Every human being undergoes changes during his life-time. From childhood through adolescence until old age he or she is constantly in a learning process. One can never say that a person is absolutely mature and at the end of his or her maturing process but one can say that there are certain steps in life most people pass or go through.
Also Jane Eyre betakes herself on the journey of life and in the novel the reader can watch the different steps she passes and accompanies her. On the one hand they can observe her behaviour objectively, her changes, her maturing process, her fears and challenges in a distant and objective way. They see how other people manage their life and are made aware of their changes without directly being a part of it. On the other hand the reader is able to identify with Jane Eyre and imagine how she must feel because, as I said before, every person changes during their life and experiences certain problems and challenges.
Although those must not necessarily be exactly the same as Jane experiences, we can feel with her. There is just a certain amount of feelings a human being is able to feel and as we, together with Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë and many others, belong to the same species we feel similar for example about things like love.
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I think it is exactly this point of identifying with the heroine that makes Jane Eyre such a popular novel and that also draw my attention to it.
However, it is even more the specific topic of the genre Bildungsroman that caught my interest.
The development of a character, no matter if in fiction or reality, is always interesting and inspiring. Jane is not afraid of changes and shows the intention to go on the journey to herself. She plays the “inner wheel” to change her life for the better. In my opinion this is something really important because you first have to understand yourself before you are able to understand other people.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Definition and history of the Bildungsroman
2.1 Definition
2.2 History
3. Features of the Bildungsroman
3.1 General information
3.2 Three different types
4. Features of the Bildungsroman in Jane Eyre
4.1 Religion
4.2 Love vs. Autonomy
4.3 Social Class
4.4 Education
4.5 Technical devices
5. Autobiographical aspects in Jane Eyre
6. Conclusion
7. Bibliography
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre through the lens of the Bildungsroman genre, exploring how the protagonist's journey towards self-knowledge and maturity is shaped by her experiences, relationships, and societal position.
- The historical and theoretical foundations of the Bildungsroman genre.
- Application of key Bildungsroman features to the development of Jane Eyre.
- The role of religion, autonomy, and social class in the protagonist's growth.
- The influence of Charlotte Brontë’s personal life and experiences on the narrative.
- Structural and technical devices used to portray the maturation process.
Excerpt from the Book
Love vs. Autonomy
From childhood on Jane has been lonely, isolated, exiled and unloved. As a result of being an orphan, Jane constantly searches a substitution for her mother or other persons who care for her. She says about Miss Temple: “she had stood by me in the stead of mother, governess, and latterly, companion.” (86) She sometimes also refers to the moon as her mother that guides her. Naturally she searches for something to belong to and a sense of being valued; people she likes and that also like her in return. She finds them at first in Helen Burns and Miss Temple.
At her public exposure she admits her human need for love and affection:
No; I know I should think well of myself; but that is not enough; if others don’t love me, I would rather die than live – I cannot bear to be solitary and hated, Helen. Look here; to gain some real affection from you, or Miss Temple, or any other whom I truly love, I would willingly submit to have the bone of my arm broken, or to let a bull toss me, or to stand behind a kicking horse, and lit it dash its hoof at my chest. (71)
Nevertheless she has to learn how to gain love without sacrificing and harming herself. There is always the danger of giving her views, values and eventually herself up in order to please others, especially Rochester. She adores and idolizes him until she finally realizes that even he is just a human being:
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the universal process of human maturation and establishes the paper's focus on identifying Jane Eyre as a Bildungsroman.
2. Definition and history of the Bildungsroman: The author traces the etymology and German origins of the genre, highlighting its core focus on character development and education.
3. Features of the Bildungsroman: This section outlines the essential characteristics of the genre, including the search for identity, educational processes, and the use of reflection.
4. Features of the Bildungsroman in Jane Eyre: This core chapter analyzes how Jane's development is manifested through her interactions with religion, her struggle for autonomy, her social status, and her education.
5. Autobiographical aspects in Jane Eyre: The author discusses the parallels between Charlotte Brontë’s own life experiences and the events depicted in the novel.
6. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings, confirming Jane Eyre as a primary example of the Bildungsroman with integrated elements of other genres.
7. Bibliography: Lists the academic sources and texts referenced throughout the paper.
Keywords
Bildungsroman, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë, maturity, self-knowledge, Victorian literature, autonomy, education, autobiographical, social class, character development, identity, spiritual novel, narrative technique, nineteenth-century fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on analyzing Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre as a classic example of the Bildungsroman genre.
What is a Bildungsroman?
A Bildungsroman is a literary genre that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from childhood to adulthood.
What central research question does the author address?
The author explores how the specific features of the Bildungsroman genre are applied to the character development of Jane Eyre.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, examining textual evidence from the novel in relation to established generic conventions and biographical contexts.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body examines thematic pillars like religion, the conflict between love and autonomy, social class, and technical narrative devices used in the novel.
How is the author’s background integrated?
The paper draws parallels between significant life events of Charlotte Brontë and the struggles faced by the protagonist, Jane.
Why is the concept of "Love vs. Autonomy" significant for Jane?
It highlights Jane's struggle to find emotional fulfillment without compromising her personal integrity and independence.
How does the novel use physical settings to mirror Jane's development?
The author notes that each of the five stages in Jane's life, associated with specific locations like Gateshead or Thornfield, symbolizes a particular developmental challenge.
Does the paper consider the novel an autobiography?
The author clarifies that while it is subtitled "An Autobiography," it is a fictional construct that uses personal elements to enhance authenticity.
- Quote paper
- Catharina Kern (Author), 2005, The Realisation of Jane Eyre as a Bildungsroman, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/70885
