as it did in the actual novel since a beautiful outward appearance doesn't hide her inner conflicts about self-identity nor does it facilitate her strife towards independence. The only difference that beauty would make is to increase Jane's confidence about herself and perhaps prevent her from beating around the bush about her feelings for Rochester. If she was pretty, Jane would continue to face the struggles of staying in an unequal relationship with Rochester since she would still be a poor governess. Also, I think that Jane was more focused on equality with Rochester than with her looks. Yes, Jane did envy Blanche Ingram for her beautiful hair and looks, but Jane didn't actually try to make herself more beautiful in order to compensate for their unequal relationship. Instead, beauty was just something that Jane used to tear herself down even further when she debated on whether to stay with Rochester, and it didn't provide a major obstacle in her journey towards becoming an independent woman. Her journey was more focused on what was inside and how to counteract society's demands rather than outward appearances.
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