The Modern Heroine Jane Eyre
A heroine is a woman possessing heroic qualities or a woman who has performed heroic deeds (211). In Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre, Jane is described as a woman with the mind and thoughts of a woman from the modern times. Jane Eyre does not perform a lot of heroic deeds, and she does not have a lot of qualities that would consider her to be a heroine today. Nevertheless, she is a heroine just because she becomes an independent, strong and educated individual at the age when women were under the authority of men. She, just like the woman from modern times does not think that women are any different from men, "but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do" (Bronte 96). Jane starts to prove her independence and equality with men from a very early age when she receives an education equal to any man's. Bronte's heroine is a very independent woman who does not want to become St. John's wife or Rochester's mistress. Jane does not belief in a marriage based on anything else than love, which is rarely true in the society of the Victorian's age. In Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, Jane becomes an educated, independent, modern-ag
She wants to marry her true love, Edward Rochester, so she goes back to Thorfield to reunite with her love. During the Victorian age parents usually arranged marriages for their children, but Jane does not agree with this custom. Perhaps the biggest reason why Jane is a modern woman is because she takes matters into her own hands. She is a very independent and strong woman, she does not want to be anyone's mistress or marry someone she does not love. Johns proposal of marriage and goes with him to India. John could never love her the way she needs to be loved. Jane believes that "marriage without love is sacrilege" (Bronte 354). No woman was ever nearer to her mate than I am: ever more absolutely bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh" (Bronte 523). Jane looks for marriage full of love and companionship, and she finds it. Jane loves him no matter what; she loves him more than anything, "I know what it is to live entirely for and with what I love best on earth. She found Rochester whom she will love and respect forever, and who will love and respect her until death will separate them, "Edward and I have been married for ten years now and on our sixtieth anniversary we will still dance to all the songs we love" (Bronte 547). She thinks that he prizes her "as a soldier would a good weapon; and that is all" (Bronte 356). The characteristics that Charlotte Bronte gives to Jane Eyre make her an incredible woman, who can be compared to any 21st century woman. As a modern woman, Jane needs to be loved and she needs to return that love to someone.
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