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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