A Comparative Study of Jane Eyre

【Abstract】Charlotte Brontes Jane Erye reveals many comparisons and contrasts，such as different views on religion，different kinds of beauty，and the like.By creating these comparisons and contrasts，the writer attracts the readers to feel and appreciate the lingering charm of this novel.

【Key words】Comparison； Contrast； Religion； Beauty； Jane Eyre

1.In Religion

Religion plays an important part in Jane Eyre，for it is always associated with the social life in western countries.In Jane Eyre，most of the characters have ever referred to God in their life，among which are some typical characters，and each of them represents a characteristic view on religious belief.Hence their religious values constitute a series of comparisons.

1.1 Mr.Brocklehurst

Mr.Brocklehurst is a clergyman，who administers the Lowood School.He illustrates the dangers and hypocrisies that Charlotte Bronte perceived in the nineteenth-century Evangelical movement.Mr.Brockhurst claims to purge his students of pride，but his methods of subjecting them to various privations and humiliations are undoubtedly un-Christian.For instance，he made the students underfed and overworked； he ordered one of Jane Eyres classmates to cut the naturally curly hair so as to live straight.

Apparently，it is difficult to follow Mr.Brockhursts doctrines.He cut the expense of Lowood School but maintains his own luxuriously wealthy family，which really manifests his hypocrisy.

1.2 Helen Burns

Helen Burns practices a doctrine of Christian endurance， which means loving her enemies and accepting her privation.On the one hand，her meek forbearing is too passive for Jane to adopt，on the other hand，Jane loved her and learned to be calm from her and this kind of calmness can overcome Janes quick temper.

1.3 Eliza Reed

Eliza Reed devotes herself to a convent in France where she becomes the Mother Superior.She considers herself self-righteous，but she is indifferent to her mother and dislikes her sister Georgiana.Her belief in God can only make her away from the uproar.When her mother was dying，she didnt care about the future of her family； she didnt care about her mother and her sister； she just wanted to get her inheritance and then find a secluded place to enjoy the rest of her life.Her acrimony，selfishness，and narrowness make her cynical.Her belief in religion is just a refuge for her.

1.4 St.John Rivers

St.John Rivers provides another model of Christian behavior.He is a Christianity of ambition，glory，and extreme self-importance.He sacrifices his life for the religion.He restrained essential happiness in daily life，including love.He considers all kinds of trivial desire as excessive.His insistence in the fulfillment of his moral duty makes his life dull and tough.He even urges Jane to sacrifice her emotional deeds for the religion on behalf of God.This kind of value of religion is one kind of fetters and handcuffs，which brings about a barrier to a normal and happy life.He is a martyr.

Anyway，Jane rejects all of these models of religion，but she never abandons morality，spiritualism or belief in God.She ultimately finds a comfortable middle ground.For Jane，religious helps curb immoderate passions，and it spurs one on to worldly efforts and achievements.These achievements include self-knowing and complete faith in God.

2.In Beauty

In Jane Eyre，the writer creates different kinds of beauty，some of which form sharp contrasts.

2.1 Outward Beauty

There are three typical characters who have outstanding outward beauty.One is Georgiana，the second one is Blanche Ingram，and the third one is the former Bertha Mason.

Outward beauty is given by nature，so it has nothing to do with fairness.

Actually，these three beautiful ladies really benefit a lot from their outward beauty.

As a child，Georgiana gains favor from every family member only because she is beautiful.Even the servants told Jane that if she were as beautiful as Georgiana，she would get more love but less scold.When Georgiana had grown up，she could easily win the heart of rich men and finally she married a fortune.

Blanche Ingram and the former Bertha Mason are all beautiful.They are elegantly dressed and good-mannered.They are the shining stars in all kinds of social-communicating circles.They always feel flattered and gradually take it for granted.

These three beautiful ladies share the same outward beauty as well as the same shortcomings.They are all arrogant，ignorant，selfish，worldly，and hypocritical.They look down upon the lower class and the poor.They consider themselves noble but have no concept of respect.They have much less inward beauty than their outward beauty.They act just as foils to Jane.

2.2 Talent Beauty

Jane Eyre and Rivers sisters all have talent beauty.Although they are not born in noble class and dont have outstanding outward beauty，they become intellectual and good-mannered through their nurture.They long for knowledge and civilization.They consider it a virtue to be civilized and intelligent.They also want to make other poor girls civilized.

In fact，Blanche Ingram is talented.She can play piano very well in the ball and she has much knowledge，such as botany.But she considers her talent just as something for showing off.She doesnt know how to be humble and how to respect others.Her behavior makes her talent fade.

2.3 Spirit Beauty

In contrast to those three beautiful ladies，Jane is a plain girl.She doesnt get graces from the nature.She is far from outward beauty，but she has spirit beauty.She succeeds at asserting herself and maintains her principles of justice，human dignity and emotional fulfillment.Her strong belief in gender and social equality challenges the Victorian prejudices against women and the poor.

Conclusion

By creating these comparisons and contrasts，the author makes the readers give more thought to this novel.They are something like a mirror，which not only enhances the attractiveness of Jane Erye，but also reflects the reality of the society.

References：

[1]Charlotte Bronte， Jane Erye， Beijing： Foreign Languages Press， 2009.

作者简介：王文杰，男，（1988-）河北广平人，硕士，云南大学旅游文化学院外语系教师，助教，研究方向：英语笔译。