Info
- Jane Eyre
Analysis - Jane Eyre Ch. 6
While conversing with Helen Burns, Jane advocates the merits of being kind only to friends and of being harsh to disagreeable people.
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, and so they would never alter, but would grow worse and worse. When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should--so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again. (Bronte 57)
Instead of treating others the way she would like to be treated, she treats others the way they treat her. In this way, she is passive: her only actions are reactions. By taking the matter into her own hands, and not allowing God to intervene on her behalf, she displays a humanistic, self-reliant approach to injustice. Jane is the protagonist, yet the audience--if it assumes a Christian worldview--will recognize that her doctrine contradicts God's command to love one's enemies (Luke 6:31-35). This blatant clash reinforces the doctrine of man's sinful nature. She is young and seems as if she has not been exposed to Christianity (Bronte 82). Thus, Bronte seemingly equates ignorance with youth or childhood.
Application
I meet with little confrontation on this little island. Asian (Japanese) humility and respect permeates the aloha spirit throughout the State of Hawaii. People are generally nice (or at least appear to be). However, I am often completely oblivious to the strife and drama that do exist, and I try to obey authority and stay out of trouble. Jane and I thus have opposite situations; the people in Jane's life constantly trample upon her, whereas I, again, try to stay out of trouble. However, we both need to remember to treat others with love even when they try to hurt us. I especially need to remember God's command since I have less, milder experience than Jane has.
Citation
Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Signet Classics, 2008.
