Now that I have read the classical novel, Jane Eyre, I feel that this book has made me look life from a different point of view. When I read what Jane went throughout her childhood, and how she didn’t let an issue affect her way of trying to be successful; it made me realize that I shouldn’t let a little thing affect my dreams and goals, and affect my life. Like Jane did, I should forgive and forget, because if I constantly think about what that person did to me, I won’t be able to proceed and be successful. This is why I think that it’s better to forgive the person and forget about the issue. For instance, Richard, tell us in his blog, “It can only hurt you if you let it”: “…we shouldn’t care about what others think of us. Every hurtful statement is only said to focus on your weaknesses and to make you submissive. Basically it's just said to belittle you. The statements cannot hurt you physically, but only mentally. We leave ourselves vulnerable to the insult and it somehow finds its way to hurt us mentally”. This statement proves how you really shouldn’t let anything bring you down. Keep your head up high at all times, just like Jane did. Jane, was able to forget and forgive Mr. Rochester and her aunt, Mrs. Reed. She forgave Mr. Rochester’s lie; in which he didn’t tell Jane that he was previously married to some other woman, Bertha Mason. And she also forgave Mrs. Reed, for not loving and caring for Jane in her childhood, for treating her poorly, and also for not telling Jane that she had a family; and that she wasn’t alone in this world.
Throughout Jane’s life there has been many closed doors, but that isn’t an issue for Jane: she opens those closed doors until she finds what she wants. Jane, finds the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow: her happiness along with Edward Rochester. She forgives him for not telling her that he had previously been married to Bertha, but she doesn‘t marry him how they are supposed to in the first time. Eduardo explains it in one of his blogs: "In the end it seems that even though Mr. Rochester's actions are justified: love wasn't enough. Jane loves him: Jane can forgive him, but she will not stay with him. Love can cure many things but honesty unfortunately comes first...Honesty is number one”. Nevertheless, Jane has forgotten about how KAEH tells us in his blog “At the End of the Day Destiny Prevails”: “Society tried to stop these two character's love by threatening to judge her of only wanting to move up in social status by marrying Rochester”. Jane moved along with her love towards Mr. Rochester, and didn’t care what others would say. At the end of the day, she follows her heart, even though earlier in her life she has doubted herself for loving him; “You have nothing to do with the master of Thornfield, further than to receive the salary he gives you for teaching his protégée, and to be grateful for such respectful and kind treatment as, if you do your duty, you have the right to expect at his hands. Be sure that is the only tie he seriously acknowledges between you and him: so don't make the object of your fine feelings, your raptures, agonies, and so forth. He is not of your order: keep to your caste; and be too self-respecting to lavish the love of the whole heart, soul. And strength, where such a gift is not wanted and would be despised”. (165)
Jane shows us how her personality changes throughout the book. She used to be a little girl that couldn’t really express her feelings; because she was dependent on Mrs. Reed’s care. Mrs. Reed wouldn’t treat her like her niece, she would take out her wrath out in poor Jane. And when I say poor, I mean as in money wise, but also as defend less. Mrs. Reed had told Jane she had no family, no money, nothing! She was alone in this cruel world. And even though she has treated Jane poorly, Jane, never feels resentment for Mrs. Reed, and Jane shows us how kind she is, and respectful to Mrs. Reed when she was dying; “Yes, Aunt Reed. How are you, dear aunt?”. (234) Why would Jane say such thing? Mrs. Reed, in my opinion has no right to be respected by Jane. It should be the opposite; Jane should be the one respected by her “aunt”. In my opinion, Mrs. Reed should beg Jane for forgiveness, for treating her poorly. Furthermore, Jane proofs to the readers to be a forgiven individual; she doesn’t take no resentments for no one. But yet it makes me wonder, if Jane is being respectful either because her aunt is about to die or because she just decided to forget about it, now that she has found happiness?
“The most important thing that I have learned while reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is to not let anyone or anything make you feel inferior by what people say. If people ever push you around, do everything you can to make the abuse stop. Don't listen to what they have to say if you know it is false. It doesn't matter what other people say as long as you know what is true about yourself and what is not”, from Eric’s blog “Don’t Listen to Them”. This is the same thing I was able to get from reading Jane Eyre, now I view life from a different angle. Jane went through a lot, and yet she is able to get back up again, and not look back. Jane, doesn’t care anymore about what people think about her. She’s able to forget about the bad times and forgive the people that did her wrong. Sometimes I wished I can just do what Jane did, forget about the past and don’t look back, but is hard to do so. I’m not as a strong woman as Jane is, but I do try my best. Nevertheless, I think forgiving Mr. Rochester was one of the best things Jane did throughout the book. Even though, earlier in the book I didn’t approve of this illicit relationship, now I have a different view of the book. Now, I can see that their love is bigger than the criticism of others, and I’m glad that Jane didn’t listened to them. If Jane, would’ve had stayed with St. John, the book would’ve turn out to have a different ending. Jane would of not being as happy as she is now. Maybe she would’ve still being independent, but without happiness. But at the end of the day she went back to Ferndean, and stayed by Mr. Rochester’s side. Now at this point of her life there is nothing that can prevent them to live happily ever after; Bertha is now dead, and she has been forgotten, Mrs. Reed is also dead, but she has been forgiven. At the end, we learn that is better to forgive and forget, and to not look back.
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Monday, December 14, 2009
Forgive and Forget
When it comes to forgiving someone, it takes a lot of courage and love. When it comes to forgetting, you must make sure that it’s what you truly want. In Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, this concept of “forgive and forget” is well portrayed, especially through Jane Eyre herself. Throughout her life, she struggled to get what she wanted, but she was patient and finally found happiness. Jane has proven herself to be courageous and lovable, and she knew what she wanted. She forgave so many times as she was growing up and in the process, she moved on.
As a child, Jane was treated with such cruelty by her aunt, Mrs. Reed, and her cousins as well. She never had anyone to comfort her and to love her as a child, and that’s probably one of the most important things a child needs all throughout his or her childhood. Jane’s aunt placed her in the red-room for something her cousin, John, did. After this event, Jane held so much hatred against her aunt and her cousins. When Mrs. Reed finally decided to send Jane to Lowood, Jane was happy to finally get away from all the cruelty. Before departing to Lowood, Jane spoke to her aunt and reassured to her that she hated her. “I am glad you are no relation of mine: I will never call you aunt again as long as I live. I will never come to see you when I am grown up; and if any one asks me how I liked you, and how you treated me, I will say the very thought of you makes me sick, and that you treated me with miserable cruelty,” (36). These are the harsh, yet liberating words Jane told her aunt as a child. Although she says she will never visit her when she is grown up, Jane comes back eight years later. Mrs. Reed is now a dying woman, and Jane finally forgives her for being such a cruel woman to her as a child. As Jane tries to fix things with her aunt, Mrs. Reed keeps refusing to straighten things out. What caused Mrs. Reed’s hatred towards Jane was what Jane had told her as a child before she went away to school. This stayed with Mrs. Reed all these years. In her blog, “Forgive.”, Liszette says “…I couldn't believe that Jane, when she was still a young girl, said something to Mrs. Reed that stuck with her for so many years. Mrs. Reed kept in all this resentment towards Jane; she never forgave her. Jane said she would always hate Mrs. Reed, but ended up forgiving her when she saw all that had happened while she was gone. Yet, Mrs. Reed, a grown woman, was still cruel to her after all these years.” I too, was surprised by this. But Jane had the courage to go back to Gateshead and forgive her aunt. Jane moved on. Although she never really forgot about her horrible childhood, you can say she never let it affect her again. She forgave and she forgot; she did her part.
Later on in Jane’s life, she stumbles upon the love of her life—Mr. Rochester. After knowing each other for a long enough period of time, they decide to get married. The two individuals are deeply in love, but on the day of their wedding, everything falls apart. Jane is betrayed, once again. The one thing she didn’t know about Mr. Rochester is that he was already married to crazy Bertha Mason. This broke Jane’s heart severely. Although she was hurting inside, Jane knew she loved Mr. Rochester. He loved her enough to apologize to her, but at first she hesitated to forgive him. When she finally forgives him, she decides to leave Thornfield, for better or worst. “You are going, Jane” “I am going, sir.” “You are leaving me?” “Yes,” (323). Jane knows that in order to forget about everything, she must leave. In Ana’s blog, “The risk in running away,” she states “Running away from your problems isn’t a very good idea…” Here she is talking about Jane’s leaving Thornfield and then later coming back because she “…realized that she couldn't run away from her problems that she had left behind in Thornfield….” True. Jane didn’t necessarily forget about all the drama caused by Mr. Rochester, but she forgave him for everything he ever did. “’God bless you, my dear master!’ I said. ‘God keep you from harm and wrong—direct you, solace you—reward you well for you past kindness to me.”(324) Jane forgives him; she loves him no matter what and she wishes Mr. Rochester the best.
Jane had to face many obstacles throughout her life, but every time, she over came them. It must’ve been hard for her having to forgive the people who hurt her the most, but Jane is a strong woman; she can handle almost anything, and like Erika says in her blog, “Leaving it all behind,” “Becoming a new person and forgetting your past requires hard work and dedication. You have to mean what you say and be loyal to the decisions that you make.”
As a child, Jane was treated with such cruelty by her aunt, Mrs. Reed, and her cousins as well. She never had anyone to comfort her and to love her as a child, and that’s probably one of the most important things a child needs all throughout his or her childhood. Jane’s aunt placed her in the red-room for something her cousin, John, did. After this event, Jane held so much hatred against her aunt and her cousins. When Mrs. Reed finally decided to send Jane to Lowood, Jane was happy to finally get away from all the cruelty. Before departing to Lowood, Jane spoke to her aunt and reassured to her that she hated her. “I am glad you are no relation of mine: I will never call you aunt again as long as I live. I will never come to see you when I am grown up; and if any one asks me how I liked you, and how you treated me, I will say the very thought of you makes me sick, and that you treated me with miserable cruelty,” (36). These are the harsh, yet liberating words Jane told her aunt as a child. Although she says she will never visit her when she is grown up, Jane comes back eight years later. Mrs. Reed is now a dying woman, and Jane finally forgives her for being such a cruel woman to her as a child. As Jane tries to fix things with her aunt, Mrs. Reed keeps refusing to straighten things out. What caused Mrs. Reed’s hatred towards Jane was what Jane had told her as a child before she went away to school. This stayed with Mrs. Reed all these years. In her blog, “Forgive.”, Liszette says “…I couldn't believe that Jane, when she was still a young girl, said something to Mrs. Reed that stuck with her for so many years. Mrs. Reed kept in all this resentment towards Jane; she never forgave her. Jane said she would always hate Mrs. Reed, but ended up forgiving her when she saw all that had happened while she was gone. Yet, Mrs. Reed, a grown woman, was still cruel to her after all these years.” I too, was surprised by this. But Jane had the courage to go back to Gateshead and forgive her aunt. Jane moved on. Although she never really forgot about her horrible childhood, you can say she never let it affect her again. She forgave and she forgot; she did her part.
Later on in Jane’s life, she stumbles upon the love of her life—Mr. Rochester. After knowing each other for a long enough period of time, they decide to get married. The two individuals are deeply in love, but on the day of their wedding, everything falls apart. Jane is betrayed, once again. The one thing she didn’t know about Mr. Rochester is that he was already married to crazy Bertha Mason. This broke Jane’s heart severely. Although she was hurting inside, Jane knew she loved Mr. Rochester. He loved her enough to apologize to her, but at first she hesitated to forgive him. When she finally forgives him, she decides to leave Thornfield, for better or worst. “You are going, Jane” “I am going, sir.” “You are leaving me?” “Yes,” (323). Jane knows that in order to forget about everything, she must leave. In Ana’s blog, “The risk in running away,” she states “Running away from your problems isn’t a very good idea…” Here she is talking about Jane’s leaving Thornfield and then later coming back because she “…realized that she couldn't run away from her problems that she had left behind in Thornfield….” True. Jane didn’t necessarily forget about all the drama caused by Mr. Rochester, but she forgave him for everything he ever did. “’God bless you, my dear master!’ I said. ‘God keep you from harm and wrong—direct you, solace you—reward you well for you past kindness to me.”(324) Jane forgives him; she loves him no matter what and she wishes Mr. Rochester the best.
Jane had to face many obstacles throughout her life, but every time, she over came them. It must’ve been hard for her having to forgive the people who hurt her the most, but Jane is a strong woman; she can handle almost anything, and like Erika says in her blog, “Leaving it all behind,” “Becoming a new person and forgetting your past requires hard work and dedication. You have to mean what you say and be loyal to the decisions that you make.”
Monday, November 23, 2009
Forgive and Forget
Jane: "Gentle Reader, may you never feel what I then felt! May your eyes never shed such stormy, scalding, heart-wrung tears as poured from mine. May you never appeal to Heaven in prayers so hopeless and so agonised as in that hour left my lips: for never may you, like me, dread to be the instrument of evil to what you wholly love." (pg. 327)
Jane clearly tells the reader that she was really hurt when she found out Mr. Rochester was already married. She is not a selfish person at all. She tells the reader that she hopes nothing like what happened to her happens to anyone else. Just from this passage, you can tell what kind of woman Jane is. She is a caring individual that respects not only Mr. Rochester but herself as well. Leaving Thornfield meant willing to leave everything and everyone behind and forgiving those who hurt her. If she didn't respect herself, she wouldn't have cared about her reputation and would've stayed in Thornfield as Mr. Rochester's mistress, but she respects herself enough to recognize that it would be a stupid thing to do. Jane forgave Mr. Rochester and left. She is a smart woman. Forgiving and leaving show that she respects Mr. Rochester and his marriage, even though she loves him.
Here's a link to a picture of a lonely and almost sad-looking bird. Jane was sad about leaving and she was hurt, but she managed to leave everything behind and move on.
Title: Bird and surfers
By: Mel B.
Jane clearly tells the reader that she was really hurt when she found out Mr. Rochester was already married. She is not a selfish person at all. She tells the reader that she hopes nothing like what happened to her happens to anyone else. Just from this passage, you can tell what kind of woman Jane is. She is a caring individual that respects not only Mr. Rochester but herself as well. Leaving Thornfield meant willing to leave everything and everyone behind and forgiving those who hurt her. If she didn't respect herself, she wouldn't have cared about her reputation and would've stayed in Thornfield as Mr. Rochester's mistress, but she respects herself enough to recognize that it would be a stupid thing to do. Jane forgave Mr. Rochester and left. She is a smart woman. Forgiving and leaving show that she respects Mr. Rochester and his marriage, even though she loves him.
Here's a link to a picture of a lonely and almost sad-looking bird. Jane was sad about leaving and she was hurt, but she managed to leave everything behind and move on.
Title: Bird and surfers
By: Mel B.
Can love cure deceit?
"Little Jane's love would have been my best reward," he answered:"without it, my heart is broken. But Jane will give me her love: yes--nobly, generously."
Up the blood rushed to his face; forth flashed the fire from his eyes; erect he sprang; he held his arms out; but I evaded the embrace, and at once quitted the room.
"Farewell!" was the cry of my heart as I left him. Despair added,"Farewell, for ever!"(324)
Jane is in love with Mr.Rochester, as he is with her. However, she can't be with him for this treacherous deceit. Deceit as defined by Dictionary.com is "the act or practice of deceiving; concealment or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading; duplicity; fraud; cheating". This is exactly what Mr.Rochester did. He lied to Jane, but is he justified for his actions?
Most people think that Jane shouldn't forgive Mr.Rochester. Though his cause was okay the truth shall set us free. His legal wife is not fit to be married. She has a disease. However, he is such a good person that he didn't want to put her in an insane asylum. In this time period people in insane asylums were tortured. Though his wife should be in some mental hospital:she didn't deserve to be tortured. So if that isn't justified enough he was also freeing Jane from the burden of knowledge.
Mr.Rochester's actions were selfish, but wouldn't Jane be happy with him? He knew if she knew the truth she wouldn't marry him. He was being deceitful; he purposely tricked Jane. However, had he not, Jane wouldn't even come close to feeling the love she felt for him. Though she was tricked and lied to, she was also given true happiness.
In the end it seems that even though Mr.Rochester's actions are justified:love wasn't enough. Jane loves him: Jane can forgive him, but she will not stay with him. Love can cure many things but honesty unfortunately comes first. Like in the web link below and Sophocles agree. Honesty is number one.
http://writingjunkie.net/honesty.jpg
Friday, November 13, 2009
Forgive.
In chapter 21 after 8 years have passed, Jane talks to Mrs. Reed. Jane makes it very clear that she forgives Mrs. Reed for treating her badly as a child, but Mrs. Reed held a grudge all those years. Jane Eyre's uncle had written a card to Jane 3 years ago. It said that he was well-off money wise, but he had no heir. He wanted to adopt Jane. This would have been a wonderful opportunity for Jane, but Mrs. Reed never gave her the letter and even told Jane's uncle that Jane had died. When Mrs. Reed finally told Jane of the letter, Jane asked why she had never given it to her. Mrs. Reed replied:
Because I disliked you too fixedly and thoroughly ever to lend a hand in lifting you to prosperity. I could not forget your conduct to me, Jane—the fury with which you once turned on me; the tone in which you declared you abhorred me the worst of any body in the world; the unchild-like look and voice with which you affirmed that the very thought of me made you sick, and asserted that I had treated you with miserable cruelty. I could not forget my own sensations when you thus started up and poured out the venom of your mind: I felt fear, as if an animal that I had struck or pushed had looked up at me with human eyes and cursed me in a man's voice.—Bring me some water! Oh, make haste!
This stood out to me because I couldn't believe that Jane, when she was still a young girl, said something to Mrs. Reed that stuck with her for so many years. Mrs. Reed kept in all this resentment towards Jane; she never forgave her. Jane said she would always hate Mrs. Reed, but ended up forgiving her when she saw all that had happened while she was gone. Yet, Mrs. Reed, a grown woman, was still cruel to her after all these years.
Forgive
"From a seed to a plant"
Jane I feel that you have blossomed into a mature young lady. You have learned to forgive and leave your past behind. Even though what your aunt did to you when you were younger and even just a few years ago has not stopped you from being the bigger and better person. Lowood has shaped your perspective about your attitude and life that has brought you to a higher level. You have realized that wealth and status has brought the Reeds family to witness destruction. Just take a look at your cousins who you once lived with, they are all having a rough time because they let wealth and status determine their future. Even though you were claimed to have had the lowest status at Gateshead Hall you are now in first place against the Reeds. I honor your gratitude and sympathy towards your aunt because she was a ruffian towards you even though you were just a young child, ready to explore. Most people in the 21st century would take advantage of this moment by taking revenge on her for the evil acts that she presented upon you. I think most of your attitude has to be related to your religious factor with the way you act. Mrs. Reed is not fit to be a mother, she didn't even raised her on children, she left that major duty up to the servants and the money which lead them all to corruption. Jane we really need more people with that type of attitude to set a good example of how people should perform in certain situations like yours. i can honestly say that your killing Mrs. Reed with kindness.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelbest/2198340937/
http://images.easyart.com/i/prints/rw/en_easyart/lg/3/0/Young-Woman-on-her-Death-Bed-1621-Flemish-School-301442.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelbest/2198340937/
http://images.easyart.com/i/prints/rw/en_easyart/lg/3/0/Young-Woman-on-her-Death-Bed-1621-Flemish-School-301442.jpg
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Forgive and forget?
"The well-known face was there: stern, relentless as ever--- there was that peculiar eye which nothing could melt; and the somewhat raised, imperious, despotic eyebrow. How often had it lowered on me menace and hate! and how the recollection of childhood's terrors and sorrows revived as I traced its harsh line now! And yet I stooped down and kissed her: she looked at me?
Is this jane Eyre? she said
Yes, aunt Reed. How are you, dear aunt?" (234)
Dear aunt? How is she dear? When in her life did she ever treat you like a human being? How can you just forget all the pain? In this part of the novel Jane has been called by Mrs.Reed on her deathbed to come and talk to her. As if she has the right to ask for anything. However, Jane decides to go and spends about a month at Gateshead. I am so shocked at this reaction Jane had towards that evil woman. She never treated Jane with any type of love, why should Jane even recognize her as her aunt?
This scene in the book really shows how good Jane is. She's able to forgive and forget and even asks for forgiveness. However, while it may be a good thing that she is respectful, since when did we have to love those who cause us pain. Mrs.Reed has been nothing more than an evil witch to Jane. Casting her away from her family, treating her as if she were less of a human. She never earned the title dear aunt.
I was honestly anticipating a lot of conflicts between the both. Mrs.Reed hated Jane. Why should Jane even act courteous towards her. I understand that Mrs.Reed is about to die, but that does not excuse the way she treated Jane. I honestly hate the fact that Jane has forgiven her.
I myself have gone through the same thing with my father. It's been about ten years and it seems as if I will never forgive him. How can Jane so easily treat that woman with any respect? Where did she find the courage to return to that place that held all her painful past? Maybe Jane is nicer and a lot braver than I, but that woman did not deserve her forgiveness.
I am also not the only person to believe we shouldn't forgive those who cause us pain. Rodney Mullins in on of his pictures states,"How can I forgive when it hurts so much." Maybe Jane is no longer in pain about the past, but her past is why she is so careful. Why should she forgive her aunt?
http://rodneymullins.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/forgiveness.jpg
Is this jane Eyre? she said
Yes, aunt Reed. How are you, dear aunt?" (234)
Dear aunt? How is she dear? When in her life did she ever treat you like a human being? How can you just forget all the pain? In this part of the novel Jane has been called by Mrs.Reed on her deathbed to come and talk to her. As if she has the right to ask for anything. However, Jane decides to go and spends about a month at Gateshead. I am so shocked at this reaction Jane had towards that evil woman. She never treated Jane with any type of love, why should Jane even recognize her as her aunt?
This scene in the book really shows how good Jane is. She's able to forgive and forget and even asks for forgiveness. However, while it may be a good thing that she is respectful, since when did we have to love those who cause us pain. Mrs.Reed has been nothing more than an evil witch to Jane. Casting her away from her family, treating her as if she were less of a human. She never earned the title dear aunt.
I was honestly anticipating a lot of conflicts between the both. Mrs.Reed hated Jane. Why should Jane even act courteous towards her. I understand that Mrs.Reed is about to die, but that does not excuse the way she treated Jane. I honestly hate the fact that Jane has forgiven her.
I myself have gone through the same thing with my father. It's been about ten years and it seems as if I will never forgive him. How can Jane so easily treat that woman with any respect? Where did she find the courage to return to that place that held all her painful past? Maybe Jane is nicer and a lot braver than I, but that woman did not deserve her forgiveness.
I am also not the only person to believe we shouldn't forgive those who cause us pain. Rodney Mullins in on of his pictures states,"How can I forgive when it hurts so much." Maybe Jane is no longer in pain about the past, but her past is why she is so careful. Why should she forgive her aunt?
http://rodneymullins.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/forgiveness.jpg
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