background of the social and the family of the author, under the background, Charlotte Bronte wrote “Jane Eyre”. The protagonist of the novel, Jane Eyre, has neither property nor beauty at all, yet she is tough-willed, brave, sincere and zealous, and besides, she is in hot pursuit of independence, freedom and equality, defending her personal value and maintaining her self-esteem. So it follows that she is a new female featuring self-respect, self-love and self-reliance and independence. This article emphatically from the environment which Jane located and her life experience, elaborates how Jane Eyre from a weak little girl, growing into a successful female, who dares to challenge to fate, and through own endeavor, realizes the self- value. The novel successfully shapes an image of a woman who defies tradition and bravely takes up challenges to strive for freedom and equal social status, thus sounding the trumpet of the battle for the female freedom and equality. This novel demonstrates the fact that the western women in the 19th century have awakened to the female consciousness. Viewing Jane Eyre from all respects, we can see a new female image: the incarnation of self-esteem, self-respect, self-support and self-reliance. Furthermore, the spirit of not submitting to the pressure, darling to challenge, strongly advocated in the novel is still of great significance in our modern society.
Key words: Background Experience Character Independence modern times
1 .Background 1.1 social backgrounds
The novel “Jane Eyre” is the fame-winning work and masterpiece of the 19th century British writer, Charlotte Bronte. During the period from 1830s to 1840s, the labor movement was vigorously forging ahead in the Northern Industry Zone. There appeared gatherings and demonstrations with numerous participants who yelled the revolutionary slogans in Manchester and its neighboring factories and urban areas; then England practiced the reform of the bourgeois democracy under which the government departments seemingly carried out a series of measures for democratic reform. For instance passed the bill, the females worked to ten hours. However, it was far from the acquisition of the so-called right of equality even if the chartist movement didn’t come up with the proposal for equality of the opposite sexes. So in the then England, it was impossible for females to find a niche in the society, particularly the women falling within the category of the petty bourgeoisie though they was educated, yet they had no proprieties, so they lacked the very competitiveness in the marriage market and tended to suffer from snubs and poverty, having depending on other persons for support and being
left stranded penniless. For those female of upper society, the marriage or life-long accompanied the parents became their finally choice. For the poor female in the society, no matter marries or unmarried, all must in the farm, the inn, store and so on. T After the industrial development initially, they can work in the factory, Except for this, maid is also their usual choice. This is a cruel picture of the reality of the 19th century in England.
1.2 Family background
The novel “Jane Eyre” is the fame-winning work and masterpiece of the 19th century British writer, Charlotte Bronte. During the period from 1830s to 1840s, the labor movement was vigorously forging ahead in the Northern Industry Zone. There appeared gatherings and demonstrations with numerous participants who yelled the revolutionary slogans in Manchester and its neighboring factories and urban areas; the then England practiced the reform of the bourgeois democracy under which the government departments seemingly carried out a series of measures for democratic reform. For instance passed the bill, the females work to ten hours. However, it was far from the acquisition of the so-called right of equality even if the chartist movement didn’t come up with the proposal for equality of the opposite sexes. So in the then England, it was impossible for females to find a niche in the society, particularly the women falling within the category of the petty bourgeoisie though they
was educated, yet they had no proprieties, so they lacked the very competitiveness in the marriage market and tended to suffer from snubs and poverty, having depending on other persons for support and being left stranded penniless. For those female of upper society, the marriage or life-long accompanied the parents became their finally choice. For the poor female in the society, no matter marries or unmarried, all must in the farm, the inn, store and so on. T After the industrial development initially, they can work in the factory, Except for this, maid is also their usual choice. This is a cruel picture of the reality of the 19th century in England.
2． Jane’s experience 2.1 In Gateshead
Jane Eyre’s parents died, leaving her as a poor orphan and living in her uncle’s home as a helpless orphan but very soon her uncle died, leaving her to her wealthy aunt, a selfish and cruel woman, who spoils her own children with tenderness but extremely hates her, mistreats her as a source of growing annoyance together with her children, so even the nurse and housemaids in her house look down on such as a poor sponge. Her aunt’s whole family gives her double brutality, physical and spiritual, so much as that hatred and malice are thus nurtured in the deep recesses of her heart, which drives her out of endurance, so she comes out against them. In there Jane is a wretched little girl who often was
humiliated . The servants are biased .Mrs Reed detested her. Jane life was very unfair .But Jane didn't perish in the despairing and didn't submit in spirit .Mr Reed's family like a special soil for Jane Eyre. Making her resistant character and independent disposition .When Jane was hit badly by her cousin John young master. She dared to beat against him in crazy .Moreover, she also dare to resist her aunt and exposed her hypocrisy and viciousness. The cruel treatment she receives from her aunt Reed and her cousins only exacerbates her feeling of alienation. Afraid that she will never find a true sense of home or community, Jane feels the need to belong somewhere. This desire tempers her equally intense need for autonomy and freedom. Mrs. Reed doesn’t like Jane and sends her to a charity school for poor girls in Lowood. 2.2 In Lowood school
At Lowood boarding school, Jane further develops the rebellious element in her personality. Though the orphanage is a charitable organization, it is a sheer hell on the earth. The school is run by Mr. Brocklehurst, is an inspector of the school but a hypocritical Puritan. In the name of running a charitable organization, he actually intends to bleed the orphans for his own benefits. The enclosing walls of the school are so high that they shroud the views of whatever kind. The orphans are given the simple and meager food every day, two orphans sleeping on a small bed, six for a wash basin. The orphans are singly clad and badly