Religious Beliefs in Jane Eyre

Religious Beliefs in Jane Eyre Through Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte expresses numerous issues of the Victorian Era. Class and gender inequality, race prejudices, colonialism, and religious beliefs are all but few of the problems addressed. Throughout the novel, Jane struggles with her dilemmas, namely the choice between moral duty and earthly pleasures, and the obligation to her spirit and attention to her body. Despite Jane’s simple life, Bronte often presents Jane various characters that offer contrasting religious beliefs, and in so doing, Bronte shows her disapproval of the Evangelical Movement. Perhaps no character in the novel other than Mr. Brocklehurst best demonstrates the danger and sanctimony of this nineteenth-century church movement. Superficially, he is a devoted Christian who adopts the rhetoric of Evangelicalism by preaching puritanical morality to his students. A brief address on those occasions would not be mistimed, wherein a judicious instructor would take the opportunity of referring to the sufferings of the primitive Christians; to the torments of martyrs; to the exhortations of our blessed Lord himself, calling upon His disciples to take up their cross and follow Him; to His warnings that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God; to his divine consolations, ‘if ye suffers hunger or thirst for my sake, happy are ye.’ Oh, madam, when you put bread and cheese, instead of burnt porridge, into these children’s mouths, you may indeed feed their vile bodies, but you little think how you starve their immortal souls!†(63; ch.7) Clearly, he is reciting an Evangelical idea—the corruption of the human body and the need of Christ to save them—that is popular during this time. Mr. Brocklehurst takes this idea to the extreme by emphasizing the enrichment of the soul by starving the body. This path of reaching salvation may be acceptable at the time. However, his method of subjecting his student to follow such principles is evidently intolerable and un-Christian-like. The cutting of Julia Severn’s naturally curly hair and the poor nutrition he provides for Lowood’s students are example of such extreme cruel methods. He furthers contradicts his beliefs by supporting his own luxuriously wealthy family at the expense of the Lowood students. By displaying Mr. Brocklehurst hypocrisy, Bronte shows her concerns for the new movement. Not only does Bronte condemn Brocklehurst’s religious doctrine, but she also undermines Helen Burn’s absolute and self-abnegating beliefs. The Christ-like Helen adopts a forbearing mode of Christianity that is too passive for the headstrong Jane to comprehend and to accept. When Helen comforts Jane, Hush, Jane! You think too much of the love of human beings; you are too impulsive, too vehement: the sovereign hand that created your frame, and put life into it, has provided you with other resources than your feeble self, or than creatures feeble as you. Besides this earth, and besides the race of men, there is an invisible world and a kingdom of spirits; that world is round us, for it is everywhere; and those spirits watch us, for they are commissioned to guard us; and if we were dying in pain and shame, if scorn smote us on all sides and hatred crushed us, angels see our tortures, recognise our innocence . . . Why, then, should we ever sink overwhelmed with distress, when life is soon over, and death is so certain an entrance to happiness — to glory? (70; ch.8) Jane feels an â€Å"inexpressible sadness† from those words. Helen consoles Jane by offering the idea that death is the ultimate â€Å"entrance to happiness.† However, Jane is more concern about the life on Earth rather than the life after. She cannot accept Helen’s submissive attitudes toward injustice and the belief that justice will be found in God’s ultimate judgment—reward the good and punish the evil. Jane is overwhelmed by Helen’s blind faith; she thirsts for love and happiness in this world rather than the eternal life that Helen seeks. Thus, at Helen’s deathbed, Jane continuously questions about Helen’s depravity and her deep affinity with God. â€Å"By dying young, I shall escape great sufferings. I had not qualities or talents to make my way very well in the world: I should have been continually at fault.† â€Å"But where are you going to, Helen? Can you see? Do you know?† â€Å"I believe; I have faith: I am going to God.† â€Å"Where is God? What is God?† â€Å"My Maker and yours, who will never destroy what he created. I rely implicitly on his power, and confide wholly in his goodness: I count the hours till that eventful one arrives which shall restore me to him, reveal him to me.† â€Å"You are sure, then Helen, that there is such a place as heaven; and that our souls can get to it when die?† (83; ch.9) Even with Helen’s reassurance that there is really heaven, Jane still questions her self with the thoughts: â€Å"Where is that region? Does it exist?†(83; ch.9) These questions may not affect Helen’s faith at any rate, but her death ultimately make Bronte’s point clear—one cannot relies on faith for survival but can depend on it for guidance. Although St. John Rivers shares many Christian beliefs with Helen Burns, he presents another spectrum of the religious movement that Bronte dissuades. It is clear that St. John is a religious zealot who devotes â€Å"a large portion of his time†¦visiting the sick and poor among the scattered population of his parish.† (357; ch.30) However, his devotion to God does not make him a saint. â€Å"Zealous in his ministerial labours, blameless in his life and habits, he yet did not appear to enjoy that mental serenity, that inward content, which should be the reward of every sincere Christian and practical philanthropist.† (357; ch.30) Bronte makes this point clear when Jane observes at one of his sermons. â€Å"Throughout there was a strange bitterness; an absence of consolatory gentleness; stern allusions†¦I was sure St. John Rivers—pure-lived, conscientious, zealous as he was—had not yet found that peace of God which passeth all understanding: he had no more found it, I thought, than had I†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (358; ch.30) Bronte not only questions St. John’s saintliness but also doubts his devotion to Christianity. As a clergyman, he should enjoy his job and love his enemies, rather he â€Å"did not appear to enjoy† his works and ignores Jane, avoids her, and treats her differently after she rejected his proposal. He like Mr. Brocklehurst preaches to serve but does not always practice this himself. He believes the words that he speaks are those of Go speaking through him: â€Å"Do you think God will be satisfied with half an oblation? Will he accept a mutilated sacrifice? It is the cause of God I advocate: it is under His standard I enlist you. I cannon accept on His behalf a divided allegiance: it must be entire.†(413; ch.34) He believes that he knows what God thinks and wants others to do. The arrogance nature of his, together with his cold, dispassionate attitude toward serving God deviates St. John from a true Christian. Unlike Helen Burns, he is a defective mortal. By revealing St. John’s flaws, Bronte shows that doing God’s work on Earth does not mean complete Christian piety. Jane ultimately finds a comfortable religious middle-ground that is not oppressive like Mr. Brocklehurst’s, that is not submissive like Helen Burn’s, and that is not dispassionate like St. John’s. For Jane or rather for Bronte, religion not only helps them find eternal happiness in heaven, but also help them find the essential needs of human life—love.

English Term paper -- essays research papers

1984 is a novel of great influence. The novel illustrates many concepts of life in the future through the knowledge of the past. The descriptive theories within the novel are familiar in basic context when we look into the society of today. The author George Orwell has projected an image of the future through the knowledge of his lifetime, which is not far off reality. The novel talks about the social movement to a world of unbearable proportions, which takes the idea of security to the limit. A feeling of helplessness is bestowed upon the people as the government scrutinizes their every move. The government has created a society of fear, and people automatically fall into line for they cannot escape the eyes of Big Brother who is watching them. Many of the major concepts outlined in detail in the novel are applicable to life in the twenty-first century. The author has defined concepts for several areas, which he perceived the world would progress towards. Orwell’s prophecies as illustrated in the novel 1984 are fulfilled in today’s society. One of the major prophecies that Orwell outlines in his novel is the idea of the telescreen which can watch anyone at any time this is a reality in today’s society. One of the major connections that Orwell makes about the telescreen of 1984 and today’s society is that you could spy on people. The telescreen might be the most closely compared to microphones and cameras, but there are also many other devices that can be easily used for spying. Within the area of the telescreen anyone could be watched as well as heard, which closely links to the surveillance of today, except people are a little more naive. â€Å"Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it; moreover, so as long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard. There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment.†(Orwell, 6) The notion that â€Å"Big broth er is watching you† from the novel is not that far off. In fact cameras are being installed all over the place for security reasons, but you do not know who is watching you and what kind of personal information you are giving away. â€Å"No matter how far our contemporary world may seem to 1984’s Oceania, any suggestion of government surveillance of its citizens--from the thre... ...clearly outlines several theories of his within the novel, which have come true in modern day. George Orwell’s first prophecy is about a piece of technology, which we can quite easily relate to modern day because it is quite like a television or a communication device such as a camera or microphone. This was important since it was one of the main ideas of his novel, relating to spying, and it has become quite prominent within our society as well as in the novel. Next the author outlines the type of government, which is quite overpowering, which again in co-ordinance with the telescreen presents one of the main ideas in the plot of the novel and is quite emphasized. The type of governance described is in effect in some countries around the world today. Finally the author has described in detail the use of a new language that has become useful for brainwashing, and government propaganda. This language can be related to today as we have created a new language of our own for s pecial purposes and there are places that deal with a double languages, just as in the novel. The concepts that this novel introduces are so realistic that it has influenced many around the world for many years.

Case Assignment Essay

a. How did data analysis enable agility/flexibility? Conducting analysis provided SEJ with the opportunity to strategize locations of stores and deliveries of the right products at the right times. b. How did data analysis reduce leftover goods that were perishable? Through the identification of product type, time and frequency, SEJ was able to reduce leftover goods that were perishable. Also, considering weather, local area events, and holidays they were able to adjust their ordering. c. How did electronic data acquisition reduce ordering/delivery lead times? The orders were instantly sent and received by the vendor so the turn-around time was reduced. Trending these orders also allowed the vendors to be prepared with the items. d. What statistics did Seven-Eleven find that determined the success of a new store? They used several data points including, demographics for age, population, income etc. They considered local foot traffic, nearby schools, buildings and subways. They also balanced it with impacts of other local stores. e. How did Seven-Eleven share data electronically with its supply chain partners? They used their handheld terminals in each store to order directly through to the vendors. This data was also captured for analysis and transportation. 3. If you were to design an analogous information and data analysis system for DCMA to oversee contractors and subcontractors: a. What would the goals of that system be? For me trending issues with sub-tier suppliers should be addressed. Currently we are very poor at sharing information within our offices and across the organization. A large scale supply chain mapping, rating and tracking system with feedback from all employees would help in being predictive about potential delivery and quality issues. b. What data would you want to collect and how would you want to â€Å"data mine† it, or analyze the data to improve the performance of the contractor network and become aware of problems earlier? I would include both subjective and objective observations. Tracking delayed deliveries, their reasoning, CARs, Supplier CARs and supplier ratings or actions against their sub-tier would be the first step. I would also include subjective analysis by supply chain specialist to identify other areas of potential concern that may not have developed to the point of SCARs or delays.

The Death Penalty Is Not A New Practice Essay - 1740 Words

Introduction For every unlawful deed, there is a consequence; and under the law of the state of Florida, death is an option for those who commit capital punishment crimes. In fact, Florida was the first state to reinstate the death penalty after the Supreme Court case Furman v. Georgia, and consequently, it was the first state to perform an actual execution after the court case settled. Though many citizens and politicians consider the state of Florida harsher than most states concerning the death sentence, it still falls short in one respect: gender bias. Literature Review Issuance of the death penalty is not a new practice in the United States, especially not in Florida. The death penalty has been a well-established, though highly controversial, practice in the United States for almost 400 years. The first execution of a criminal in the American colonies occurred in Virginia in 1622. During most of the 20th century, the vast majority of states in the country permitted execution of convicted criminals. The practice dates back to early English common law, where virtually any person convicted of a felony offence faced a mandatory death sentence, but the practice has always been much more widespread in the US than in the United Kingdom, which abandoned capital punishment in 1973. For much of US history, capital punishment was extended beyond the crime of murder to include, among other offences, arson, burglary, armed robbery, rape, kidnapping, and possession of certainShow MoreRelatedThe Death Penalty Is Not A New Practice Essay1741 W ords   |  7 Pagesconsequence; and under the law of the state of Florida, death is an option for those who commit capital punishment crimes. In fact, Florida was the first state to reinstate the death penalty after the Supreme Court case Furman v. Georgia, and consequently, it was the first state to perform an actual execution after the court case settled. Though many citizens and politicians consider the state of Florida harsher than most states concerning the death sentence, it still falls short in one respect: genderRead MoreCapital Punishment : An Effective Tool1493 Words   |  6 Pagessince the time the practice of the death penalty was implemented into the legal system. With the number of historical occurrences, it was widely acknowledged that the administration of capital punishment remains to be an imperfect embodiment of governmental power. Many studies in the context of criminological analysis have provided statistics, although inconclusive, regarding capital punish ment as an effective tool in terms of deterrence. 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