I honestly think that if she was a hottie she would probably have moved on from Rochester and being a governess. I am pretty sure she would have had no problem with finding a different career or life for that matter. In that time frame the prettier girls were the object of desire as they still are, but even more so then.
I disagree with Jessie, women during this time period still only had minimal rights. Even if Jane had more confidence in her self-image she could not own property, she could not have a career other than teaching or servant work, and she could not express herself or improve her circumstance unless a man willed it. Jane could be the most attractive looking female in the world, and if a man wanted to he could lock her in a closet for the rest of her life.
I disagree Jordan. Yes, he could lock her in a closet, but men like to brag. If they had a beautiful gem of a woman they would show it off to the world. Those men would absolutely show off their woman especially to all their buds.
I think that instead of being an intellectual, she would be an airhead bimbo that would use her boobs to get to a higher station. In all honesty though, I think it would defeat Bronte's purpose of putting in a heroine for feminism.
I am also in agreement with Drew and Logan. The book would not be as inspiring with an "airhead bimbo" that would flash her boobs to get anywhere in life.
I agree. She could have turned into another Forever Amber or Scarlet O'Hara. Being of moderate looks helped her be humble and use her brains insted of her looks. If she would have been a "hottie," this story would not exist.
Perhaps, the reason Jane was plain and simple looking was it reflected on Charlotte Bronte's own personal insecurities of her self image. By making Jane plain looking, like Bronte felt about herself, Bronte could more easily put truthful emotions into her writing. This theme could also be a universal trait of human nature, that we as humans may undervalue and undermine our self image, which in turn subverts our self-esteem. Also by making Jane ordinary, readers could connect more with the character instead of feeling unequal to her.
I agree with you, Jane in her more plain form is easier to identify with. She also took on a short of underdog appearance, and everyone loves the underdog.
Good point, Jordan. I think readers like to read and have characters that they can relate to. Their attitude towards a story can turn off if they have a negative feeling towards the character(s).
If Jane had been a "hottie" the meaning of the story would not have been as strong. As Jessie said if Jane had been more attractive she would have been more of an object to other men. She would be able to rely more freely on her looks. Had Jane been a hottie she may not have been so mistreated by her aunt. She would have been able to go to a better school, or received more care in general. She would have been given a portion of her inheritance. She may not have turned out as the intelligent and caring character that Bronte created. I believe the real reason that Jane was plain was to craft a story. Though the book was originally published as an autobiography the true purpose was to send a message on the subject of feminism (as well as other things). I don't think that the book would carry the same weight had she been presented in another way.
If Jane was considered a "hottie", I think she would have had a completely different story line. SHe probably would have not settled for Mr. Rochester and perhaps may not have even been a governess. Her looks coulod hvae had and effect on why her Aunt treated her so badly. Maybe if Jane was beautiful and a "hottie" her aunt may have liked her and not treated her the way she did. Jane Eyre is a piece of work that Charlotte Bronte fixed from her own personal life. Jane and Charlotte not being the most beautiful women in their time created challenges for them that they overcame and suceeded in.
It's not that she would have "settled" for Rochester, but maybe if she was more attractive, she would have had more opportunities with men prior to becoming a governess to Rochester. And if that would have happened, she probably wouldn't have been Rochester's governess, anyway.
This is an interesting premise. Obviously, Jane is not only "plain", but she possesses a strong, independent personality. This begs the question whether one is dependent upon the other; in other words, if she was a "hottie", would she be less autonomous? This also, perhaps, helps explain the book’s continued popularity. Victorian heroines were generally beautiful, subservient women. Think about the women who are idolized in our culture. Has it changed much? Do you think a woman like Jane would be plastered all over our billboards or adorning the covers of supermarket tabloids?
If Jane was in fact a beautiful women her personality would be even more atrocious. She would be stuck up and a whore of the greatest magnitude (I can not emphasize how much worse her personality would become). She would see no reason to repent for her sins and would in fact end up with the man who did not love her but treated her badly.
If Jane was a babe. Jane would not be intimidated by Blanche. She would not care that another girl was on Rochester because she knows that she is just as attractive. She would also be able to get more attractive men so Rochester would never try to degrade her. There would never be a Jane Eyre story because she would not have struggled because she would have been beautiful.
I do not believe that it would have made that big of a difference as women in the Victorian era had almost no rights. I think that Rochester would have still bent her to his will and she would have still had all the hardships in her hateful aunt's home. Even if these things were not true, everybody always has doubts about themselves and their self image is always lower than how other people see people.
I am fairly confident that if she was attractive she would have had all of her problems solved. If this world has taught me anything, it has taught me that attractive people are spoiled. If they can just manage to have a respectable personality, they will live a long happy life.
If Jane was "hot" in the story, she would have been pampered all throughout the story. She would have just sat around her rich husband's estate, and expected to be given everything that she ever wanted. When women are attractive, their lives are easier than any man in that era.
I disagree I believe that she would have been even more hated. I believe this due to the fact that she would not have worried about becoming educated but would have simply relied on her good looks.
I believe that if Jane had been attractive in the story her life would have only been slightly better. I feel that the family would still hate her and she would have still gone off to boarding school. The only thing that I believe would have gone different in her life would be that Mr. Rochester would have fallen in ove with her sooner. She would have provided better competition and caught his eye sooner.
I believe that is was beificail to the story that Jane was not overly attractive. Her being of moderate beauty is what got her so far in her life. To add flashy looks to her character would have been devistating to the story as a whole and would changed her life from the very begining. "Jane Eyre" could have turned into a clasic Cinderella story or could have followed a similar path of "Forever Amber" or "Gone With the Wind". Everything in a story is the way it is for a reason.
I honestly think that if she was a hottie she would probably have moved on from Rochester and being a governess. I am pretty sure she would have had no problem with finding a different career or life for that matter. In that time frame the prettier girls were the object of desire as they still are, but even more so then.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Jessie, women during this time period still only had minimal rights. Even if Jane had more confidence in her self-image she could not own property, she could not have a career other than teaching or servant work, and she could not express herself or improve her circumstance unless a man willed it. Jane could be the most attractive looking female in the world, and if a man wanted to he could lock her in a closet for the rest of her life.
DeleteI disagree Jordan. Yes, he could lock her in a closet, but men like to brag. If they had a beautiful gem of a woman they would show it off to the world. Those men would absolutely show off their woman especially to all their buds.
DeleteI think that instead of being an intellectual, she would be an airhead bimbo that would use her boobs to get to a higher station. In all honesty though, I think it would defeat Bronte's purpose of putting in a heroine for feminism.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your latter point Drew, there really would be no reason to write the book had Jane been shown as more attractive.
DeleteI am also in agreement with Drew and Logan. The book would not be as inspiring with an "airhead bimbo" that would flash her boobs to get anywhere in life.
DeleteI agree. She could have turned into another Forever Amber or Scarlet O'Hara. Being of moderate looks helped her be humble and use her brains insted of her looks. If she would have been a "hottie," this story would not exist.
DeletePerhaps, the reason Jane was plain and simple looking was it reflected on Charlotte Bronte's own personal insecurities of her self image. By making Jane plain looking, like Bronte felt about herself, Bronte could more easily put truthful emotions into her writing. This theme could also be a universal trait of human nature, that we as humans may undervalue and undermine our self image, which in turn subverts our self-esteem. Also by making Jane ordinary, readers could connect more with the character instead of feeling unequal to her.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Jane in her more plain form is easier to identify with. She also took on a short of underdog appearance, and everyone loves the underdog.
DeleteGood point, Jordan. I think readers like to read and have characters that they can relate to. Their attitude towards a story can turn off if they have a negative feeling towards the character(s).
DeleteIf Jane had been a "hottie" the meaning of the story would not have been as strong. As Jessie said if Jane had been more attractive she would have been more of an object to other men. She would be able to rely more freely on her looks. Had Jane been a hottie she may not have been so mistreated by her aunt. She would have been able to go to a better school, or received more care in general. She would have been given a portion of her inheritance. She may not have turned out as the intelligent and caring character that Bronte created.
ReplyDeleteI believe the real reason that Jane was plain was to craft a story. Though the book was originally published as an autobiography the true purpose was to send a message on the subject of feminism (as well as other things). I don't think that the book would carry the same weight had she been presented in another way.
If Jane was considered a "hottie", I think she would have had a completely different story line. SHe probably would have not settled for Mr. Rochester and perhaps may not have even been a governess. Her looks coulod hvae had and effect on why her Aunt treated her so badly. Maybe if Jane was beautiful and a "hottie" her aunt may have liked her and not treated her the way she did.
ReplyDeleteJane Eyre is a piece of work that Charlotte Bronte fixed from her own personal life. Jane and Charlotte not being the most beautiful women in their time created challenges for them that they overcame and suceeded in.
It's not that she would have "settled" for Rochester, but maybe if she was more attractive, she would have had more opportunities with men prior to becoming a governess to Rochester. And if that would have happened, she probably wouldn't have been Rochester's governess, anyway.
DeleteThis is an interesting premise. Obviously, Jane is not only "plain", but she possesses a strong, independent personality. This begs the question whether one is dependent upon the other; in other words, if she was a "hottie", would she be less autonomous? This also, perhaps, helps explain the book’s continued popularity. Victorian heroines were generally beautiful, subservient women. Think about the women who are idolized in our culture. Has it changed much? Do you think a woman like Jane would be plastered all over our billboards or adorning the covers of supermarket tabloids?
ReplyDeleteIf Jane was in fact a beautiful women her personality would be even more atrocious. She would be stuck up and a whore of the greatest magnitude (I can not emphasize how much worse her personality would become). She would see no reason to repent for her sins and would in fact end up with the man who did not love her but treated her badly.
ReplyDeleteNot all beautiful women are stuck up, and the ones that are are not always whores. I see your point though, Hunter.
DeleteIf Jane was a babe. Jane would not be intimidated by Blanche. She would not care that another girl was on Rochester because she knows that she is just as attractive. She would also be able to get more attractive men so Rochester would never try to degrade her. There would never be a Jane Eyre story because she would not have struggled because she would have been beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that it would have made that big of a difference as women in the Victorian era had almost no rights. I think that Rochester would have still bent her to his will and she would have still had all the hardships in her hateful aunt's home. Even if these things were not true, everybody always has doubts about themselves and their self image is always lower than how other people see people.
ReplyDeleteI am fairly confident that if she was attractive she would have had all of her problems solved. If this world has taught me anything, it has taught me that attractive people are spoiled. If they can just manage to have a respectable personality, they will live a long happy life.
DeleteIf Jane was "hot" in the story, she would have been pampered all throughout the story. She would have just sat around her rich husband's estate, and expected to be given everything that she ever wanted. When women are attractive, their lives are easier than any man in that era.
ReplyDeleteI disagree I believe that she would have been even more hated. I believe this due to the fact that she would not have worried about becoming educated but would have simply relied on her good looks.
DeleteI believe that if Jane had been attractive in the story her life would have only been slightly better. I feel that the family would still hate her and she would have still gone off to boarding school. The only thing that I believe would have gone different in her life would be that Mr. Rochester would have fallen in ove with her sooner. She would have provided better competition and caught his eye sooner.
ReplyDeleteI believe that is was beificail to the story that Jane was not overly attractive. Her being of moderate beauty is what got her so far in her life. To add flashy looks to her character would have been devistating to the story as a whole and would changed her life from the very begining. "Jane Eyre" could have turned into a clasic Cinderella story or could have followed a similar path of "Forever Amber" or "Gone With the Wind". Everything in a story is the way it is for a reason.
ReplyDelete