Jane Eyre Rhetorical Analysis

Submitted By Xueyu-Fu
Words: 884
Pages: 4

Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Jane Eyre, small in body, big in soul Jane Eyre is a realistic novel with a strong romantic color, which wrote by a famous British woman novelist Charlotte Bronte, and is generally believed as an autographical portrayal of her poetic life. Charlotte Bronte was born in a poor priest family, her mother died when she was young, and then she was sent to a girls’ boarding school at the age of eight. Charlotte has two young sisters, that is, Anne Bronte and Emily Bronte, are also well-known writers, so they were called the “three Bronte sisters” in the history of English literature. She only wrote four novels in her entire life: Teacher, Villette, Jane Eyre, and Shelly, but all of which are famous for their theme of women independence. Her works reflect women’s strong will and the pursuit of freedom and equality. A human’s value equals dignity plus love, which is the theme of Jane Eyre. The book Jane Eyre describes an orphan girl who lives in the bottom of the society, was raised by Mrs. Reeds, her cruel wealthy aunt and suffered wrongs and contumelies since she is young. “You have no business to take our books; you are a dependent, mama says; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemen’s children like us, and eat the same meal as we do, and wear clothes at our mama’s expense.”(p 4) From her experience at the Lowood School, we found Jane a plain-featured but intelligent and honest girl. Her courage to fight with all the hardships, inequality, and oppression leaves us a deep impression on us. When she meets Rochester and St. John, Jane shows us her passion of love. She believes that love should base on spiritual equality, instead of money, social status, and appearance. Only if the couple both love each other can they get the real happiness. She didn’t give up her love because she is a maid, her love is pure and noble. Though Rochester is not handsome and became a cripple in the end, Jane still chooses to marry him, because she thinks him a good man inside. Through the two different love experiences of Rochester, the author satirized the view of love which is based on money. Jane’s view of love is like pure water, refreshing people’s soul. Then it comes to the most important decision that Jane has to make in her life. Rochester already has a wife, but Jane wonders how she could ever find another man values her the way Rochester does. I still remember that she said “Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!-I have as much soul as you,-and full as much heart! And if god had gifted me with some beauty, and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you.”(p 190) To leave or stay, Jane is caught in a dilemma. Guided by her soul, she flees temptation and leaves Thorfield. Then St. John urges her to accompany him to India as his wife. She begins to ask her inner feelings. Who am I? What I am looking for? Is it pure freedom, or passion of love, or principles?