浅析简爱的性格魅力

第一篇：浅析简爱的性格魅力

摘 要

《简·爱》是英国女作家夏洛蒂·勃朗特的一部带有自传色彩的长篇小说。它的问世，曾经轰动了19世纪的英国文坛，吸引了国内外成千上万的读者。它之所以经典，在于作品成功地塑造了一位为追求平等、尊严以及独立而敢于与生活困境、社会歧视以及男权主义进行斗争的女性形象。小说集中描述了她为谋求妇女经济独立和爱情平等权利而进行的反抗斗争。本文旨在通过简爱不同的成长环境分析其反抗和独立的性格，力求全方位的感受和理解简爱性格的独特魅力。

关键词：性格；独立；反抗；尊严

I

Abstract

Jane Eyre, a novel with a strong autobiographical color which was written by Charlotte Bronte.When it was first published, it shocked the whole English literary world in the 19th century.Furthermore, it attracts and moves thousands of readers at home and abroad.It is a classic work because the author successfully pictures an amazing herione who dares to struggle with poor enviroment, social discrimination and patriarchy in order to pursue equality, dignity, independence and so on.This novel mainly decribes her rebellion for seeking women‟s economic independence and love of equal rights.This paper aims at analyzing Jane Eyre‟s rebellious and independent character through the different enviroments in Jane‟s growing process so as to fully understand the unique charm of Jane‟s character.Key words: character;independence;rebellion;dignity II An Analysis of Jane Eyre’s Characters in Jane Eyre

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of Binhai School of Foreign Affairs

Tianjin Foreign Studies University

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Arts

by Huang yawei May，2013

Contents

Abstract(in Chinese)………………..………………………………………….I Abstract(in English)……………..………………………………………….....II I.Introduction …………………………………….…...………………………..1

1.1 About Charlotte Bronte…………….………………………………………..…….....1

1.2 The social background of Jane Eyre…………………………………..……..…….…2

1.3 The brief introduction of Jane Eyre…………………………………………………..3 II.Literature review...……………………………………………………….......4 III.Jane Eyre at Gateshead………………….......................................................6 3.1 Jane Eyre‟s rebellion………………………………………………...........................6 3.1.1 Under the ill-treatment from John Reed..……………………….…..................6 3.1.2 In the Red Room……...........................................................................................7 3.1.3 In front of Mrs.Reed……………………………..……………….…………….8 3.2 Jane‟s independence at Gateshead…………………………………...…….…...….10 IV.Jane Eyre at Lowood Institution……………………………………..…….11 4.1 Jane‟s rebellion…………………………………………………………..….…….11 4.1.1 Contrast between Helen Burns and Jane · Eyre……………...……….…..…….11

4.1.2 Against Mr.Brocklehurst………………..……………..……………....................12

4.2 Jane‟s independence at Lowood Institution ………………………………...……13 V.Jane Eyre at Thornfield Hall and Moor House………..................................14 5.1 Jane‟s rebellion………………………………………………………..……………14

5.1.1 On human dignity…………...………………...………………………..….…14

5.1.2 On love …………………………….....………………………………...……15

5.2 Jane‟s independence at Thornfield Hall and Moor House…………………………17 VI.Conclusion…………………………………………………………………18 References………………………………………………………………...……20 I.Introduction

1.1 About Charlotte Bronte

Charlotte Bronte(1816-1855)was born at Thornton, in Yorkshire England, the third of six children.She was not pretty.She was plain and little, but her name was put in the first page of the history of English literature in the 19th century because of the success of Jane Eyre.In August 1824, Charlotte Bronte was sent with three of her sisters to the Clergy Daughters‟ School at Cowan Bridge.Due to its poor and unhealthy conditions, her two elder sisters died at 11 and 10 years old.Charlotte survived, but her healthy was permanently affected.Soon after, she moved from the school and lived with her living sisters, Emily and Anne.And Charlotte continued her education at Roe Heed School in Mirfield at fiftheen years old.In 1839, Charotte left Roe Heed School and took up the first position as a governess in some private families in Yorkshire.However, the job at that time was treated with bias and she suffered a lot.To make a living, Charlotte and her sister Emily wanted to open a school to teach children French, but they were not good at this language.In 1843, they travelled to Brussels to learn French.They met Mr.Herger, the owner of the Pension at Herger, a girl‟s school, where Charlotte and Emily were pupils and Charlotte later worked as a teacher.While during the period between 1839 and 1842, there were two men ask for Charlotte‟s proposal, one was the brother of Charlotte‟s friend, another was a young clergyman.Charlotte rejected them for the reason that she thought she was not their true love but a tradition to marry a woman.Her attitude towards love was very vivid.She knew whom she loved and what she wanted.Then Charlotte returned her hometown to open a school with her two sisters.However, they failed.After their dream was broken, Charlotte thought writing might be another way.In May 1846, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne published a joint collection of poetry under assumed names of Currer, Ellis and Action Bell.Although only two copies were sold, they decided to continue writing for publication and began to work on their first novel.It was very unfortunate, Emily and Anne both died of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1848 and 1849 respectively.Charlotte and her father were left alone.Under the very hardship condition, Charlotte continuously worked hard in the journey of literary creation and published Shirley(1848)and Villette(1853)and began to create the novel Emma in 1853.For her first novel, The Professor(1857)was published under the name Currier Bell and was based on her own experiences of teaching in Brussels, but never found a publisher in her lifetime.The world-famous autobiography novel, Jane Eyre, was written in 1846.In the novel, Charlotte created a figure to make her ideal dream of love come true.On June 1854, Charlotte married Arthur Bell Nicholls, her father‟s curate.She died nine months later during her first pregnancy.In general, her works are all about the strugggle of an individual consciousness toward slef-realization, about some lonely and neglected young wowen with a longing for love.1.2 The social background of Jane Eyre

1832, the year when the first Reform Act was passed, was usually regarded as the end of the Romantic era and the beginning of the Victorian age, although Queen Victorian did not start her reign until 1837.The Victorian age(1832-1902)was usually subdivided into the following phases: the early victorian period, the mid-victorian period and the late victorian period.And Charlotte Bronte wrote Jane Eyre in the early victorian period when the economic developed rapidly.At that time, England developed into a rich, advanced industrial country.Although capitalist had appeared, old convention and prejudice remained dominant.Many social problems still exsited, for instance, the sharpest contrast between the rich and the poor and the rigid social hierarchy.In this period, women were still regarded as second-class hierarchy.They were employed as cheap laborer and were forced to do very hard jobs.They had no place in politics, economics and society.They had no right to pursue their own love and their status were totally dependent upon the economic position of their fathers and then their husbands.Furthermore, they had to sacrifice themselves to serve their husbands and children.However, under various unequal treatments, some outstanding women appeared, such as famous women writers, Bronte sisters.They were great English realists at that time.They created pictures of bourgeois civilization, showing the misery and suffering of the common people.So in the late period of Victorian age, a feminism movement started.Those feminists fought for women‟s equality, freedom, their educational and employment opportunities.What‟s more, Petitions to parliament advocating women‟s suffrage were approved as early as in the 1840.1.3 The brief introduction to “ Jane Eyre”

Jane Eyre, the main character, is a plain orphan who is cruelly treated in childhood by her aunt, Mrs.Reed, the wife of her mother‟s brother.At Gateshead, Jane bears ten years of neglect and abuse, especially after her uncle died.Mrs.Reed is a harsh, cold and unsympathetic woman who treats Jane as a servant, but pampers her three children.They look down upon her because she is not pretty and has no money.In order to be accepted by her aunt, she tries to stand difficulties, however, her aunt still treats her as a thron.After suffering all kinds of inhumane treatments at Gateshead, she is sent away to a boarding school at the tender age of ten, where she receives good education under severe conditions and makes a friend with Helen Burns.There, at Lowood, Jane bears a lot both physically and mentally, only consoled by a kind teacher, Miss Temple.After eight years at the school, Jane Eyre becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall.Mr.Rochester, the master of the house, who seems to have a dark past.Day after day, Mr.Rochester is attracted not by her looks but her wit and courageous spirit, and falls in love with her.This is the same with her.Then Jane accepts Mr.Rochester‟s proposal.But their marriage is prevented by the unexpected fact that he has already had a wife, a mad woman who is still alive.Jane feels very shocked and is deeply hurt, then she leaves him quietly because she doesn‟t want to be a mistress.Jane arrives at the desolate crossroads and refuses to beg for food.Fortunately, the Rivers family takes her into their home at Moor House.Jane develops great affection for the ladies, and happily teaches at St.John‟s school.She gradually thinks that she has inherited a vast fortune because she has become a member of a new famliy.St.John, a very handsome clergyman who is determined to devote himself to God.He admires Jane and asks her to be his wife.However, she suddenly feels that she still cherishes a deep love for Rochester.Finally, she refuses St.John and goes back to find Rochester, who is a blind but free man.Then they marry and enjoy a contented and peaceful life.II.Literary review

Jane Eyre was written according to Charlotte Bronte‟s own experience.It was published in London, England, in 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co.And the first American edition was released the following year by Harper & Brothers of New York.It has been described as “the first modern novel, the first to envelop the life of a plain ordinary woman with romance”(Thomley, G.C.& Gwyneth Roberts, 1984: 124)William Makepeace Thackeray also hailed it as “ the mastework of great genius”.Jane Eyre successfully created a great sensation in the whole literary world through the struggling story of a “Cinderella”.Nowadays, it still attracts many readers.The film which was adapted by Jane Eyre, had won an Oscar Academy Awards.Therefore, lots of writers and critics at home and abroad remain enthusiastic about it.When G.K.Chesterton said, “ The novel of the 19th century was female”(G.K.Chesterton, 2011: 96), he must have been refering to the emergence of a number of brilliant woman writers who gave voice to the feelings and aspirations of the educated women of their age.Charlotte Bronte is one of the greatest women writers, and her Jane Eyre is undoubtedly an outstanding women‟s declaration of independence and love.Jane Eyre is also honoured as “ Another book is required reading for women ” and “ It is worth reading than fifty Trollopes, fifty Dickens and any other novels”.(Trubner and Company, 2010 : 132)Furthermore, Dickens and Thackeray highly praised Jane Eyre as it revealed the political and the social truth to the world.At the same time, Marx also rated Charlotte as an excellent novelist in Britain.Throughout the domestic researches, Jane Eyre also gets a lot of recognition.“ For some years, Charlotte Bronte has written her works, Shirler, Villette and so on, but Jane Eyre is the most successful and popular one”(吴伟仁, 2004: 233)At the same time, it is also regarded as “ a typical work which has a closely connection with the Bible in the 19th literature ”(卓新平, 1992: 232)Zhu Hong, a British and American literature researcher and tutor, understands Jane Eyre as a revenge on the upper society and regards the marriage of Jane and Rochester as a carnival of spiritual revenge.10 III.Jane Eyre at Gateshead

3.1 Jane Eyre’s rebellion

“ Once a person is born, his personality has partly taken shape”.Indeed, the main part of a personality copies his parents, and the remaining part comes just from himself or from the circumstances.The circumstances which Jane lived in her childhood was miserable so that her spirit of striving for independence and rebellion was fully exposed.3.1.1 Under the ill-treatment from John Reed

From the above introduction of Jane‟s experiences at Gateshead, we can know that Jane Eyre‟s life was unhappy and pitiful.Everyone in Reed house humiliated her, the one who always abused Jane Eyre was John Reed.John Reed, four years elder than Jane, was Mrs.Reed‟s only darling son.So no matter what he had done, no one would scold him, instead, all of them would think that it must be Jane‟s fault.At the initial stage, Jane had a little frightened to John when she was abused by him.For example, Jane Eyre said, “every nerve I had feared him, and every morsel of flesh on my bones shrank when he came near.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 9).However, Jane Eyre‟s mind was strong and she was not scared later.On the contrary, the seeds of the rebellion were gradually growing up.As for John, he had not much affection for his mother and sisters, let alone the sympathy to Jane Eyre.Furthermore, he always condemned Jane with dirty words which, to the great extent, hurt Jane‟s self-respect.For instance, he once said, 11 “ You are a dependant, mama says;you have no money;your father left you none;you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemen’s children like us, and eat the same meals we do, and wear clothes at our mama's expense.Now, I'll teach you to rummage my bookshelves...”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 9)

In our views, the more difficulties there were, the more she was strong.Jane did not think that she should resign to such an uneducated and rude boy.When John Reed lift and hurled the book to Jane, she shouted out “wicked and cruel boy!You are like a murder---you are like a slave driver---you are like the roman emperors!”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 10)Then she tussled with John.This point has been shown clearly that the tolerance level of Jane Eyre has reached her limits.It is known to us that people who are only under the great oppression will break out their enormous power.Just like what Luxun said, “ to explore in silence, or to die in it.”

Jane was a strong girl and never gave up.She dared to protect herself when she suffered from the humiliation of being criticized by everyone.She thought that they were not worth respecting.This thought was obviously contrary to the current of thought at that society of male priority.However, Jane was a different girl.She dared to think and act.The novel had pointed out that “ they had got me by this time into the apartment indicated by Mrs.Reed, and had thrust me upon a stool: my impulse was to rise from it like a spring.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 11)From here we can imagine, at that time, Jane‟s rebellious conciousness was more strong than before.3.1.2 In the Red Room

With the development of the unjust events, Jane started to fight against them.Firstly, facing John‟s unreasonably bullies, Jane didn‟t retreat but strike him.Secondly, the servants often blamed Jane and told her that she should not strike John because he was her young master, but she attacked them in the strongest terms.Thirdly, Mrs.Reed hated to see Jane Eyre because of Jane‟s ceaseless rebellion.All these seemed that Jane was challenging the power of Mrs.Reed.So finally she couldn‟t escape from the tragedy of being sent to the red room.The room was seldom used, for Mr.Reed was dead in this room.We can‟t imagine that how horrible the red room is, even for a little girl.Everything in this room was filled with a sense of ghastly atmosphere, which made people stifling.So was Jane.She said，“ Although there was a superstition with me at that moment, it was not yet her hour for complete victory: my blood was still warm, the mood of the revolted slave was still bracing me with its bitter vigor.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 13)

As long as she considered that“ All John Reed‟s violent tyrannies, all his sisters‟ proud indifference… Why was it useless to try to win any one‟s favor… ”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 13)Jane would cause a feeling of hatred at that time.There was only one word would come up her, that was the rebellion.Only through the rebellion, Jane could feel a sense of achievement and satisfactory.Only through the rebellion, she could have the opportunity to get freedom and independence because the red room was just like the hell.During the whole afternoon, Jane thought lots of things in this cold red room.She was sure that it was not the life she wanted.3.1.3 In front of Mrs.Reed

At Gateshead, the conversations between Mrs.Reed and Jane Eyre could well display her rebellions.When faced with so many different kinds of revilement, Jane had not shown any sign of fright.Instead, she gave the powerful words to hit back.While in Mrs.Reed‟s eyes, Jane was an unwelcome alien who permanently invaded her own family group.Therefore, she told her children not to go near Jane, but Jane cried out and said, “ They are not fit to associate with me.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 27)Mrs.Reed was so angry when hearing it, and then dragged her into the nursery, pressed her on the edgy of the bed and said, “ Dared me in an emphatic voice to rise from that place.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 27)Then, Jane talked it back immediately, “ What would uncle Reed say to you, if he were live? ”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 27)These words shocked Mrs.Reed, and her eyes were filled with terror.She did not think that such a little girl had so great power and courage to speak to her.In the days of nursery, Jane was always striving, she was often thinking about how to express her inner thoughts out.She had been abused for a long time.But the only thing that she could do was to rebel, which was the best way that could protect her.She had learnt how to gather all her energy and give Mrs.Reed a forceful hit-back.When Mrs.Reed told Mr.Brocklehurst that Jane Eyre was a liar.Jane had a face to face conflict with her aunt, she defended，“ I am not deceitful: if I were you, I should say I love you: but I declare I do not love you: I dislike you the worst of anybody in the world except the John Reed: and this book about the liar, you may give your girl, Georgiana, for it is she tells lies, and not I.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 35)

How comfortable for Jane as she was saying these words.Jane still continued to say

“ I am glad you are no relation of mine, I will never call you aunt as long as I live, and I will never come to see you when I am grown up.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 35)

Jane was only a ten-year-old girl but she had such kind of courage against the things that she thought unfair.3.2 Jane’s independence at Gateshead

Independence is an outstanding quality throughout the whole novel.Jane Eyre is not pretty but her character is unique.Under a variety of difficulties at Gateshead, Jane gradually began to realize the importance of independence, as her conciousness of rebellion becoming more and more strong.She knew that dependence and incompetence invited nothing but scorn.As a result of the event that she striked with John, she was sent to the red room by her aunt.In the red room, she realized she needed to be saved and protected by herself and she needed to be self-reliant.She said, “ Unjust!I never compromise to them.I shall be independent.”(Charottle Bronte, 2008: 14)She hated Gateshead, she hated everyone there.She believed that only when she was independent, could she be respected by others.After all, Jane Eyre was a little girl and it was hard for her to be economically independent.Because of the hatred between Reeds and Jane Eyre, Jane would like to be sent to a low budget orphan school called Lowood Institution.Before Jane left the Gateshead, she rebuked Mrs.Reed，“ You think I have no feelings and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness;but I cannot live so… People think you a good woman, but you are bad, hard-hearted.You are deceitful!”(Charottle Bronte, 2008: 35)

This was the first time that Jane enjoyed a sense of triumph and freedom.And she also felt she was independent because she escaped from there.15 IV.Jane Eyre at Lowood Institution

4.1 Jane’s rebellion

With thirst for new life, Jane Eyre went to Lowwood.It was a charity school, but in fact was a hell for poor girls.During the eight years of school‟s life, Jane‟s thought gradually became mature.What‟s more, this experience further developed her rebellion.4.1.1 Contrast between Helen Burns and Jane · Eyre

In Lowood, Helen Burns played a very important role in Jane Eyre‟s childhood and even in Jane‟s whole life, Helen Burns could be undoubtedly considered as Jane‟s friend.Helen was the first person who spoke to Jane in the Lowood.Jane loved to be with Helen because she was willing to share everything with her.However, they had different characters when they came across the same conditions.For example, when Helen was punished in the middle of a room, she had no complaining words.It seemed that nothing had happended, no crying, no shameful expression on her face.But Jane got very angry and she said to Helen，“ If I were in your place, I should dislike her;I should resist her;if she struck me with that rod, I should get it from her hand;I should break it under her nose.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 55)

So seen from this sentence, we learned that Helen didn‟t dare to fight, and she wasn‟t brave as much as Jane.And she told Helen，16 “ A great deal: you are good to those who are good to you.It is all ever desire to be.If people were always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust, the wicked people would have it all their own way: they would never feel afraid… I am sure we should— so hard as to teach the person who struck us never do it again!”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 56)

This forceful speech embodied the deep oppression of Jane‟s rebellious spirit.We believed that if Jane was right, she would do it without any hesitation.Here, Jane‟s rebellious character kept growing.Helen was always telling her belief to Jane.She was deeply poisoned by religion and sincerely believed in God.Furthermore, she wished to be in heaven after death.She said to Jane, “ I am sure there is a future state;I believe God is good… God is my father;God is my friend;I love Him;I believe He loves me.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 80)But Jane did not like her.She would not sumbit to fate and the environment.She was a girl born with strong rebellion.As long as any evil force came to her, she must fight against them and must protect herself.This rebellious awareness was just the quality that Helen was lack of.4.1.2 Against Mr.Brocklehurst

As we all know, Mr.Brocklehurst was not only a hypocrite, but also a snob man, though he was the founder of the Lowood.So at the Lowood School, he could enjoy the most favorable right.He treated the students as servants and punished the students in the name of saving their souls.The school didn‟t provide the poor children with enough food, clothes and it could not give good treatment for the disease.Therefore, death had become something common at Lowood Institution.This condition aroused Jane‟s rebellion again.Jane was a girl who was always ready to fight.It was obvious that she didn‟t like Mr.Brocklehurst.At Lowood, Mr.Brocklehurst scolded Jane as a liar.Undoubtedly, such sharp words hurt Jane deeply.As long as there was a hope, Jane would have a sense of rebellion.When Mr.Brocklehurst wanted to cut the long hair of Severn, the blackboard suddenly slipped from Jane‟s hand and fell with an obtrusive crash so that Mr.Brocklehurst punished Jane to stand on the chair in front of everyone.As Jane had said that she could not bear such humiliating punishment, but now she was standing in the middle of the room.The feelings of inward were beyond the description.Jane‟s heart was filled with fury.She never stopped longing for a free life in a new world.She thought that she must do everything she could completely to fight against the bad man and to resist the unfair punishement.At this moment, Jane‟s rebellion became stronger and stronger.4.2 Jane’s independence at Lowood Institution

Jane‟s independent consciousness was sprouted at Gateshead first, it took shape at Lowood Institution.Under lots of unfair punishement, Jane gained strength from her teacher and fellow students.And Jane tired to achieve her independence.Helen‟s sincere friendship gave her strength.Although she didn‟t accept Helen‟s belief about abandoning human affection and praying for God‟s love, but Jane was deeply moved by Helen‟s words，“ Yet it would be your duty to bear it , if you could not avoid it: it is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what your fate to be required to bear.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 55)Jane learnt self-control from Helen Burns.And Helen told her that life was so short that people couldn‟t waste it to bear grudges.This might be the reason why Jane finally forgave Mrs.Reed.Miss Temple, a teacher who was admired and deeply loved by Jane.When Mr.Brocklehurst told all the people that Jane was a liar, Miss Temple gave a chance to Jane to defend herself.She believed what Jane said and it gave Jane great consolation.Miss Temple often encouraged her students to keep up their spirits.Jane learnt the value of independence from her.After the leaving of Miss Temple, Jane couldn‟t put up with dullness there.She was eager for freedom and a new life.She told herself that she wanted to go to a lively place.And no matter what happened in the future, she would face it bravely.The rebellious spirit was lightened again.And she also believed that if she wanted to be independent, she must achieve economic independence.Then Jane made an advertisement and got a job as a governess at Thornfied.V.Jane at Thornfield Hall and Moor House

5.1 Jane’s rebellion

Time in Thornfield‟s and Moor House played a significant role in Jane Eyre‟s life.This part showed the climax of Jane‟s rebellious and independent spirit through her attitude to human dignity, love and marriage.5.1.1 On human dignity

When Jane Eyre first came to Thornfield Hall, she didn‟t feel ashamed of her plain apperance and poverty-stricken state.She defended her dignity as defending her life.Jane didn‟t show any subservience before her wealthy and arrogant master.When Rochester ordered Jane to talk more with him to please him, she refused firmly.In Jane‟s eyes, Mr.Rochester couldn‟t consider himself superior to her regarding to his age, experience and status.Jane stayed consistent in her beliefs when she didn‟t know much about Rochester yet.One evening, she was asked by Rochester, “ Do you think I‟m handsome? ” “ Normally I would have taken time to think, and said something polite, but somehow I answered at once, „ No, sir.‟ ” Jane wrote.(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 129)She was unwilling to tell that Mr.Rochester was handsome although he was her employer.She didn‟t want to flatter others, although she knew that it would benefit her job.She hoped that she could be equal to his master in spirit except in money and in social class.Since then, she was able to communicate with Rochester in spirit and gained respect for human dignity from him.5.1.2 On love

Day by day, through many equal contacts between Jane and Rochester, Jane found that she fell in love with Rochester.“ The friendly frankness, as correct as cordial, with which he treated me, drew me to him.I felt at times as if he were my relation rather than my master.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 144)She comprehended his faults and sympathized his misfortune.She saw his kind-hearted nature.Jane loved Mr.Rochester very much.In order to pursue the whole love from Mr.Rochester, Jane was fighting for the traditional ideas all the time.When she heard that Mr.Rochester would get married with Miss.Ingram, she was desperate.As for Mr.Rochester, he thought that Jane would like some women 20 who begged for the so-called love.However, to Rochester‟s surprise, Jane said to him firmly，“ I must leave you and Thornfield, I must!I tell you I must go.Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automation?...You think wrong.I have as much as you---and full as much heart!”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 194)

Jane Eyre retorted.Thus it can be seen that the holding capacity of Jane‟s mind was so great.She wouldn‟t bear any humiliation.She respected Mr.Rochester‟s decision.She didn‟t want to be painful again.She said，“ And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me… and we stood at God’s feet, equal, as we are!”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 248)

This was Jane‟s real declaration of human right.She dared to resist her master severely to defend her own rights.Just because of her unique character and action, Mr.Rochester expressed his inner feelings.Amazed and excited, Jane agreed to be his wife.However, it was on Jane‟s marrying day that she knew the fact that Mr.Rochester had a legal wife.Undoubtedly, it was a heart-stuck attack to Jane.At this moment, it was impossible for them to get married because she knew that Mr.Rochester didn‟t belong to her any more.He had a wife.If she continued to stay in Thornfield, she would became Mr.Rochester‟s mistress who wouldn‟t be accepted by society.No matter how she loved Mr.Rochester, Jane could not persuade herself to be married with him.Being alone in the world, she had no one to depend on.At last, she perfered to leave Rochester rather than to lose her individual dignity.She said loudly and clearly before she left Thornfield, “ I care for myself… I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad—as I am now.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 310)It was a pity that they didn‟t get together, for they loved each other deeply.However, Jane‟s unusual rebellious character was perfectly shown.She dared not only to rebel the unfairness but also to challenge the social conventions to pursue her own rights.After leaving Rochester‟s home, Jane wandered here and there.She was nearly dead.Luckily, she met with St.John and his sisters.They were very friendly and warm-hearted to her.With their care, Jane recovered quickly.Soon, she worked as a village teacher in a church school.St.John thought highly of Jane‟s talent and made an offer of marriage several times in the name of “ God‟s will”.Jane resolutely refused him.She knew that she was the right person who could help him to do missionary work and their marriage wasn‟t based on true love.She pointed out, “ He prizes me as a soldier would a good weapon, and that is all.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 397)Yielding to St.John‟s request, it meant to give up Jane‟s rights.And she said to St.John that she scorned his idea of love.John was shocked by this sentence because he met the resistance from Jane.Furthermore, she still loved Mr.Rochester, so she determined to return to Thronfield again.However, Thronfield had become a wasteland after a big fire, and Rochester was blind and disabled but free.At this moment, she felt that she loved Rochester more than ever.So she decided to stay with him and to look after him for all of her life.In the end, Jane Eyre possessed noble soul and gained true love.5.2 Jane’s independence at Thornfield Hall and Moor House

In order to support herself, Jane worked as a governess at Thornfield Hall where developed her independence totally.She completely earned money by her own.Although Rochester was rich, Jane never thought of depending on him.She remembered all the time that the self-respect and dignity of a woman were based on the economical independence.She thought, “ If I had ever so small an independency;I never can bear being dressed like a doll by Mr.Rochester… I could better endure to be kept by him now.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 264)After knowning that Rochester also loved her, Jane was excited and told Rochester, “ I shall continue to act as Adele‟s governess;by that I shall earn my board and lodging… and you shall give me nothing but—your regard!”(Charlotte Bronte, 2008: 265)From here we could see that Jane‟s character of self-respect and independence was so strong and firm, and Jane showed her spirit sufficiently.As for love, Jane hold that independence and pursuit of the equal rights were the fundamental elements.And she protected her independence and personality all the time.When Rochester intended to give her a lot of jewelry and beautiful clothes, she refused.She thought that real love wasn‟t based on money and jewelry.Her love didn‟t mix with conventional ideas at that time and she didn‟t want to be the slave of money and to rely on others.Furthermore, she did not want to be an accessory of Rochester.Until she left the Thornfield, she didn‟t take those things that were sent by Rochester.And at Moor House, she refused St.John‟s proposal.All the actions and thoughts were fully shown that Jane would insist on her spirit under any conditions.VI.Conclusion

From Jane‟s story at Gateshead, Lowood, Thornfield and Moor House, we learn that Jane‟s life is full of tears, misery and humiliation.However, she never gives up the determination in struggling against her fate and pursuing independence.The paper has analyzed Jane Eyre‟s rebellious and independent spirit.In her chidhood, she had the rebellious spirit and independent conciousness.After she turned into a mature woman, she became more independent and continued to struggle bravely against the unjustice under the bad enviroment.From Gateshead to Lowood Institution, from Thornfield to Moor House, Jane‟s spirit developed step by step until she gained her own perfect love at last.Jane is a new image of woman who is worthy learning.The value of a woman does not lie in her looks, her dress, and any other things that have a powerful fascination to men‟s eyes, but in her nature, her mind and her character.In fact, no matter in which society you live, the woman who wanted to pursue equality, freedom or even feminism should pursue financial, personal and political independence.As for love in the modern society, women should seek it on the base of equality and true love not on money, houses or cars.Just like Jane Eyre, though she doesn‟t have a beautiful appearance and enough money, she would own her wholehearted love.References

Bronte, Charlotte.2008.Jane Eyre.BeiJing: Central Complication&Translation Press.Luo Jingguo.2011.A New Anthology of English Literature(Volume II).BeiJing: Peking University Press.Teachman, Debra.2008.Understanding Jane Eyre.BeiJing: RenMin University Press of China.Trubner& Company.2010.Westminster Review.England: Kessinger Publishing.杨正和.外国文学名作欣赏[M].北京:科学出版社,1999.罗选民.英美文学赏析教程[M].北京:清华大学出版社,2006.吴伟仁.英国文学史及选读[M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社,2004.许菁.浅析简爱的双重性格[M].上海:上海译文出版社,2001.李尚梅.简·爱性格特征浅析：作家[J].作家杂志编辑部2011（6）: 141-142.丁立福.浅析简爱反抗性格之形成[J].淮南师范学院学报,2004(3): 79-81.25

第二篇：《简爱》中永恒的性格魅力

《简·爱》中永恒的性格魅力

班级：外A1021 姓名：胡小莉 学号:08

摘要：作为一部英国早期女性文学的代表作,夏洛蒂·勃朗特的《简·爱》形象而又生动地塑造了一位敢于为正义、平等、人格尊严独立而与生活困境、社会歧视及男权主义进行坚决斗争的女性形象。在这部作品中,作者对主人公简爱不屈服命运,追求独立自由精神的描述,在读者面前呈现了一个不美、矮小的女孩成长为一个自强、自信的女性的蜕变历程。她出身卑微,其貌不扬,却在不屈的反抗和执着的追求中展示出巨大的人格魅力,体现出女性要求平等、独立自主、勇敢自信的现代意识。

关键词：简爱； 自强； 自信； 反抗；平等自由

《简·爱》是一部带有作者自传性的作品，采用第一人称的自叙写法，让女主人公倾诉自己的喜怒哀乐和人生理想、爱情友谊，具有娓娓动听、亲切感人的艺术魅力。它写一个孤女个人的奋斗故事，作者本人生活中的悲哀、忧患、紧张和勇气在小说中得到了强烈的反映。《简·爱》的成功奥妙在于简爱鲜明的人物性格的典型塑造。在当时，英国经历了三次高潮的宪章运动，吸引了成百万的工人和劳动群众参加争取自身权利的斗争，但是妇女在社会上的地位并没有改善，没有获得自由的权利，也没有提出男女平等的问题，至于她们的情感世界更是被人戕害的领域。简爱这一人物的塑造反映了妇女摆脱压迫和歧视，要求平等和自由的强烈愿望和追求，在英国文学史上首创，有其深远的历史意义，对于后人又有超时空的现实意义，是新时代女性推崇的偶像。

简爱这一典型人物的永恒性格魅力主要体现在以下几个方面：

一、自立自强以及自尊的个性：

简爱从小就失去父母，寄养在盖兹海德府的舅妈家里。特殊的家庭境遇使她过着寄人篱下的生活，遭受舅妈、表兄妹的欺凌和压制，但也正是因为这一切，养成了简爱自尊、自强、自立的独特个性，换回了她无限的信心、不屈的精神和一种可战胜一切的内在人格力量。她未曾因为生活的不幸而丧失信心，而是顽强地面对接踵而至的不幸和挫折，甚至没有迷失自我纯真的本性。更难能可贵的是，她有深刻的自知之明，她清楚：没有美好的外貌，就得有主见有思想；没有优越的生活，因此必须独立自主，不依靠他人；没有令人羡慕的社会地位，但必须有强烈的自尊和令人刮目相看的品质。在盖兹海德府，她为了维护自己的尊严，不惜冲撞舅妈，甚至和表哥对打；在劳渥德慈善学校，为了自强自立，她努力学习各项普通课程及法语、音乐、绘画等，用知识来强大自己；在桑菲尔德庄园，她从不因为自己是一个地位低贱的家庭教师而感到自卑，反而认为他们是平等的，不应该因为她是家庭教师，而不能受到别人的尊重。这使得罗切斯特为之震撼，并把她看成是一个可以和自己在精神上平等交谈的人，并且深深爱上了她。他的真心，使简爱感动，她接受了他。而当他们结婚的那一天，简爱知道了罗切斯特已有妻子时，虽然罗切斯特向她坦白了一切，并真诚地表明了自己的爱情，但她还是觉得自己必须要离开。虽然她无限同情罗切斯特，但她有着极强的自尊心，不愿践踏自己的爱情。从内心讲，是简爱意识到自己受到了欺骗，她的自尊心受到了戏弄。她用了极大的克制力，做出了一个非常理性的决定，选择了一场残酷的自我放逐。在这样一种非常强大的爱情力量包围之下，在美好、富裕的生活诱惑之下，她依然能坚持自己的尊严，这充分显示出简爱自强自立的人格和美好的生活理想，也是她最具有精神魅力的地方。小说也从另一个侧面告诉我们：女性必须有独立的人格，自尊自爱，不依附于其他人才可以赢得别人的尊重和热爱，才会有真正的幸福。

二、顽强的反抗精神：

简爱的反抗性格是随着她的经历一步一步发展、成长起来的。翻开《简·爱》第一章，年幼的简爱就和骄横、爱欺负她的表哥发生了冲突，她不畏强暴，怒斥他，并和他扭打，接着被里德太太关进了红房子。被囚禁在红房子里，简爱感到屈辱，她意识到自己和别人受到了不同的待遇，“不公平!不公平啊!”，简爱的“理智一时早熟地发挥了威力”，她感到“‘决心’也同样被鼓舞起来，催促着我从这难以忍受的压迫下逃跑”。在第四章里，简爱和里德太太发生了争吵，里德太太以为凭她的家庭地位可以吓倒外甥女，可结果相反，简爱一针见血地骂她，里德太太居然也觉得害怕了。可以说，在舅母里德太太家生活的时期,是她反叛性格的萌芽阶段。

简爱被送到了劳渥德学校，在这一段时期，可以说是她反抗性格的形成期。严峻的生活向她提出更多的问题,激起她对人间的压迫和不平等现象无比的愤慨。作者强烈地批判了这种披着宗教外衣残害儿童的教育制度，这正是作者曾经亲身经历过的。在劳渥德学校，简爱对海伦·彭斯说过这样一段话“当我们无缘无故挨打的时候，我们应该狠狠地回击；我们肯定我们应该回击—狠狠地回击，教训教训打我们的那个人，叫他永远不敢再这样打人。”从这几章我们可以看出作者的主要意图不仅仅是揭露以慈善为名的学校黑幕，更主要是借这样一个黑暗和没有人性的环境来突出简爱的反抗精神。在劳渥德，她与之作斗争的是一个天地更为广阔的环境。经历了八年人间地狱般并且毫无生气的慈善学校生活，简爱渴望寻求一种新的生活：“我向往自由，我渴望自由”，“那么，至少赐给我新的工作吧”。在内心强烈的愿望的驱使下，简爱顺利地找到了一份家庭教师的工作，来到了桑菲尔德。在桑菲尔德和罗切斯特的交往时期，是她性格的成熟期。初次和罗切斯特见面，她显得自尊自爱、不卑不亢；在对罗切斯特还不够了解的时候，她保持了一贯的反抗精神，“我想，先生，光凭你年龄比我大，或者见的世面比我多，你是没有权利来命令我的；你是否有权自称优越，那要看你怎样利用你的岁月和经历了。”从这一类的谈话中我们可以看到简身上一如既往的坦率的真性情。她渐渐发现罗切斯特和她思想上有许多共通之处，她重视的是“友好坦率”，并不是他的金钱和地位，尽管罗切斯特生性傲慢，但并没有因为简低微的家庭教师的地位而轻视她的存在，而是把她放在平等的地位和她对话，这符合她的反抗的性格，因此她觉得满意。当简得知罗切斯特已有妻室，她觉得受到了极大的欺骗和侮辱，她不允许自己降低人格，成为一个已婚男人的情人，她认为不能成为男人的附属品和玩物，所以她毅然决定离开罗切斯特，离开桑菲尔德。简爱的反抗精神至此发展到了极点。简爱与当时社会“淑女”的审美标准相差甚远，但正是因为简爱的反抗性格，不断追求自由和平等，才赢得了罗切斯特的尊重和爱慕，才会成就英国文学史乃至世界文学史上一段经典的爱情佳话。

三、争取平等、追求自由的女性楷模：

简爱在人生旅途中，寻找幸福，追求爱情，但同时也为争取平等和独立奋斗着，这也是她爱情和幸福的立足点。当她听罗切斯特为了斩断情缘，送她到爱尔兰，并且说她会忘记他时，简爱愤怒了，那段独白，成为名篇佳句，被世人传颂：“你以为我会留下来，成为你觉得无足轻重的人吗？你以为我是架自动机器吗？ 一架没有感情的机器吗？能让我的一口面包从我嘴里抢走，让我的一滴活水从我杯里泼掉吗？你以为因为我穷、低微、不美、矮小，我就没有灵魂没有心吗？你想错了！我的灵魂跟你的一样，我的心也跟你的完全一样！要是上帝赐予我一点美和一点财富，就要让你感到难以离开我，就象我现在难以离开你一样。我现在跟你说话，不是通过习俗、惯例，甚至不是通过凡人的肉体——而是我的精神在同你的精神说话；就象两个都经过了坟墓，我们站在上帝面前，是平等的——因为我们是平等的。”

简爱不被金钱所动，为了平等，自由，她可以放弃爱情。即使离开庄园后没有任何去处，注定要去奔波、流浪、孑然一身闯世界，但她还是毅然地离开了，使我们看到一个女性要求独立、平等的勇气和力量。“珍珠项链的珠子，我把它留下；它不是我的；它是那已经在空气中消失幻想的新娘的，我把其他的东西打成一个包裹，我把装着二十先令的钱袋放在口袋里，这是我的全部财产，我系好草帽，扣好披巾，拿了包裹和我那还不想穿上的便鞋从屋里溜出来。”开始了惠特克劳斯那漂泊的生活。后来，尽管罗切斯特一贫如洗，这两个追求爱情的人走过坎坷，最终还是结合在一起了。正如简爱的一段道白：“因为我们的蜜月将照耀我们一辈子；它的光辉只会在你我的坟里暗淡下去。”简爱在争取平等、追求爱情和自由时所表现出的一个女性非凡的品性，值得世人称道。

在19世纪的英国,男权主义仍然占绝对主导,简爱自立自强的个性、反抗精神和不屈服于命运和社会规则的新女性犹如一阵沁人心脾的清风。《简·爱》所展现给我们的是一种化繁为简一种返朴归真一种追求全心付出的感觉，是一种不计得失的感情，净化每一个读者的心灵，同时引起读者的共鸣。参考文献：

[1]英.夏洛蒂·勃朗特著，宋兆霖译 《简·爱》北京燕山出版社,2003； [2]许菁《浅析简爱的双重性格》郑州经济管理干部学院学报 2002； [3] 范文彬 《《简·爱》与妇女意识》文学评论 1980； [4]王俊《简爱的孤独感及其女权主义意识》

第三篇：简爱的独立性格

C.Jane Eyre’s Independence

The independent spirit is another most important aspect attracting readers.Jane Eyre is exposed to a hostile environment but continuously and fearlessly struggling for her ideal life.To some degree, the novel can be interpreted as a symbol of the independent spirit.In Jane Eyre, mistreatment and unfairness force Jane to struggle for self-respect, while knowledge and worthwhile work provide her with enough economic supply to gain independence.Jane, casting alone on the world and fighting a solitary battle, shows her determination in pursuing her self-esteem and independence at every stage of her life, both in struggling with social pressure and resisting the temptation of passion and love.In every relationship, Jane rises from inferiority to superior, and finally gains full independence through continuous rebellion.A.Jane Eyre’s Consciousness of the Importance of Independence The struggle begins for the despised, outcast, unprotected child at Reeds.She bravely stands up for her rights and fights for the life of success she deserves.At this stage Jane’s instinct for self-assertion can only express itself in rebellion.An orphan since early childhood, Jane Eyre has no parents or friends, no wealth or possession, misunderstood, mistreated by the relatives she has.All alone in the world, she seems doomed to a life of failure.The cruel treatment she receives from her Aunt Reed and her cousins only exacerbates her feeling of alienation, and deepens her determination of rebellion.She realizes that she will never find a true sense of home or community and feel the need for belonging, to find “kin,” or at least “kindred spirits.” And the “red-room” life only deepens her courage in resisting her aunt’s unfair punishment, which foreshadows Jane’s independence or rebelliousness.The poor experience at Gatehead tempers her equally intense need for autonomy and freedom.The Reed family is a demonstration of Jane’s power to overcome the circumstance.The dramatic presentation of Jane’s struggle at Gatehead demonstrates that she should begin to realize it is not necessary to fear authority.b.Gaining Strength from Her Teacher and Schoolmates Since Jane Eyre’s education in Lowwood Orphanage, she doesn’t get what she has been expecting---simply being regards as a common person, just the same as any other girl around.Jane continues to be socially ostracized, financially trapped, and excluded from love;her sense of independence and her freedom of self-expression are constantly threatened.The cruel treatment from Mr.Brocklehurst and the poor condition there only inspires Jane to gain independence.Helen Burns’s martylike attitude toward the school’s miseries is helpful to Jane.She learns from Helen the ability of endurance.Though Helen suffers from shame and anger when punished, she tries to endure her punishment socially.But Helen’s death makes Jane angrily believe her own words once more “strike back very hard, resist in justice, return dislike to dislike.”(Charlotte Bronte, 2003).That is the typical rebelliousness.It is hard for people to imagine or believe that such a short, plain and weak girl contains a never yielding soul and feelings as warm as raging flames not only because of the bad conditions but the indifferent human relationships there.At Lowood, Jane’s independence rises to a higher level.She learns to be self-restrained from Helen and she finds the way to be independent from Miss Temple.In fact, Miss Temple and Helen are in some sense mothers for Jane.From Miss Temple, the girl learns to achieve more humorous thoughts.Her way of confronting the world is still the Promethean way of fiery rebellion, nor miss Temple’s way of ladylike repression, nor Helen’s way of sanity renunciation.She learns from her two teachers at least superficially to compromise.c.Showing Her Independence and Self-Control Fully

As a reward of revolting the ruthless oppression, Jane Eyre gets a chance to be a tutor in Thorn field Hall.She makes an acquaintance of lovely Adele and its owner, Rochester, a man with warm heart despite a cold face outside.From then on, the fate on Jane changes a lot.But when she knows Rochester has had a legal wife, she chooses to leave.She chooses poverty between richness and poverty.Someone says that life is a box of chocolates;you never know what you will get.It is reflected in Jane’s life.The novel doesn’t end when Jane Eyre leaves Thorn field.For Jane, there should be somewhere to realize her great ideal of being independent.As a governess, Jane gains financial independence so that she can support herself.Jane now has a social as well as a personal position.Moreover, Jane’s vision enlarges and goes farther on the way to be independent.When Jane feels deeply attached to Mr.Rochester, she clearly realizes that there is an impossible chasm between them.Mr.Rochester, born in a notable family, is part of upper class while Jane herself, sprints from low extraction, and is just an ordinary governess not more than a servant.However, she doesn’t lose her heart and withdraw or even belittle herself.Jane acknowledges her inward feelings before Mr.Rochester.She conducts herself in this battle for love with a great disparity in social status;Jane attaches importance to friendship and frankness but not Mr.Rochester’s countless property and his celebrated family status.Jane is not willing to give up her independence and equality to Rochester.When Mr.Rochester proposes to her, Jane accepts because Jane feels Mr.Rochester regards her at equal levels.But just on the wedding day, Mr.Mason cries out that Rochester already has had a wife.Angering at Mr.Rochester’s deed, Jane speaks out these words angrily: “Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automation, a machine without feeling, and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water?”(Marian Allotte, 1973).At this time, her feeling of preserving independence becomes obvious.She just wants to preserve her self-respect by scarifying her marriage.d.The Pleasure of Self-Sufficiency Independently

The flight from Thorn field following the interrupted marriage ceremony makes the turning point of Jane, and she undergoes a trial on the moors, which brings her face to face with the real meaning of the personal worth and independence.At Moor House, Jane enjoys economic independence and engages in worthwhile and useful work, and she finds work as a schoolmistress, and does some real good to her pupils.But she lacks emotional sustenance.Although St.John proposes marriage, Jane knows their marriage will remain loveless.He admires Jane because she is self-respect and diligent.St.John offers Jane another kind of freedom: the freedom to act unreservedly on her principles.He opens to Jane the possibility of exercising her talents fully by working and living with him in India.Jane eventually realizes, though, that this freedom will also constitute a form of imprisonment, because she will be forced to keep her true feelings and her true passions always in check.She defaces what she wants is real and equal, not as his worthy too.Once again Jane shows her courage in preserving her independence.Nonetheless, the events of Jane is staying at Moor House are necessary tests of Jane’s autonomy.Only after proving her self-sufficiency to herself can she marry Rochester and not be asymmetrically dependent upon him as her “master”.The marriage can be one between equals.Life is ceaselessly changing, but living principles remain.Firmly persisting for the rights of being independent gives people enough confidence and courage.

第四篇：简爱性格分析(英文)[模版]

Section Two

The novel Jane Eyre was written by Charlotte Bronte in 1847, which has an important status in English literature.In this novel, the author shapes a great woman who pursues true love and equality.Jane was a orphan, her parents both die when she was a kid, so she had to live in her uncle’s home, but they were not treat her good, she lived hardly.But when her aunt locked her into the black room and Jane was not afraid of her at all.Jane said:‘I shall remember how you thrust me back-roughly and violently back-into the red room and locked me up there ,to my dying day.People think you are a good woman ,but you are bad, hardhearted.You are deceitful.’ From this, we can find out that Jane is a very tough and self-respecting girl.The most famous word in Jane Eyre is that ‘Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!I have as much soul as you, and full as much heart!’ Jane said this to Mr.Rochester when he pretended to want to get married with Miss Blanche.From this, we can know Jane is a independent woman and she pursuit to true love.Jane loves Rochester deeply always-from the beginning to the end.But when she know he has a wife and they can’t get married, she decided to leave him, and after years, when Rochester have nothing and disabled, she bake to his life.Jane is very good, pure woman and has her own opinion.Charlotte Bronte created a woman who is small, plain-faced and poor, but tough, independent, self-respect and self-confident.Jane is a so great woman lets so many readers all over the world love her.

第五篇：论简爱的叛逆性格

论简•爱的叛逆性格

《简爱》是 19 世纪英国女作家夏洛蒂•勃朗特的一部带有自传式性质的杰作。作品成功地塑造了一位生而不幸却又敢于与命运抗争的极富个性的“女英雄”式的叛逆人物。她抗争命运的不公，追求自由与平等的爱情，她的叛逆性格随着她的成长逐步形成"

一、童年自发的反抗与抗争——叛逆性格的初步形成

简爱叛逆和不屈的性格是在儿童时期形成的，并充分表现出来。

简爱的生活一直充满了苦难。她出生后不久便失去了父母。作为一个孤儿，她被自己的舅舅收养。不幸的是，舅舅也死了。简爱落入到舅妈的魔掌中。舅妈是一个冷酷、自私的女人，对她十分粗鲁、不公正。除了舅妈的粗暴虐待，他的表兄也时常嘲笑、戏弄、欺负她。在这种孤独无助的环境下没有人同情她，她每天在恐怖中度过。“不在沉默中爆发，就在沉默中灭亡”。最终，简爱意识到人活着首先应争取作为一个人的基本权利。所以，在10岁时，简爱的怒火终于爆发了。她对表哥一反忍气吞声、逆来顺受的常态，不顾势单力薄，奋起反抗。她指着表兄喊道：“你是一个邪恶残忍的孩子，你像杀人犯，像驱使奴隶的人，像罗马的皇帝”。这是她的第一次反抗。从某种程度上说，简爱的第一次斗争取得了胜利。并且这次胜利使她的内心得到了解脱和满足，也是她更加坚定自己的信念。如果说简爱在舅妈家萌发了反抗性格的话，那么在劳渥德学校，她的反抗性格则得到了进一步的发展。

在这个学校里，伙食是恶劣的，生活环境是不卫生的，孩子们挨饿受冻，还要遭受各种凌辱。生病了也没有及时治疗，这就注定了大部分学生要受到传染，许多孩子都病倒了。在这里，作者避免直接描绘简和她的周围环境的冲突，而是专心塑造另一个形象海伦•彭斯。海伦深受宗教的毒害，在处事上她坚持“以德报怨”。海伦受到欺负时只是一味地忍耐，简爱为她的遭遇感到愤愤不平。海伦的逆来顺受与简的反抗性格形成鲜明的对比，从另一个角度更加鲜明的衬托出简的叛逆性格。通过鲜明的对比，简的个性在读者头脑中变得更加突出，令人印象深刻。

简爱不怕艰苦的生活,但她仇恨这个学校，尤其仇恨那些道貌岸然、伪善的人。如果说在舅妈家里的简爱反抗的对象还只是舅妈一家人的话，那么在劳渥德学校，少年的简爱反抗的天地就更加宽广了，她的叛逆精神也已初步形成。

二、追求自由平等的爱情——叛逆性格的日趋成熟 爱情是人类美好的感情，一个人的性格会在爱情中得到最全面的体现。简爱的叛逆性格也是这样在爱情和婚姻中，简爱追求自由、平等、尊严及人格的独立。在劳渥德学校呆了八年之后，简爱来到了桑菲尔德庄园做家庭教师。这是她一生最重要的时期。初识罗切斯特的时候，她显示了不卑不亢的风度；在对罗切斯特还不是非常了解的时候，她坚持了一贯的反抗精神。但是，她渐渐发现和罗切斯特有许多思想上的共鸣之处，并深深地爱上了罗切斯特。面对身份地位上的悬殊，简爱没有妥协，她要求罗切斯特将她放在一个平等的地位上,这符合她一贯的反抗精神。简爱在爱情上是炽热的，可是炽热的爱情并没有冲淡简爱身上的叛逆精神。在得知罗切斯已有妻子的情况下，简爱拒不做罗切斯特的情妇，她将维护平民自尊的激情宣泄到了极致。在桑费尔德庄园的爱情漩涡中，如果没有名正言顺的爱，简爱宁愿孤苦飘零,决不放弃自尊自立。这就是简爱叛逆精神成熟的表现。

简爱离开了罗切斯特，决心让这段爱情一走了之。她身无分文，一下子成了饥寒交迫的乞丐，幸而被圣约翰兄妹收留。圣约翰是一个忠于宗教事业的人，他认为简爱可以做他传教的得力助手，因而向简爱求婚。简爱则认为婚姻应该建立在相互平等的基础上，没有爱情的婚姻就好像人间地狱。因此，她拒绝了圣约翰的求婚。她不愿失去自我而作为上帝布道的工具，她毅然拒绝了没有爱情的婚姻，维护了自己的独立人格，她的叛逆性格在这里达到了一个新的高度。

简爱是与众不同的，她追求平等自由，她努力抗争不公正的命运，她是一个叛逆者。就是在今天，她的叛逆精神也是值得赞扬的！