Perspective

Perspective can be defined as a personal point of view. As it isn't something fix, and what I mean by that is that it can change, the influence of culture, time and even people are able to make it shift.
As for example, Luis Inacio never graduated, but today is the president of Brazil. For an american, which president graduated at Harvard, this may result in a different perspective than we Brazilians have about how the politics in Brazil are.

Define Perspective

What is perspective to you? How do you define it? What controls it or influences it? What, in your experience, is required to shift your perspective?

SE thesis

Fear, as any other feeling, is hard to define. If someone ask a ten years old kid what he is afraid of, he will give an example, but if he is asked about a definition, he won't be able to say. But all of the four books have something in commom when it's related to fear, it makes the reader able to define as "something that make someone be what he/she isn't, or make things he/she didn't want to."

The effect of a shifting narrative is to provide the reader with two perspectives on a story; both Sorrow of War and The Things They Carried offer shifting narrative to one another in order to capture human nature of both sides during the Vietnam Conflict.

Semester Essay Thesis

In The Things They Carried and Sorrow of War, the authors are able to convey different feelings through the dual perspectives of narrator and author.

Nick's Thesis

There are two themes that relate to post war problems present in The Sorrow of War, by Bao Ninh, and in The Things They Carries, by Tim O'Brien. There is the theme of post war psychological problems and the theme of post war abandonment. Tim O'Brien and Bao Ninh write to release the sadness provoked by their experiences with the Vietnam war.

Semester essay thesis

Since the very start of the written word the narratives of literature have taken a very liner approach starting at the begin and ending at the end, but now the age old tradition has been challenged. A new type of narrative called a shifting narrative is beginning to make it’s appearance, in Vietnam war litterateur. This new type jumps from place to place, time to time, plot to plot and even narrator to narrator. The first reaction any reader gets is confusion but once they get past that then the reason begins to dawn on them. The Vietnam war was certainly not conventional, it’s lack of a front line among other things made it so and therefor an unconventional writing style is needed to convey it.

Semester Essay Thesis

Fear is an "intense and instinctive emotion aroused by impending or seeming danger." (Webster's Dictionary 343). In the novel, The Things They Carried, the author, Tim O'Brien shows the emotion fear, in the characters, and how they struggle to overcome it. In, The Sorrow of War, the author, Bao Ninh, also uses fear to illustrate its influence on the character's prospect of life. The theme of fear and its affects are explored in both novels. The struggle with conquering fear is identified in O'Brien's novel; whereas, the surrender to fear is portrayed in the, The Sorrow of War.

Semester Essay Thesis

The themes of trauma and memory replacement are evident in "Sorrow of War" and "The Things They Carried". Trauma often creates un-true memories for the victim to understand a traumatic event. However in storytelling, it can be argued that it is false story telling because the memory is in-correct. Others would argue however, that it is not the story teller's fault that they tell false stories due to their traumatic stresses. This essay will discuss how "false storytelling" is about getting the point across. As long as the story has a point, its fine that it is untrue.

Since the beginning of time people have been telling each other stories. Stories at one point where the only means of communication between the miniscule civilizations. When stories where the the entertainment of the week. The means in which children all over the world would fall asleep. Has the story telling changed from then till now? does it shape who we are? with out story telling the world would be a very different place. The means in which a story is told is different, but story telling is of the utmost importance in the modern day and the past.

SE Thesis and Intro Paragraph

Memory and Trauma: Post-Modern and Historic

It is a difference between historic memory and post-modern memory relates to trauma. Historic memory is the process of remembering something that happened in the past. A post-modern memory is a memory that is an unresolved traumatic memory. Wide Sargasso Sea, The Things They Carried, and The Seduction of History: Trauma, Re-Memory, and The Ethic of The Real all have one thing common: violence. Each experience with violence creates trauma. Their memory of this trauma affects both their historic memory and their post-modern memory because when a traumatic event happend, you cannot remember everything than. For example, on page 387, Flanagan defines Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a disorder “in which the encoding of memory rather than its retrieval is affected.”

se thesis

Thea Egolf Milinairw

SE thesis/ introductory paragraph

nov/ 17/09

Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre and Jean Ryce novel Wide Saragoso Sea are viewed in an aspect of the feminism condition. Both protagonists show different, but similar sides of feminism . It is reflectance of the social choice that they engage . Each character helps build the story to be viewed in a feministic manor, giving the reader a clear understanding of what the author was trying to perceive. in each novel gender played a role that causes the novels standards to be at high risk with society view.

Semester Essay Thesis

Post your introductory paragraph (including your thesis) below. Do not comment, create a new post.

Due: 11/20/09

I have been a coward in O'Brien's sense before. There have been several times where I made a decision that was correct decision in terms of how it would affect me however it negatively affected my friends this may not seem to be brave in terms of O'Brien's definition who declared himself a coward because he put others opinions above his own. However I subscribe to a somewhat old school mentality. Where you help your friends out even if you put your self in a bad position. So I was a coward in O'Brien's sense after all.

According to O'Brien's definition of a coward i have been a coward at times in my life. There are plenty of times that I have believed in something and decided to hold my tongue in order not to feel embarrassed or ashamed or merely to keep the peace in a situation. There are times that I feel like I should have expressed myself spoke my mind to get my true point across but couldn't bare with the consequences that could have gone along with it. I couldn't take the embarrassment if my point was wrong or if other parties disagreed with me.

Yes, there have been many times throughout my life that I have, by O'Brien's definition, been a coward. As much as I'd like to pride myself in being a "strong" person, I have definitely faltered and made mistakes because I didn't listen to myself or my intuition. Looking back, this was particularly evident when I was in 8th grade. Of course, finding identity at that age is hard for everyone, but I completely lost myself. I wanted so badly to fit in, whatever that meant I don't know, so I befriended a group of girls that I probably shouldn't have. Although I went to a small Hippie school, they were the mean girls, the queen bees, the popular ones. I liked having the recognition, but what I began to realize that I was being recognized for the wrong things. I was downright nasty to people, breaking them apart just so I could feel better about myself. I started to hate myself for being so cruel, but it got to a point that being mean is what made me feel better about myself, at least temporarily, because I felt like I was in control. And the girls that I was friends with encouraged this behavior, so although I hated it, it was what made me popular. 

That was the most cowardly thing I have ever done and I wish that I could take that back because that's not me, that's never been me, and let's hope I never lose myself enough to sink back to that level ever again.

I have been a coward my whole life, by O'Brien's definition. I have always felt anger towards particular people and have, at many points in my life, wished physical harm towards them. More times than less, I have wanted to do the hurting myself. However, I was raised by a relatively peaceful family in a generally peaceful comminity. I have had kind friends my hole life, and have established a certain way that people view me. Hitting or kicking or lashing out in any way toward the people I hate would only degrade me and bring shame to my family. My community would shift their view of me, and my reputation would be scarred. Therefore I have never lashed out in a way I couldn't recover from. I have never physically attacked anybody, however much I may want to. I consider this to be cowardice and brave. I run away from my true emotions, but controlling them makes me proud.

Question: Have you ever been a coward?

Have you ever fit into O'Brien's definition of cowardice? Recently? A long long time ago in a galaxy far away? Tell me about it. Be sure to include the aspects of narrative that make stories interesting (development, suspense, back-story, characterization, a moral?)

it does not matter is the story is true. what matters is that one comes away with some thing one did not have before. if the text was a text book designed for the sole purpose of learning then it would be a different story. The story does not have to be true it has to mean some thing. when one has an opinion and an emotion to go with it that is what matters, and if the feeling and emotions and the manner in which one relates to the story that has to be true. 

I think it dosen't matter if the story is true or not. Some storys are only written to make some people happy or some authors write their opinions into a story. The important thing it that you form your opinion.

I'm not exactly sure if truth is important or not. I think it depends on the intention of the author for the reader. If the author wants an important feeling they would want the book to be based on truth because our society holds truth in its' highest authority. Now, if the author wants the reader to get more of a less serious feeling maybe the book would not be based on truth. I think its all the authors' intention for their viewing audience.

Truth in a story does not matter in specific stories. In a story that is declared as a fictious story the truth does not matter because it is used for only entertainment. But when a story is declared as a true story but is actually fictional. It is not right especially if it has actual deep meaning for a specific person.
You can't really tell if a story that claims to be true actually is. The author can say that the book is based on actual facts on real people but you can never truley tell if it is a lie or not. The only way to truley tell if a story is false is if the author publishes it as fiction or if the events of the story extend out of the relm of reality.

If you do not have firsthand experience to the story being told, then the speaker has complete control of the facts he/she whishes to give you. Therefore, it does not have to be true, since the audience would be oblivious if the story was a lie. So, no, it does not matter if the speaker tells the truth or not, because the opinions and facts that the audience recieves is completely determined by the speaker, but only if the audience has no knowledge of any key aspects of the story.

Truth within a story is important, but how much truth in the story is actually included does not matter. The author is the only one who should know the complete truth in a story. The truth can be told in parts and segments throughout the story and by doing so adds an interesting perspective to the story. The reader or listener is given small parts of the truth at a time and is forced to figure out and interpret what is actual true or false information.

the truth of a story matters, but depending on the contents of the story. if the story contains issues where to not tell the truth would cause conflict, such as a story involving a real person commiting a crime. however in a fictional story with belivable events, it does not matter if the story is true or not, as long as there is an understanding that the story is true or fiction. without this understanding, confusion and misconseptions about the story and the events within the story, and their authenticity.

If a story is told it does not matter if it is fact or fiction as long as the person hearing the story is aware that it is true or false.  It is important to be aware if a story is true or false because the story can sway the opinions of others.  Unscrupulous people  use the naïveté of others to their advantage.  Political propaganda is a good example of this. Politicians often make strong accusations to influence public opinion and the public rarely knows if the claims are true or false.  If a person is aware that a story is true or false then a story can be used to make a point and generally instruct others in different ways of looking at a situation.  People can then make up their own minds as to what they think of it.

The importance of truth within a story varies from subject matter and reasoning. For example, if a story was trying to be told to make a point, it truth would definitely assist in the validity of the point. If someone was lead to believe that the story was true when it wasn't, and he focuses on the points within that story hoping for the same outcome, the result could be extremely harmful. Possible outcomes from acting upon truth in a story are endless, as are the consequences. Truth does matter, but in varying degrees from story to story.

It depends on where in the story the author chooses to ignore truth. In the case of fiction, truth is not a very important factor because people expect the author to be telling a made up story, not matter how real it may seem. But in telling a story with believable factors, one must be careful. Truth should be placed where it is most important, that is involving another person and their life. If not, a lie could become hurtful and deceitful, regardless of if the writer/story-teller intended it to do so. The placement of truth is crucial and important and should not be ignored due to respect to others and to the circumstances of the story. 

That being said, many stories and writings have stretched the truth in various places as to make the tale more interesting to readers.

The truth is only as important as the value of the information. In other words, the significance of the truth is directly proportional to the intensity or importance of the subject. Telling the truth about spilt milk is relatively insignificant compared to telling the truth about a murder. The consequences of the answer are also a factor in how important it is to tell the truth. Telling the truth about how you accidentally killed someone has less of a consequence then if you admit to spilling milk on a bomb on purpose so that it exploded and killed many people.

When telling or writing a piece of fiction, the situation alters slightly. When a person is telling a story of fiction or fantasy they can lie about things that are important without consequence because of two reasons; firstly the reader or audience can already assume that there is little truth to the work and can look past it to a deeper meaning. Secondly, the writer can safely assume that nothing he has said will be taken as the truth and is able to convey his emotions or thoughts to the reader without fearing consequence. This is crucial in that many stories that hold ideas, can be told as lies and accepted as the truth. So one can safely say that while telling the truth is important, a writer's liberty from truth is equally important to the development of ideas that form truth.

The veracity of any story is unimportant with one major exception. Where the story claims to be true it is very important. In fiction the story is expected not to be true but it must always be believable within the parameters of the fictional universe that the author creates. In allegory jokes and morality tails, if the story communicates the meaning that it is intended to then it’s truthfulness does not factor in to the equation. However all forms of stories that claim to be truthful, whether they fulfill that requirement or not is of the upmost importance, because writing should never misrepresent it’s self, and that matters in all writing.

The Truth’s Importance

The truth’s importance varies upon the situation. If the information that is going to be given is going to influence somebody’s decisions or actions, then the information should be truthful. Acting on incorrect information can be very detrimental. There are other times when the truth must be shielded. Some times this is a matter of preserving tradition, as is the case with Christmas. Other times the truth must be worked around to avoid hurting somebody’s feelings. It is not right to lie outright, but if it is done delicately, it is ok.

Question: does it matter if a story is true or not?

Let's just say someone tells you a story, any story involving believable aspects (no trolls or young Republicans*). Does it matter if it's true or not? Make sure you answer in a manner that appeals to logic. Answer by Wed/Thur.


* - I realize there are young republicans out there; just thought you all could use some levity.

I feel that Currel Bell was (in the first part) thanking those who erad the book and liked it for what it was, a wonderfully made book, and not for the idea that it was represinting. I think Currel Bell made this Book to show that there are strong women out there, but to also show us that books can be about anything no matter how wild the idea is, and in this time a strong women was revolutionary.
In the Second part Currel Bell ridiculed those who did not know what a good book can be but instead focusing on the idea the book possed. It shows us that strong headed men can only look at a certian aspect of something from one side and not see it for what it could be.

Currer Bell is starts by giving her thanks to a select group of reviewers and critics. Then turning to a "small group" who insists on the book being a crime so to speak. this small group is under the impression that what ever is strange or out of the ordinary is wrong. much like in the case of religion i.e if you don't believe in god you are probable going to hell. Currer bell is simply suggesting that the standards of living are not the way of life, or the means to which one conducts there life "conventionality is not morality". 

theas post #2

This statement is intended for people who would take offense at Jane Eyre because it is about a strong woman. The analogy presented is that custom is not always correct and even though it is the practice of the time for women to be soft spoken or lacking intelligence that does not make it the just way of doing things. This analogy leads to the Currer Bell's point that "conventionality is not morality." This statement is here to urge the reader to accept the ideas in the book all though they are new and unfamiliar. It helps the Currer Bell to explain his stance on the book and to place a question in the minds of his audience which may help him to achieve presenting a new way of thought or practice.

This statement was intended/targeted to the critics of the time. It was intended for the male critics who would have not accepted the piece of work known as Jane Eyre. It was written in a way to imply and was assumed by all that the author was a male even though it was not gender specific. By everyone assuming that the novel was written by a man it protected her work, and aloud it to be accepted by the reading society. It aloud Charlotte Bronte to keep writing and have her work be accepted, and to be judged as an exceptional written work. After her work had been appreciated and beloved by the society she took the credit for her work.

this statement is intended for all readers who would have a statement to make about the author being a women and the unconventionality of her novel. these critics would be mostly men and also religious men, hence the religious reference to not lifting an impious hand to the crown of thorns. this makes it clear to critics that Bronte has no intent of sacrilege in her novel, and just because it is unconventional it is not necessarily wrong. this statement is there for the purpose of insulating Bronte from this criticism. This preface was not published until the second printing when Bronte took credit for writing the novel. To avoid criticism of her book and to help people to look at the book in a broader sense, she kept the alias Currer Bell to write a preface to the book explaining to the readers that while the novel portrays new and unconventional ideas, they are not wrong or sacrilegious, they are simply ideas

Currer Bell is refferring to critics who would base their criticisms upon the fact that she breaks so many societal 'walls' in the book, particularly those having to do with the roles of women. Bell explains that the conventional 'rules' are not necessarily 'correct', and to break those rules should not be seen as a big deal. This was an easy way to justify the content of Jane Eyre, especially since it was written by a woman. By Currer giving this disclaimer, Bronte was a little bit safer from ridicule.

The author, Currer Bell, is intending to put the novel in perspective. "He" does not want critics to judge the book because of the sin of bigotry, but to exam the book as a whole. Bell is saying that not conforming to the establishment is not immoral or wrong, and that just becauses her work has new ideas and concepts in it that some might consider wrong it does not go agianst religion. This preface is intended for the holy men of the church and those who would condem it to not do so. Its purpose is to, hopefully, persuade the reader to not judge the book because it involves ideas considered wrong.

Currer Bell is referring to those who would judge her writing by her gender. She is trying to say that if she is to be found out, she hopes her book will not bet read in a different light. At the time, there were many people who were against women having a significant place in society. She was trying to get the point across that one would not go out of one's way to tarnish something considered beautiful, and that her work cold be considered the beautiful object in need of protctection. It is basicly insurance from her critisizers. By telling the reader to look at the book as an individual text, she re overs herself from judgement.

I believe that this caption of the article is intended for those who would disagree with the basic principle of equality for women. Currer Bell in all subtlety, is saying that the traditional values of the society where women are not equal to men is not morally correct, "Conventionality is not morality." Charlotte Bronte's use of playing under the pseudonym of Currer Bell is able to express her thoughts towards those who where apart of the societal outrage of Jane Eyre. Currer Bell challenges their beliefs by stating that the work of her book is not sinful or lifting an "impious hand to the crown of thorns." (Bell vi) but instead, pointing out the social injustice towards women.

In his preface, Currer Bell boldly but respectfully responds to Bronte's critics by telling them they are over reacting. By telling them that "To pluck the mask from the face of the Pharisee, is not to lift an impious hand to the Crown of Thorns," he pushes it in their faces that everything she wrote is a play on their dysfunctional and unjust world. Even though at this point it was known that Bronte had written Jane Eyre, "Bell's" daring statement as the editor put up a barrier for her by giving critics a little slap on the wrist. While he admits that his book is different, he justifies his work by 'reminding' them that "Conventionality is not morality."

Currer Bell is addressing the large amount of critics who denounced Jane Eyre and questioned the sex of the author writing such a rebellious book. Currer Bell is well aware of the bigotry surrounding the novel and is not afraid to make a point very clear: look beyond the author, beyond the base plot line, and instead look into the lives of the characters depicted in the novel. In the line, "I would suggest to such doubters certain obvious distinctions; I would remind them of certain simple truths." Currer Bell is saying not to ponder who scripted the pages of the book, but rather to enjoy the simple truths behind the story, the truths that people are aware of but rarely pay any attention too. These truths are those of love, choosing between good and bad, things that people are always forced to face, but, at least in those times, did not want to see in a novel. 

Writing this preface about the theme of self-righteousness in Jane Eyre protected Charlotte Bronte against critic's harsh words because she put herself out there. She openly recognized that Jane Eyre is a book meant to shock people, meant to make them think. She also addresses the bigotry that revolves around the novel and states that she is well aware of it. This shields her from critics because she knows what they are going to say before they say it, preparing herself for whatever cruel words may come. Being aware of her novel and the public outcry it created makes her a stronger person because she is not hiding anything from herself and is not asking the public to hide their opinions either.

Tony's Preface Response #2

"Currer Bell" is speaking to those who disapprove of Jane Eyre and its immoral aspects to that time period. Currer Bell is making a note to the "small class" who criticizes Jane Eyre, that you don't have to be conventional in order to be moral. And is also saying that if you cut down on her, there are still always going to be books with immoral whether you like it or not. So basically the author is asking not to have the book judged for its small imperfections with morality, but, to judge the book for its general story.

Currer Bell is trying to discourage readers from judging the book harshly because it challenged the status quo. When she says "Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness is not religion." She is saying that she people should not follow the opinions of the establishment because of it’s biases, but rather form an opinion based on it’s own artistic merit. She also uses an obscure biblical reference to show how the book is not anti religious but rather disagrees with select interpretations of Christian morality.

Currer Bell makes several proud and strong statements in the paragraph. It calls out many of her critics and appears to direct responses to many of their disagreements with the novel Jane Eyre. She makes her clearest point in saying "in whose eyes whatever is unusual is wrong". Her critics who found the out of the ordinary, feminist, and somewhat radical for the time plot line's within the novel to be disgraceful and and upsetting. What Currer Bell points out to those critics in the before mentioned quote is that, yes, the subject matter in the book may be different and new, but that does not make it wrong or anything to fear. They are subjects that should be discussed, even if they appear to be radical. It is wrong to ignore them and to dismiss them as subjects that should not be spoken of because they are unusual.

            I think the analogy that she is proposing is that playing by the rules society dictates doesn’t make you a good person. Going against conventional attitudes and wisdom takes courage and can be the right thing to do. In this preface, Currer Bell is referring to literary critics, who were mostly men, and both men and women who held fast to what was considered a woman’s proper role in society. She is challenging them to rethink their traditional beliefs. The preface served to open the minds of would be readers so that they would judge the story on its merits. She uses the preface to unmask the many prejudices that readers would bring with them in evaluating her novel once they knew the gender of the author. 

Pique's Post on Jane Eyre Preface

I believe that the analogy she is referring to is that sure, the critics may be finding her book to be against "God" or immoral. However, she is saying that there is no analogy between what she finds immoral about the book and what the critics find immoral about it. Currer Bell means that in order to create great literature you have to have a book with taboos in it other wise its just another boring facts book. In this preface she is referring to both women of a lower class and men/critics. Women because she is saying "...turn to another class; a small one, so far as I know, but not, therefore, to be overlooked." Obviously during the time, the lower class (as it is today) is looked down upon. Currer Bell is saying not to overlook these people because, just like the higher classes, they have the potential to doing anything they set their mind to. As for the critics, she is saying don't just judge a "book by its cover" so to speak. If the book is written by a woman or by some one of the lower class don't just reject it or say that is is rubbish because deep down it could be a revolutionary book. The intended audience of this quote would be critics, men, women, and the lower class. It is there to perhaps persuade the reader to think "Ok, this book may not be what I expect but maybe I should give it a chance." It insulates Charlotte because not only does she have an alias but that she was thought to be a man therefore she had the ability to persuade her male audience more than a woman ever could.

The Prolouge of this story is a dedication to the different people that had much effect in how the charictors of the novel were portraid. At the end it says that it is also dedicated to a certian person that has no connection to the book, although every charictor was close and personal to the one who writ the proloug.

Question #2: Respond to the following from Jane Eyre's Preface

"Having thus acknowledged what I owe those who have aided and approved me, I turn to another class; a small one, so far as I know, but not, therefore, to be overlooked. I mean the timorous or carping few who doubt the tendency of such books as "Jane Eyre:" in whose eyes whatever is unusual is wrong; whose ears detect in each protest against bigotry--that parent of crime--an insult to piety, that regent of God on earth. I would suggest to such doubters certain obvious distinctions; I would remind them of certain simple truths.

Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness is not religion. To attack the first is not to assail the last. To pluck the mask from the face of the Pharisee, is not to lift an impious hand to the Crown of Thorns."

Consider one or more of the following questions: What is the present analogy? What does Currer Bell mean by this? Who is he referring to? Who is the intended audience of this quote? Why is it here? How does it help to insulate Charlotte Bronte from her critics?

The writings or Currer Bell are to give a new angle or point of view to the reader. That when one read Jane Eyre they see it in a new light. With particular attention to the religious aspects of the book. It was the impression that Currer Bell wanted to in a way discredit the religious teaching of Christ and other religious ideals.  

With the idea that people tend to her what they want to hear from the religion and the teachings of Christ. maybe even go so far as to say that one must listen to the unpopular voice, the voice of one who is straight forward. 

Theas post #1

In the introduction, Charlotte Bronte uses the name Currer Bell to prevent society from judging her opinion because of her gender. This way she can state her opinions, and so the reader can have their own impression on the story. The use of the name came to this because of the time it was written in. Charlotte wanted the audience to be more open to what her personal opinion was so she stated she was a man in order to get a better review.

The novel was written in the 19th century so it was formal at that time for woman to be under minded and not as powerful  as men. Throughout the femenist novel you see how bronte protrays the way women were treated in that time. Unlike most women,  jane is presented as a strong  and powerful woman who can stand up for herself in a world of men. Although most men in the novel treat woman and second class citizen (which was appropite at that time) Rochester treated Jane like an equal witch was an important to the role in the book.

Writing under the alias of “Currer Bell”, Charolotte Bronte was able to write a successful fictional novel at a time when women were still seen as second class citizens and fiction novels were not widely accepted. Currer’s preface encouraged people to accept the novel as itself as well as the rise of women’s positions as a major theme in the novel. No doubt, Rochester’s treatment of Jane as an equal was fairly unheard of. As a woman, Bronte would not have been able to write such words and been so persuasive .

Another large,and also generally rejected theme of the book was the ability to change position and social class within a society. For example, Jane's inheritance of a large fortune after being impoverished and her eventual marriage to Rochester was in comprehensible to many. Bell’s preface tried to open the eyes of the her critics by telling them that just because an idea was new it was not necessarily “evil”.

The introduction of Jane Eyre explains the origin of the creativity behind Bronte's novel. Like Jane in the novel, Charlotte Bronte's life is full of misery such as the death of a parent. Bronte was also forced to move around like Jane did in the novel. Because of this sort of background, Bronte was able to move beyond the stereotypical 'docile victorian girl' and write with such talent it seemed as if a man had done it.

With the ambiguous Currer Bell as her alias, Bronte was able to be discovered in the world of writing, even after her harsh backgrounds. This almost parrallels the idea of social mobility in the novel, as Jane develops from almost nothing to a very wealthy lifestyle. Also because of the alias, Bronte was able to form distinctive characters with feminine touch but masculine attitude, for instance, dealing with issues such as adultery were sean as unwomanlike, but it is a major theme of the novel.

"Currer Bell", Charlotte Bronte's alias under the original printing of Jane Eyre, accomplished the feat of creating a versatile name under which creates a completely unbiased approach that leaves the reader with his or her own opinions, without being swayed one way or another just because of the gender of the author. Charlotte Bronte also cleverly published the novel with Currer Bell as the editor, not the author. This makes i even harder for the reader to try and distinguish what the author was trying to express. As a duel-gendered named, in a primarily male ruled society, where the rich got richer and the poor stayed poor, Charlotte Bronte was able to make strong social statements that wouldn't be accepted if readers knew that the author was in fact a women.
In the novel Jane Eyre, a extremely poor young women with a miserable life growing up, manages to become extremely wealthy and marry a rich and respectable man. They both are passionate and in love with each other rather than a marriage based off of social roles. These ideas are fairly revolutionary for the time. They would've been even more upsetting to the general population of the period if it was known to be Charlotte Bronte to have been the author.
-Nathan Sheridan

question 1 response

Charlotte Bronte, or "Currer Bell", wished to impart her beliefs through, Jane Eyre, upon the reader. Charlotte grew up in a time when women were meant to be docile, and when what would be sexism today, was the norm. Bronte resented the way women were treated during her time and used her novel to voice this. Bronte created an unconvetinional and headstrong heroine that held the same ideals as her in order to attempt to create sympathy within the reader. The over all character of the heroine provides an excellent example because she is a strong willed women resisting the sexist society around her.

In addition, to the feminist view, the author also tries to impart her strong religious ideals. Charlotte was a strict and religious women who follows the laws of her religion closely. In the novel, Jane falls deeply in love with Mr. Rochester and before their marriage can be consumated she learns he is already married to an insane women. She desires to marry him but does not because her religion will not allow it.

In the timeframe that Charlotte Brontë grew up, tradition pressed upon her that she and women of the time were not aloud to express themselves and were to be silent unless specifically asked. This is showed throughout the novel. Because of this tradition, during the time she wrote Jane Eyre she felt it was necessary to cover her true identity with a male name to be heard and express her work. Her work was admired by the reading audience which was under the impression that it had been written by a male author.

Throughout Jane Eyre the reader is able to see this very strong willed women who is the character Jane Eyre. Jane is a very independent woman who does not feel as though she should completely abide to the rules of men at the time. The men in the novel are depicted as arrogant rulers of the society who feel as though they are entitled to their say, and their power. Jane shows this trait of independence by first refusing Mr. Rochester’s first marriage proposal.

Though different interpretations might be taken from the introduction that , I believe that the intent of this article is to show the use of Charlotte Bronte’s use of religion through her work and drive it towards the reader. As England was a very proper and protestant behavioral hierarchy, this factor could have influenced the novel. This idea can be supported through examples of the story, such as the all girls’ school of Lowood which Jane attends as a child. Here at the school Jane befriends Helen, a girl who places her faith in god. Jane absorbs this and exemplifies this to the reader.
Jane through the book abides by the social rules of her religion such as the scene between her and the man she falls desperately in love with, Rochester. Though in her heart she yearns to be married with him, she learns that she cannot because that would be committing bigamy. Rochester, in a cruel twist of fate was tricked into marrying an insane woman. He begs and pleads Jane to stay and love him, but she cannot because the write has illustrated for the reader her respect and faith in god.

By writing under the name Currer Bell, Bronte is able to voice her opinions through an alias unknown to society and prevent society from judging her as male or female. Because she voices strongly feminist opinions and as her main character is a woman if it was known that she was a woman many readers may have changed their opinion of the book because of the time that it was written. Bronte uses this alias similarly to the way that authors use frame narrative. By using the name Currer Bell, she gives herself the freedom to incorporate pieces of her life into the book and her personal opinions without affecting the readers outside opinions of the ideas in the book.

The entire novel has a feminist spin to it which is seen as Bronte Depicts men as powerful and somewhat arrogant characters whereas the women hold little power and are ment to keep in their place. However Jane is depicted as an strong and passionate character that the reader can really identify with. Jane is basically depicted completely different from women in that time.

I believe Bronte's preface is a product of its time. The way she politely thanks her sponsors and supporters then asks the reader to not be judgmental simply because the main character is a female or because she has a poor history. In today's times the reader wouldn't think twice about the main character being female.

When Charlotte Brontë wrote under the pseudonym "Currer Bell" she was trying to persuade her readers by allowing them to think under their own opinions, rather than on the assumption that the author was either male or female. The Brontë sisters deciding to publish their books as neither masculine or feminine authors was a smart idea because they were able to write about the fantasy worlds they had always imagined without judgement. This allowed the readers to be shocked and thrilled at this new type of writing and Romanticism. As the Prologue states, Charlotte was able to write a love story about sexual hypocrisy and how girls were thought of at the time. 

In Jane Eyre, romance, love and desire are all crucial themes. Charlotte herself was a helpless romantic and found herself falling in love with the director of Pensionnat Heger, Constantin Heger. This heavily influenced her writing of Jane Eyre because she was able to add in her own romantic fantasies, and allow Jane to live them out. This is why Jane's feelings for Rochester are so passionately portrayed. Charlotte used imagery and memories from her own life and her own dreams to make this book come to life.

Currer Bell, or Charlotte Bronte, is attempting to bring attention to those who think, "Whatever is unusual is wrong." She points out that one cannot compare apples and oranges--that tings must be addressed in the context through which they are presented. She argues that one doesn't have the right to be displeased with things without a corresponding reason, as in the case of Ahab and Micaiah. Micaiah only prophesized bad things about Ahab, so Ahab disliked Micaiah. The best way to describe this in modern terms is Ahab hated the player and not the game, as he should have been. Currer Bell is essentially trying to get the reader to, like Jane Eyre, not associate unrelated concerns.

In Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester assumes that because he was maimed in the fire, Jane will no longer feel her original attraction towards him. He wallows in his despair only to find that he had misjudged Jane. Jane was far above letting the ascetics of Mr. Rochester come between their love. It was not his good looks that attracted he in the first place, as she clearly stated the she thought him to be "ugly." Therefore, she did not desert Mr. Rochester. Her ability to keep her apples and oranges of attraction true to her original feelings preserved their love. Currer Bell would like all of her book's readers to learn this lesson, as it is a good and applies to everyone.

A message that she is also trying to communicate with her readers is that the church of England has strayed somewhat from the teachings of Jesus. In the early portions of the book that serves to set up the character of Jane Eyre the reader is presented with two diametrically opposed versions of Christian behavior. One was of the devout but hypocritical clergymen Mr. Brocklehurst who is presented as an enemy to Jane. Where as her pious and loving friend Helen Burns who seems to have correctly interpreted and follows Christian principal of love your enemy and turn the other cheek.

Brockehurst lives in luxury but he makes sure that his charges are given second hand belongings and the cheapest possible food. Even objecting when the student are fed a second breakfast because the first was so overcooked that it was unpalatable. When the poor location of the school causes a typhoid epidemic resulting in the death of Helen Burns, Brocklehurst is removed from some of his duties but not all of them because of his political power, wealth and influence. Using this story, which could be removed and not affect the plot of the novel, in these formative chapters Charlotte Brontë shows how the Church of England and Christianity in general has become corrupted.

Charlotte Brontë was trying to persuade her reading audience to view her work objectively and judge it on its own merits by writing under the name ‘Currer Bell’. All the Brontë sisters used pseudonyms that were ambiguous. They were not overtly masculine or feminine.  The novel is about a passionate relationship between a man and a woman. To be taken seriously by critics and readers, Brontë had to persuade her audience that she was a man. Reviews where favorable until they found out she was a woman then they became more negative.

In the novel, Brontë depicts Rochester as a harsh and aloof man. In the nineteenth century men ruled the world. Women were meant to be seen, but not heard. By using a pseudonym Brontë persuaded her male readers to view Rochester objectively so they could see his strengths and weaknesses. Brontë created a very strong female character who served as role model for women in that time because she defines Rochester, her master, and becomes an independent woman. 

Question #1: What do you make of Jane Eyre's Prologue?

Re-read the prologoue to Jane Eyre. How do you think 'Currer Bell' was attempting to influence or persuade her reading audience? Where can you find evidence of this persuasion in the actual novel?
Answer in a minimum of two well-structured paragraphs.

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