All through the ages, the Christ figure archetype has appeared in literature and film. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry gives himself to Voldemort purposefully sacrificing himself for the benefit of the Wizarding World. In doing this he becomes the “Savior” and functions as a Christ figure in the novel. The Christ figure also emerges in real life, as anyone who acts as a role model and demonstrates moral fiber at an enormous cost to him or herself. In Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Helen Burns serves as a Christ figure in the novel and her fundamental role is to illustrate and reveal the pivotal Christian belief of forgiveness to Jane.
When Jane meets Helen at Lowood school, Jane is amazed and confused at Helen’s ability to tolerate the abuse directed at her by the teachers. Both Helen and Jane struggle at the school however, Helen and Jane endure the mistreatment from the teachers individually. “I heard her with wonder: I could not comprehend this doctrine of endurance” (Brontë 6). Jane refuses to conform to the teachers complaints, her free
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Arguably, Helen’s short presence in Jane’s life influences Jane’s many of Jane’s decisions throughout the test. First, Jane forgives Mrs. Reed for her cruel treatment during Jane’s childhood. Jane also forgives Mr. Rochester for his deception and decides to return to him, all before knowing about the fire and Bertha Mason’s death. Just as Jesus preached to his disciples to forgive and live a pure life. In Maria Lamonaca’s literary criticism, "Jane's Crown of Thorns: feminism and Christianity in Jane Eyre" she states, “[Helen’s] example and beliefs serve Jane in good stead later in the novel. It is Helen who advises Jane to study the New Testament and follow Christ's example, in particular his injunction to "Love your enemies"--a counsel that clearly influences the forgiveness Jane grants the dying Mrs. Reed” (Lamonaca
In Sedgwick’s A New-England Tale, Mrs. Wilson is the classic representation of a novel’s antagonist, especially in regards to how she treats protagonist, Jane Elton. However, it is the parenting, or lack thereof that has the greatest impact on the lives of Elvira and David Wilson, who despite being prohibited from engaging in sinful behavior, do just that. Sedgwick demonstrates that Mrs. Wilson’s salvation may have given her an authority over others, but when she failed to teach her children the ways of the Lord, her responsibility abandonment led to her children’s act of sin.
The author discusses how to spot a Christ-like figure in works of literature and what their importance is. The author then gives lists of Christ-like characteristics and examples of Christ-like figures in literature. The author also points out that by using a Christ-like figure in a work of literature, there is a more hopeful message embedded in the story. For example, Atticus from To Kill a Mockingbird is a Christ-like figure. Atticus is judged for helping a black man in a city that is infected with segregation and racism.
Religion in Jane Eyre In Jane Eyre the author, Charlotte Bronte, uses three characters to portray types of Christians . Helen Burns depicts Christian value both in her conversations with Jane and in her reactions to punishment from cruel Miss Scatcherd. In this book Mr. Brocklehurst portrays a downright hypocrite who does not follow the high Puritan values that he preaches. On the other hand, St. John Rivers practices what he preaches as is shown in the way that he unceasingly cares for his congregation at great personal sacrifice and deprivation.
It is ironic that Jane is seen as the guilty party in the incident with John Reed because John started the fight when he slapped Jane. Then when John’s sisters, Eliza and Georgina, go to “tattle tale” on Jane, their mother blames Jane for the whole situation. Jane compares John to a “murderer,” “slave-driver,” and “Roman Emperors” (Bronte 9). During this comparison, she is implying that he is a very cruel and awful person. That he would beat her and boss her around.
Jane requests to return to the Reed house, after learning about her cousin’s suicide and her aunt, Mrs. Reed’s, illness; however Rochester questions, “And what good can you do her… you say she cast you off,” Jane replies, “Yes, sir, but that is long ago; and when her circumstances were very different: I could not be easy to neglect her wishes now” (Brontë 227). Jane looks beyond that Mrs. Reed “cast[ed] her off,” implying that she has grown to let go of grudges and developed a mature mentality. The irony of Jane’s inability to “neglect her wishes,” infers how the injustice treatment of Mrs. Reed unaffectedly brings Jane to look past the situation by visiting the Reeds in a time of sorrow. In addition, Rochester attempts to convince his wedded Jane to stay with him, after learning about his mad wife; Rochester claims that his father had “sent [him] out to Jamaica, to espouse a bride already courted for” him but only so his brother and father to get “thirty thousand pounds,” Rochester further admits to Jane that “you know now that I had but a hideous demon. I was wrong to attempt to deceive you…
While Helen embodies the ideal young lady of the 1800s – modest, submissive, and devoted to God – Jane is characterized as being passionate and stubborn. Helen’s acceptance of death and desire to go to heaven also highlights the way Jane craves adventure and independence. However, throughout the novel, Jane begins to follow Helen’s teachings and starts to follow the word of God. By contrasting Helen’s theological beliefs against those of Mr. Brocklehurst and St John Rivers, Brontë also emphasizes how Helen is more successful in spreading God’s teachings because she does not use religion as a tool for controlling Jane’s true nature. The character of Helen Burns not only plays an important role in helping Jane develop into a more submissive woman and devoted Christian, but her positive outlook on Christianity also emphasizes the use of religion as a tool for manipulation throughout the
A Christ Figure is a literary character whose actions are homogeneous with that of Jesus Christ. A Separate Peace, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Cool Hand Luke are all works that incorporate a Christ Figure as one of their characters. Some of the actions exhibited by these characters include the performing of miracles, a last supper, a death and resurrection, and the betterment of their fellow
O’Connor has a specific way of defining and showing grace. She created tales of hypocrisy, sin, and forgiveness that are violent but honest. Often depicting grace as a decision just before death, she shows the harsh reality that one must
Bronte 's Jane Eyre transcends the genres of literature to depict the emotional and character development of its protagonist. Although no overall genre dominates the novel exclusively, the vivid use of setting contributes towards the portrayal of Bronte’s bildungsroman (Realisms, 92) and defines the protagonist’s struggles as she grapples with her inner-self, and the social expectations of her gender. The novel incorporates Jane’s frequent conflicts, oppression, isolation and self-examination as she defends her identity and independence. Set amongst five separate locations, Bronte’s skilful use of literal and metaphorical landscapes, nature, and imagery, skilfully intertwines with the plot and denotes each phrase of her maturity.
Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre depicts the life journey of young orphan, Jane Eyre. Beginning life with a traumatic childhood, Jane’s abusive aunt and cousins dispose of her to the all girls school of Lowood where she struggles with acceptance and the hypocrisy/abuse of her cruel headmaster, Mr. Brocklehurst. After the man is fired, Jane's life dramatically improves, leading her to the manor of Thornfield and subsequently causing her to meet Mr. Rochester. Throughout her new life, Jane finds love, friends, and family, but also experiences many horrific instances which help shape her into a socially aware, strong woman.
However, despite her independence and newfound freedom, Jane must face the death of her friend Helen Burns. The personification of her mind is represented through the anaphora, “for the first time it recoiled, baffled, and for the first time saw all round unfathomed gulf.” Following the death of Helen Burns, Jane faces isolation until her arrival at Thornfield connects her to
First, Jane Eyre’s attributes displays women in our society who are still in search for meaning and love in their lives. Just like Jane’s spirit of passion despite abuse, these women continue to search for respect from other
With Charlotte Brontë’s father being a clergyman and member of the Church, Charlotte Brontë, as well as her sisters have been in constant contact with religion throughout their whole lives. Even though her father gave Charlotte relative freedom in developing her own ideas and beliefs, religion was an important factor in Charlotte Brontë’s life nevertheless. Through Jane Eyre Charlotte Brontë expresses several issues of Victorian Britain, such as gender equality or the class system but religion is a reoccurring and omnipresent subject in Jane Eyre. Throughout the whole novel Jane is confronted with religious characters such as Mr Brocklehurst, Helen Burns and St. John Rivers. Those characters all represent three vastly different variations of Christian faith in the Victorian Era.
Jane states that she doesn 't love her aunt or even acknowledge their familial bond when she doesn 't address her aunt by the title of "aunt." Even as a child, Jane has a strong moral standard. After Jane gratefully leaves her aunt for Lowood, Jane conflicts with Mr. Brocklehurst. Mr Brocklehurst publicly accuses Jane of being a liar. Jane later approaches a teacher of Lowood, calling in evidence from a doctor from her aunt 's
Charlotte Bronte knew as one of the most talented women authors of the Victorian era. She and her sisters, Emily and Anne grow up in Victorian England, they were inspired by the Romantic authors, and all of them write masterpieces in English literature. Charlotte Bronte faced a lot of difficulties, and obstacles in her life even though she manages to write important works in English Literature. For example, Jane Eyre, The Professor, Shirley, and Villette. At first, she writes Jane Eyre under pseudonym Currer Bell.