Jane Eyre Journal 1 & 2

 

Note: comments in green and yellow colors are from Classmates & Professor

Journal 1 :How would Jane like Mrs. Mallard in The Story of An Hour ?

I don't think Jane would like Mrs. Mallard, she might even contempt her. 

Jane is what one may call a feminist. (perheps!)She is an independent and educated woman. She is brave and has a strong will to live. 

What Jane and Mrs Mallard in common is both of them long for freedom.(agree)
What differentiated them is Mrs. Mallard submitted to the reality. 

Mrs. Mallard lived a oppressive life, that's why she felt a new life when she thought her husband was dead which was not true. 

However, Jane chose the resistant life path.(I'm curious to see if you think she will keep up this resistance?) She is a unyielding character.

I urge you to think of Jane for a second, did she live an oppressed life as well？
Perhaps Jne is the version of Mr. Mallard prior to her marriage even. Both women are obviously independent and crave the satisfaction that derives from it.

Journal 2:What kind of story is Jane Eyre?

     The novel was written in the first person form, which made it sound like an autobiography of Jane Eyre(right)—she was telling people her stories, how she read life through her eyes, how she responded to those experience, and how she grew up and become what she was later. 



     As a good example of intelligent, brave and independent woman, Jane Eyre's story was also a history of her striving and development. There might be some descriptions of her unfortunate childhood and the secrets of Mr. Rochester's past, which made the mood in the story a little dark,(critics call it Gothic) but those served as a foil to her shining characteristics.



     From story between Mr. Rochester and Jane, we can also call it a romance in a way. But as the title of the novel showed, Jane Eyre was the main key to the theme of book-- she was the protagonist, and it's a life story of her pursuing liberty, dream and happiness.

1.

I like  how you emphasized Jane throughout the whole story. It's an interesting point that that the other characters are foils to augment the reader's impression of Jane.

This is a life story and therefore it contains elements of life (coming of age, romance,etc.).But ultimately  Jane is the main focus--good point.

2.
Good point on the autobiography. Bronte does throw in Jane's present thoughts as if she is analyzing and telling the story of life.