Longing for love

A detailed Summary of Longing for love

Charlotte Bronte created the novel "Jane Eyre," with an overriding theme of love. The emotional agony that the main character experiences throughout the novel stem from the treatment received as a child, loss of loved ones, and economic hardships. To fill these voids, Jane longs for love. Ironically, Jane rejects affection at some point throughout the novel though it is that which she seeks. Her painful childhood experiences create an emotional center derived from this pain. Thus, she views love as consuming and it is not a high priority in Jane's life. She accepts the fact that she will probably live her life in loneliness.

From the onset of the novel we view the world through the eyes of Jane, a young, penniless, orphan. At the beginning of the story she is under the care of her widowed aunt, Mrs. Reed. At the Reed household, Jane is neglected and mistreated with favoritism being given only to the three obnoxious Reed children. Jane begins her struggle for love here at Gateshead. Her temper and self-will become apparent there. She stands up for herself not only to her cousins, but to Mrs. Reed as well. "You think I

Another character that has a significant influence in Jane's life at Lowood is Miss Evans, the superintendent. Miss Evans is primarily the first person in Jane's life that treats Jane with justice and confidence in her ability to "make good." In her dealings with Miss Evans and the

Referring her life back to that of what her dear friend Helen had taught her, Jane forgives Mr. Rochester. "I forgave him at that moment, and on the spot...I forgave him all; yet not in words, not outwardly; only at my heart's core"(Bronte 336). She felt superiority over her "master" at this point, a feeling of which she never knew before. She asks Rochester if he thinks she is "soulless and heartless." She reigns superiorly over Rochester in a spiritual triumph. God had gifted her with a heart and though she had little experience of being loved before Rochester she was blessed with a heart as well. She knew how to use it and her personal faith was her means to use it.

"I have known you, Mr. Rochester; and it strikes me with terror and anguish to feel I absolutely must be torn from you forever. I see the necessity of departure; and it is looking at the necessity of death." She is able to withstand Rochester's pleading, "Oh, Jane," and move on. Moving on deeply hurt Jane. Finding love and having to leave it never knowing if she would find it again was devastating.

have no feelings, and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness, but I cannot live so: and you have no pity" (Bronte, 45). Her early life at Gateshead proved to be a rather traumatic period in Jane's life. Jane "dared commit no fault: [she] strove to fulfill every duty; [she] was termed naughty and tiresome, sullen and sneaky, from morning to noon, and from noon to night" (Bronte, 22). Trying to act in accordance with Mrs. Reed and the Reed children, never purposely committing a fault, Jane was continuously "naughty" in Mrs. Reed's eye. Living a childhood such as Jane's, one would expect a self-willed and rebellious personality to emerge. "I was a discord at Gateshead Hall; I was like nobody there...If they did not love me, in fact, as little did I love them" (Bronte 23). Treated with disrespect and lack of love Jane began her journey, her quest for love. Her rebellion towards the family that hated her fueled an inner subconscious conflict dealing with love and trust.

Growing up in the Victorian era, Jane's views were very conventional. Her childhood particularly influenced this conventionality. Living under her strict Aunt in her early years inevitably started Jane off to a "bad" start in her life. Not having love and people who cared created a wall prohi

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Approximate Word count = 1787
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English