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Diana
Ms. Dowds
Section: F
26 February 2014
Compare and Contrast
Jane is a protagonist in the gothic novel, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bront. Jane Eyre was an
orphan being raised by Mrs. Reed, her cruel, wealthy aunt. Janes aunt and cousins take every
opportunity to neglect and abuse her as a reminder of her inferiority. The development of Jane
Eyres character is very important to the novel. From the beginning, Jane possesses a sense of
her self-worth and dignity, a commitment to justice and principle, a trust in God, and a
passionate disposition. Her integrity is continually tested over the course of the novel, and Jane
must learn to balance the frequently conflicting aspects of herself so as to find inner happiness.
On the way she meets Edward Rochester, an interesting man who seems to have a dark past. Jane
Eyre and Edward Rochester demonstrate their differences and similarities in the way they are.
Despite his stern manner and not particularly handsome appearance, heavy-browed,
craggy-faced, rude, abrupt,and twice Janes age, always on the edge of violence, likes to order
people around, keeps his wife a secret, and teases Jane on at least one occasion until she cries.
Heres the crazy part. He may be fantastically ugly. He may be kind of a jerk. but still manages
to wins Janes he heart. She feels that they are meant for each other. He is the first person in the
novel to offer Jane lasting love and a real home. Although Rochester is Janes social and
economic superior, and although men were widely considered to be naturally superior to women
in the Victorian period, Jane is Rochesters intellectual equal. A shocking discovery is made after


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their marriage is interrupted by the disclosure that Rochester is already married to Bertha Mason,
where Jane is proven to be Rochesters moral superior.
Rochester has proven himself to be weaker in many ways than Jane. Jane feels that living
with Rochester as his mistress would mean the loss of her dignity. She would become degraded
and dependent upon Rochester for love, while unprotected by any true marriage bond. She waits
until she is not influenced by her own poverty, loneliness, psychological vulnerability, or
passion. Additionally, because Rochester has been blinded by the fire and has lost his manor
house at the end of the novel, he has become weaker while Jane has grown in strength. Jane
claims that they are equals, but the marriage situation has actually tipped in her favor.
The things stated above can offer evidence to why Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester are
similar and different.