Thursday, January 27, 2011
Birth Rights by Cynthia Navarro
While our group discussed the themes in Jane Eyre, birth rights was the theme that was prevalent throughout the novel. Jane Eyre grew up with her aunt, Mrs. Reed, who greatly despised her because she considered her less valuable than a servant. Since she was only a young girl, she had no control over her social status, but because her parents we not wealthy, Jane did not have the same social status as the Reeds family. Also, being a female with little or no attractive features, made it harder for Mrs. Reed to accept her in the family. During that period, Jane had little value in society beause she was a women, poor, and uneducated until she was taken to Lowood. At Lowood, she overcame many of those barriers by becoming an independent, educated, and wealthy women. Although she belonged to the lower social class, she became more successful that her cousins because her cousins had the advantage of belonging to a wealthy family that could provide them with the best education.
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Birth rights are a very important and significant theme in the novel Jane Eyre. Jane is born into a family with a low social status, and has deal with it throughout a portion of her life. After her parents and uncle passed away, she was taken into the care of her aunt Reed. Because she was not directly born into Mrs. Reed's family, she was treated as an outcast, and was never given the love and attention she deserved. Had Jane been born into a wealthier family, things would not have been the same, and her life ultimately would have been different.
ReplyDeleteLexie Cantarero
I agree that one of the main themes in Jane Eyre would have to be birth rights. In many ways, it is because she was a poor, unattractive woman that she was able to succeed in life unlike her cousins. She was faced with challenges that the others weren't, so ultimetly she was made a better person for it. This can also be said about society today, how those with less many times end up with more because they have to have will and determination in order to survive.
ReplyDelete-C. Rodriguez
I think that even though she wasn't Mrs. Reed's daughter, if she had been a boy, she would have garnered much more respect from the family. Her usefulness around the house would increase and she would be able to contribute to the family. I feel that the fact that she is a female brings up more challenges that the fact that she wasn't Mrs. Reed's child
ReplyDelete-Jehan T
I also agree with you that birth rights were important themes that existed in Jane. If jane was born as a boy then she would receive much more respect from Ms. Reed's family. Also If Jane had been born in high class then she would have been limited to the number of problems she faced compared to being born into low class. Birth rights were a common theme seen in Jane, because they showed up throughout in the novel. :)
ReplyDeleteAre birth rights as important today? I think in a way they are. People are not looked down upon, by the majority, just because they are financially challenged or gender, but social mobility is just as difficult as it was. Of course there are a few outstanding stories of "rags to riches." But even today, for the family's well-being to raise up or go down, takes a few gennerations.
ReplyDeleteDerek B.
it's so sad that physical beauty is needed to be accepted. a person's general attractiveness shouldn't be important at all in my opinion because it's not something you have to work at; it's just something your either born with or without. I'm sure no matter how plain Jane is, she would be a much more genial person to talk to then either of Reed's daughters. however, in a world where status and money matter, jane just has to struggle.
ReplyDelete-Brenda.
i like what brenda said, its very true know these days and well i think for a long time physical beauty is needed to be accpeted but the thing is it shouldnt be that way, beauty and being young is something borrowed and its not forever a good person and an intelegent woman matter much more. jane was a beautiful women and no matter. jane had to struggle because of the expectations in society, and till this day these things are still an issue.
ReplyDeletemayra de la torre