Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Friday, 16 September 2011
Research task 4
Find and mark all descriptions of Jane’s dreams and paintings in the novel. Why are they included in her autobiography? What do they tell us about Jane, i.e. how do they contribute to characterisation? How do they operate as a narrative?
References of Jane’s paintings are found on...-Page 78: “That is one of my paintings over the chimney-piece.”
-Page 106, 107, 108: “Adele showed me some sketches this morning which she said were yours.”
-Page 110: “and had sent for my portfolio”
-Page 137: “and draw in chalk your own picture”
-Page 199: “One morning I fell to sketching a face”
-Page 314: “Had I done these pictures?”
-Page 315: “them I got my palette and pencils”
References to Jane’s dreams are found on...-Page 188: “that had not brought with it a dream of a infant”
-Page 207: “I dreamt of Miss Ingram all that night”
-Page 240, 241: “I continued in dreams the idea of a dark and gusty night.”
-Page 272: “I dreamt I lay in the red-room at Gateshead”
-Page 312: “I used to rush into strange dreams at night
Jane’s dreams play a significant role in explaining, to her, as well as to the reader, what her thoughts are occupied with. Her dreams act as a narrative to direct to the reader what emotions is hidden behind her morbid facial expression. It is a way to improve the reader’s understanding of her insecurities, her fears and the baggage she still carries with her from her past. Her imagination, being a noticeable part of her personality but also greatly fed by the books she has read, has a great influence on these dreams. Being a reader, shows her inquisitive mind; a mind maybe too inquisitive seeing as it fails to rest to rest at night. Jane’s nature is to wonder, to observe and to attempt at unravelling the ways of her society. The emphasize on her dreams help to correctly describe her personality and the previously referred to characteristics.
Furthermore, her love for painting also contributes to her eccentric personality. Through her paintings she is able to express her thoughts and feelings; otherwise kept bottled up.
Furthermore, her love for painting also contributes to her eccentric personality. Through her paintings she is able to express her thoughts and feelings; otherwise kept bottled up.
Research Task 3
1. Find out what “The Woman Question” referred to (see page 14)
The woman question referred to society’s uncertainty as to what the correct place of women, in the context of the time, were. Was it right for men to determine their wives’ fates by considering them to be their legal possessions? Was it the right thing to limit the extension of married women’s roles by preventing them from owning property, protecting their own wages or writing their own wills without having to ask for their husband’s permission? “The woman question” motivated people’s interest in whether or not a woman should be allowed to determine her own destiny.
2. Find and mark all references relating to being a governess in Jane Eyre.- Page 71: “she had stood me in the stead of mother, governess, and, latterly, companion.”
-Page 76: “and fixing that day fortnight as the period for my assuming the post of governess in her house.”
-Page 81: “A more reassuring introduction for a new governess could scarcely be conceived.”
-Page 82: “this is not like what I have heard of the treatment if governesses”
-Page 85: “he commissioned me to find a governess for her.”
-Page 88: “I suppose he had considered that these were all the governess would require for her private perusal.”
-Page 97: “I am the governess.”
-Page 137: “Portrait of a Governess, disconnected, poor and plain.”
-Page 150: “Why, I suppose you have a governess for her”
-Page 230: I shall continue to act as Adèle’s governess”
3. Read and comment on excerpts from Poovey (see page 15)
The governess had to deal with putting aside her needs and desires as both a woman and human, in order to maintain a position that possibly could have promise for a somewhat more profitable life than the ordinary middle-class housewife. Although her goal was to attain as much independence as possible, the governess had to purposely boycott her personal liberty and still, after sacrificing that which was most important to her, she had to endure the ridicule
and criticism from the rest of society. Her situation exemplified inferiority due to the fact that the governess position was something between the “middle-class mother” and a “working-class woman”; thus not having significant importance or much worth of its own.
The woman question referred to society’s uncertainty as to what the correct place of women, in the context of the time, were. Was it right for men to determine their wives’ fates by considering them to be their legal possessions? Was it the right thing to limit the extension of married women’s roles by preventing them from owning property, protecting their own wages or writing their own wills without having to ask for their husband’s permission? “The woman question” motivated people’s interest in whether or not a woman should be allowed to determine her own destiny.
2. Find and mark all references relating to being a governess in Jane Eyre.- Page 71: “she had stood me in the stead of mother, governess, and, latterly, companion.”
-Page 76: “and fixing that day fortnight as the period for my assuming the post of governess in her house.”
-Page 81: “A more reassuring introduction for a new governess could scarcely be conceived.”
-Page 82: “this is not like what I have heard of the treatment if governesses”
-Page 85: “he commissioned me to find a governess for her.”
-Page 88: “I suppose he had considered that these were all the governess would require for her private perusal.”
-Page 97: “I am the governess.”
-Page 137: “Portrait of a Governess, disconnected, poor and plain.”
-Page 150: “Why, I suppose you have a governess for her”
-Page 230: I shall continue to act as Adèle’s governess”
3. Read and comment on excerpts from Poovey (see page 15)
The governess had to deal with putting aside her needs and desires as both a woman and human, in order to maintain a position that possibly could have promise for a somewhat more profitable life than the ordinary middle-class housewife. Although her goal was to attain as much independence as possible, the governess had to purposely boycott her personal liberty and still, after sacrificing that which was most important to her, she had to endure the ridicule
and criticism from the rest of society. Her situation exemplified inferiority due to the fact that the governess position was something between the “middle-class mother” and a “working-class woman”; thus not having significant importance or much worth of its own.
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