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Abstract：This paper analyses Jane Eyre and Tess’s characters, and the factors that result in the formation of their characters. Through comparing their similar characters and contrasting their different characters, we find that the noble spirit is of great importance to women, such as rebellion, kindness. If a woman wants to be independent, free and respected by others, lofty spirit is much needed. Jane Eyre and Tess ,in their special environment, try their best to fight against outer terrible social environment and their inner world. They remove all difficulties to seek the living space for women, where they can breathe freely. They vanquish not only external world but also themselves. Jane Eyre and Tess are pioneers of Women’s Liberation Movement. They have made special contribution to feminism, and they are respected by readers. Today’s society, women have owned some rights, but are still somewhat inferior to men in some fields. Mammonism is in vogue, and unhealthy tendency still exists, which are similar to the novels’ background. So what is the right way for women in the modern society to live? What kind of noble spirit should modern women persist in? These questions are worth our readers thinking about after trading this paper.
Key words:rebellion；initiative；kindness
Ⅰ Introduction
Jane Eyre and Tess are famous femaleprota-gonists in the world. They are outstanding in the English literature and both are respected by readers.
Jane Eyre is kind to everybody and is brave to do what she thinks it is right. She is the voice of the doctrine of women’s rights. She fights for happy life, self-respect, independence and freedom. Rebellion is the leading character of Jane Eyre.
Tess is innocent, kind and selfless, accompanying with the rebellious character. In order to be happy, independent and free, she fights against outer unfavorable environment with self-respect. The course of her rebellion reveals women in the 20th century become awakening.
Through analyzing two protagonists’ characters and the factors which influence their characters, we find out their nobility. Their lofty spirit has significance to modern women.
Ⅱ The similarities of Jane Eyre and Tess’s characters
A. Jane Eyre’s characters
1. Rebellion
Jane, a penniless orphan girl of a poor parson’s family is under the cruel rule of her aunt, Mrs. Reed. During the ten years of her stay there, Jane suffers many insults—all her cousins’ proud indifference, all her aunt’s aversion, and all the servants’ snobbery. They often find pleasurre in teasing and mocking Jane. One day Jane has a conflict with her cousin, John Reed, who often bullies and abuses her. It is the first struggle for her. At this stage her instinct for self-assertion can only express itself in rebellion. Goaded by John Reed’s bullying, she hits back on two occasions, fighting like a mad cat until she is overpowered. In order to get human basic rights, she must fight against people who make trouble for her.
Before leaving Gateshead, Jane is stung by Mrs. Reed’s accusations that she is deceitful. Jane hits back in words, insisting on her own honesty, telling her aunt how much she dislikes her and making her first articulate claim for love,“ How dare I, Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Reed? How dare I? Because it is the truth. You think I have no feelings, and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness; but I cannot live so; and you have no pity. Is hall remember how you thrust me back—roughly and violently thrust me back into the red—room, and locked me, up there—to my dying day, though I cried out, while suffocation with distress. Have mercy! Have mercy! Have mercy Aunt Reed! And that punishment you made me suffer because your wicked boy struck me—knocked me down for nothing. I will tell anybody who asks me questions, this exact tale. People think you a good woman, but you are bad; hard—hear teed. You are deceitful!”[1]
Jane directly exposes Mrs. Reed’s ugly face, which makes Mrs. Reed very angry. No matter what happens, Jane Eyre tastes something of vengeance for the first time at Gateshead. And readers get the first impresion of the rebellious character of Jane Eyre.
At lowood charity school, Jane’s spirit of rebellion develops. In lowood, once she says to her best friend, Helen Buns,
“ A great deal: you are good to those who are good to you. It is all I ever desire to be. 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.”[2]
This is Jane Eyre with the spirit of rebellion. At this time she is much more mature in mind than before.
Her principle of being a person is seeking freedom and equality, and protecting independence of human dignity.
When Jane comes to Thornfield, she does not feel inferior to those upper—class people, and is neither obsequious nor supercilious to face them. When her master Mr. Rochester asks her to speak something to make him happy, Jane refuses. In Jane’s eyes, she cannot be docile and obedient to him just because of his older age and noble status.
As time goes by, Jane and Mr. Rochester fall in love with each other. They’re about to be married when Jane breaks the engagement. On the wedding day, upon learning that Mr. Rochester has a wife, a raving lunatic who is sectetly kept back under lock and key in the house. Shocked by the news, Jane decides to flee from Thornfield, even though Mr. Rochester begs her not to leave him. It is naturally difficult for her to make such a frightful but firm decision. After all she loves Rochester deeply and her love to him is passionate and genuine. However, Jane has her own dignity, and she tries to stand on her dignity. She says sonorously,“ I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I respect myself. I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man. I will hold to principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad—as I am now. Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation; they are for such rise in mutiny against their rigour stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. It at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? They have a worth—so I have always believed; and if I cannot believe it now, it is because I am insane—quite insane; with my veins running fire, and my heart beating faster than I can court its thribs. Preconceived opinions foregone determinations, are all I have at this hour to stand by; there I plant my foot.”[3]
At no time does she ever forget her yearning for liberty and equal rights. She doesn’t want to be subordinate and obedient to men; neither does she want to sacrifice her dignity to compromise with social customs and habits. To her, to be a lover is unbearable, so she decides to rebel against her marriage.
A person who can fight against outer pressure may not defeat himself. If one can fight against himself and exceed himself, he is a real strongman. Jane Eyre is the very person. The marriage event shows her rebellion reaching a climax.
2.Initiative
By the time she leaving Lowood, eight years later, Jane has learned an allegiance to duty and order, but her longing for excitement and fulfillment is not satisfied. Her restlessness drives her to seek a new position. She thinks that women want more out of life than housework and embroidery. She looks forward to freedom, seeking new lifte bravely. After advertising in a newspaper for a new job , she obtains a position as a governess, which gives herselfnew future.
Jane Eyre has initiative in hand. She always looks around the world as a main body. In tradition, a woman is the esthetic object that cannot shake off the secondary position of being an “ornament”, even though a woman will be eulogized by men as a beauty. Jane Eyre challenges this tradition: She is unwilling to be the appreciate object, and she’d like to measure the world with her own eyes, including commenting on men’s beauty. Her first impression on Mr. Rochester is that he appears dark, forbidding and unhandsome. In Jane’s eyes, Mr. Mason is handsome, but she does not like him because he seems vague, unsettled, and inanimate. Jane also gives comments on St. John: a statue-like man, with a Greek face, not plaid but restless, hard and eager. All these judgments show that Jane observes others initiatively. She is no longer being the object observed, and she is the principal part of judgment.
Jane’s initiative is also reflected by her eloquence. Patriarchy demands women’s docility and silence, depriving of their right to speak. In this way, women cannot prove their existing value and strive for the equality in words. However, Jane dares to say and she does never hide her inner thoughts. When she misunderstands that Mr. Rochester plans to marry Ingram and wants her to stay at Thornfield, Jane speaks out these words angrily,“ DoyouthinkIcanstayto becomenothingtoyou ? DoyouthinkIamanautomation , amachinewithoutfeeling,andcanbearto havemymorselofbreadsnatchedfrommylips , andmydropoflivingwaterdashedfrom my cup ? Doyouthink , becauseIamsoullessandheartless ? You think wrong ! Ihaveasmuchsoulasyou and full as much heart ! AndifGodhadgiftedmewithsomebeauty andmuchwealth , Ishouldhavemadeitashardfor youtoleaveme , asitisnowformetoleaveyou . Iam not talking to you now through the medium of custom comventionalities , norevenofmoralflesh :itismyspirit thataddressesyourspirit ; justasifbothhadpassesthroughthegrave , andwestoodatGod’sfeet , equal—asweare !”[4]
At last, she is cheated by Alec again. At that time, her family is homeless, and she believes that her husband will not come back. So she is forced to leave her family, and live with Alec. When Angel comes to find her, she suddenly recognizes that Alec is a true swindler. She can bear the reality no longer. She shows her great revolt and murders Alec. It is perceived that Tess is not only a victim at that times but also a dissenter of social evils.
2. Initiative
Tess’s father is still out drinking, but he has to set out early the next day, so Tess is concerned when he returns. She first sends her young brother Abraham, and then goes herself to bring him back. From this, we can see Tess does not just wait for the answer, but makes decision on her own initiative to change the situation. When Tess is in trouble, she always tries her best to solve problems.
Her initiative is challenging the pessimistic fatalism. We often find passion in Tess’s eyes. She is not frightened by difficulties and solves problems to the best of her ability. She thinks back over her past, and looks forward to her future. She wants to make her future brighter. Eventually, although she lives in a miserable life, stirred by the renewing of life in the spring, she decides to move away from Marlott to take up a job as a dairymaid at Talbothays. Tess sets out in May, two years after her return from Trantridge, full of a natural optimism ( she is still only twenty), and arrives at Talbot hays at milking time. She fights against wretched fate and wants to use her own hands to create her own future.
3. Kindness
The innocent sixteen-year-old girl Tess, lives in the village of Marlott, her home a small house crowded with six children, and is ruled by a mother and father careless of their responsibilities. Because of poor family, Tess is persuaded to ask her relatives for help. To help her family, she goes against her wish and goes to the Slopes to ask for help, which makes her caught by Alec. Later, she yields to Alec completely because her family are poor and homeless. She sacrifices a lot.
At home, she is more diligent than her father; she is cleverer than her mother; she loves her sisters and brothers more than loves herself, which shows her natural kindness and selflessness.
Tess’s kindness can also be seen from her words to her husband: “These pitiable girls, could you kiss them[Tess’s friends] once? The first one and also the last one.”[6] This woman’s selflessness let’s readers respect and love her.
Both Jane Eyre and Tess are rebelious, initiative and kind. They long for an equal, independent and happy life. But at that time, there is no equality between men and women. Men have a lot of rights, which women do not own. In order to reach their aims, they have initiative in hand to make progress in their lives. They do not wait for fate’s arrangenent, but challenge pessimistic fatalism. They are representatives of women consciousness.
ⅢThe differences of Jane Eyre and Tess’s characters
A. Jane Eyre’s character
Reason
Jane’s reason rules her emotions. One day, she asks Mr. Rochester to sing. After singing a love song, Mr.Rochester comes toward her. Because she fears sentiment, so she makes sharp remarks about the song. She will not kiss him. She determines to keep him on edge and avoids too much sentiment. Her reason protects her self-respect.
After leaving Mr. Rochester, she meets St.John Rivers. Then comes the proposal from St.John Rivers that she marries him and becomes a missionary. St. John tempts her to a life of self-sacrifice, duty, and usefulness, but wihtout love. Jane instinctively feels that marriage without love is prostitution. So she keeps control, even under the almost hypnotic spell of St. John’s religious fervor. Jane’s calmness gives her happy life later.
B. Tess’s character
Emotion
Tess is an emotional girl and we often see passion on her face. She is passionate to live in the world, but she does not have reasonable understanding of this world. Most of times, she is controlled by her feeling. That is why she is cheated by Alec twice.
And she is an idealist. She believes that her loved husband is tolerant and selfless like herself. But she is wrong. Tess’s mother in a letter advises her against telling her past to Angel, but Tess is conscious of their [Tess and Angel] purity and resolves to tell Angel her past. Her over-idealism hides the danger of losing Angel. On their wedding day, Angel confesses his early debauchery. Tess happily forgives him and believes that Angel will forgive her past, too. So she tells the story of her past. Tess’s foolishly confident confession is handled with great sureness. Her idealism leads her miserable life later.
Jane Eyre reads a lot of books, so she has a clear understanding of the society. She is passionate, but her reason always can rule her emotion. This character helps her maintaining her self-respect and independence.
Tess likes to learn, but she does not read a lot. She is innocent and knows a few about the sinister aspect of the society. Her aim is to reach an equal, independent and happy life. She does things with her passion.
ⅣThe background of Jane Eyre and Tess
A. Jane Eyre’s background
In the 19th century, English government has carried out capitalistic democratic innovation, and social productive force developed rapidly. The innovation had great influence on English society, social weath becoming affluent and people’s value conception changing deeply. Women started to work outside and earned their own living. Through working outside, they set up their self-confidence, found out the value of themselves and began to think about their own situation, future and fate. At that time, they were lower ranking, having no right to claim equality. They were regarded as the slaves of family. Under that situation, English government formulated some measures and laws to ensure some rights of women, such as working and accepting education. But women still did not have equal rights to men. Women in order to get equal rights to men, they started to fight the unfair social environment. Jane Eyre is a typical woman at that times.
B.Tess’s background
In the 20th century, people accepted Victorian assumptions about society, sexual morality and religion. Bourgeoisie defended their traditioanl morality. On judging purity, they had different standards on men and women. It is the root, which causes Tess’s miserable life.
Ⅴ. Conclusion
Through analyzing two protagonists’ characters, their noble quality appears before our eyes. At their times, their rebellious character has great significance. We can say that they are pioneers of feminism. Generally speaking, they are pure, self-respent, independent, kind and brave. They almost embrace all lofty characters, which are admired by modern women. Of course, they have differences. Janc Eyre is reasonable. She always can control her emotion, no matter what situations are. But Tess is an emotional girl. Most of times, she does things with her feeling. Their differences are partly due to their different living environments. Nevertheless, they are nearly embodiment of perfection.
Today, we have some similar environment to their times. Although women own some rights, men and women are still not completely equal. So in our times, what characters should the modern women possess? How can women base themselves upon in the modern society? In my opinion, they should learn some flickering points from Jane Eyre and Tess.
Bibliography：
[1] Xianfu Li: Discussing Jane Eyre’s Rebellious Characters, Journal of the Northwest Normal University, 1, 1994. 52
[2] xianfu Li, P53
[3] Fang Weijin, “Doubting about Jane Eyre’s Rebellious Character,”Journal of the Northwest Normal Universith, 1,1994: 52-56
[4]Jikun Sun, A Rebellious Woman Shanghai: Shanghei Translation Publisher, 1998
[5]J.M.Lubyer, Jane Eyre Notes. Washington: Washington University, 1981
[６] Hardy Thomas, Ｐ236
[７]Bronte Charlotte, Jane Eyre, trans. ZhuQingYing. Shanghai: Shanghai Translation. Publisher, 1987.
[８]Ding Yun, “Observing Hardy’s Tender Feelings and Women’s consciousness from Tess,” Journal of the TaiZhou Teachers College,5,1997:34-37
[９]Draper R.P.Hardy, the Tragic Novels, Hong Kong: Sheck Wah Tong Printing Press Ltd, 1987.
[１０]Fan ya’nan, “Appraising St.John’s Image”, Yan Shan Academic Journal,3,1996:24-25.
[１１]Fang Weijin, “Doubting about Jane Eyre’s Rebellious Character”, Foreign Literature.1,1993:37-45
[１２]Li Xianfu,“Discussing the Shortcomings of Jane Eyre”, Journal of the Southwest Normal University,2,1993:121-127
[１３]Li Zhihe, “The Charm of ‘Tess’”, Foreign Literature Study,1,1993:123-125
[１４]Lindley David,Tess of the D’urbervilles.Hong Kong: Sheck wah Tong Printing Press Ltd,1980.
[１５]Lubyer, J.M. Jane Eyre Notes.Washington: Washington University,1982.
[１６]Luo Xianlin, “The Great Recognized Value of Tess’s Image”, Foreign Literature Study,4,2000:147-148
[１７]Pinion F.B.A.Hardy Companion. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company,1978.
[１８]Sun Jikun, A Rebellious Woman, Shanghai: Shanghai Translation Publisher,1988.
[１９]Thomas,Hardy, Tess of the D’urbervilles, New York: Charles Scriber’s Son,1992.
[２０]Wang Huaxue, “Discussing Jane Eyre”, Foreign Literature Study,2,1980:102-105
Key words:rebellion；initiative；kindness
Ⅰ Introduction
Jane Eyre and Tess are famous femaleprota-gonists in the world. They are outstanding in the English literature and both are respected by readers.
Jane Eyre is kind to everybody and is brave to do what she thinks it is right. She is the voice of the doctrine of women’s rights. She fights for happy life, self-respect, independence and freedom. Rebellion is the leading character of Jane Eyre.
Tess is innocent, kind and selfless, accompanying with the rebellious character. In order to be happy, independent and free, she fights against outer unfavorable environment with self-respect. The course of her rebellion reveals women in the 20th century become awakening.
Through analyzing two protagonists’ characters and the factors which influence their characters, we find out their nobility. Their lofty spirit has significance to modern women.
Ⅱ The similarities of Jane Eyre and Tess’s characters
A. Jane Eyre’s characters
1. Rebellion
Jane, a penniless orphan girl of a poor parson’s family is under the cruel rule of her aunt, Mrs. Reed. During the ten years of her stay there, Jane suffers many insults—all her cousins’ proud indifference, all her aunt’s aversion, and all the servants’ snobbery. They often find pleasurre in teasing and mocking Jane. One day Jane has a conflict with her cousin, John Reed, who often bullies and abuses her. It is the first struggle for her. At this stage her instinct for self-assertion can only express itself in rebellion. Goaded by John Reed’s bullying, she hits back on two occasions, fighting like a mad cat until she is overpowered. In order to get human basic rights, she must fight against people who make trouble for her.
Before leaving Gateshead, Jane is stung by Mrs. Reed’s accusations that she is deceitful. Jane hits back in words, insisting on her own honesty, telling her aunt how much she dislikes her and making her first articulate claim for love,“ How dare I, Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Reed? How dare I? Because it is the truth. You think I have no feelings, and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness; but I cannot live so; and you have no pity. Is hall remember how you thrust me back—roughly and violently thrust me back into the red—room, and locked me, up there—to my dying day, though I cried out, while suffocation with distress. Have mercy! Have mercy! Have mercy Aunt Reed! And that punishment you made me suffer because your wicked boy struck me—knocked me down for nothing. I will tell anybody who asks me questions, this exact tale. People think you a good woman, but you are bad; hard—hear teed. You are deceitful!”[1]
Jane directly exposes Mrs. Reed’s ugly face, which makes Mrs. Reed very angry. No matter what happens, Jane Eyre tastes something of vengeance for the first time at Gateshead. And readers get the first impresion of the rebellious character of Jane Eyre.
At lowood charity school, Jane’s spirit of rebellion develops. In lowood, once she says to her best friend, Helen Buns,
“ A great deal: you are good to those who are good to you. It is all I ever desire to be. 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.”[2]
This is Jane Eyre with the spirit of rebellion. At this time she is much more mature in mind than before.
Her principle of being a person is seeking freedom and equality, and protecting independence of human dignity.
When Jane comes to Thornfield, she does not feel inferior to those upper—class people, and is neither obsequious nor supercilious to face them. When her master Mr. Rochester asks her to speak something to make him happy, Jane refuses. In Jane’s eyes, she cannot be docile and obedient to him just because of his older age and noble status.
As time goes by, Jane and Mr. Rochester fall in love with each other. They’re about to be married when Jane breaks the engagement. On the wedding day, upon learning that Mr. Rochester has a wife, a raving lunatic who is sectetly kept back under lock and key in the house. Shocked by the news, Jane decides to flee from Thornfield, even though Mr. Rochester begs her not to leave him. It is naturally difficult for her to make such a frightful but firm decision. After all she loves Rochester deeply and her love to him is passionate and genuine. However, Jane has her own dignity, and she tries to stand on her dignity. She says sonorously,“ I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I respect myself. I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man. I will hold to principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad—as I am now. Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation; they are for such rise in mutiny against their rigour stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. It at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? They have a worth—so I have always believed; and if I cannot believe it now, it is because I am insane—quite insane; with my veins running fire, and my heart beating faster than I can court its thribs. Preconceived opinions foregone determinations, are all I have at this hour to stand by; there I plant my foot.”[3]
At no time does she ever forget her yearning for liberty and equal rights. She doesn’t want to be subordinate and obedient to men; neither does she want to sacrifice her dignity to compromise with social customs and habits. To her, to be a lover is unbearable, so she decides to rebel against her marriage.
A person who can fight against outer pressure may not defeat himself. If one can fight against himself and exceed himself, he is a real strongman. Jane Eyre is the very person. The marriage event shows her rebellion reaching a climax.
2.Initiative
By the time she leaving Lowood, eight years later, Jane has learned an allegiance to duty and order, but her longing for excitement and fulfillment is not satisfied. Her restlessness drives her to seek a new position. She thinks that women want more out of life than housework and embroidery. She looks forward to freedom, seeking new lifte bravely. After advertising in a newspaper for a new job , she obtains a position as a governess, which gives herselfnew future.
Jane Eyre has initiative in hand. She always looks around the world as a main body. In tradition, a woman is the esthetic object that cannot shake off the secondary position of being an “ornament”, even though a woman will be eulogized by men as a beauty. Jane Eyre challenges this tradition: She is unwilling to be the appreciate object, and she’d like to measure the world with her own eyes, including commenting on men’s beauty. Her first impression on Mr. Rochester is that he appears dark, forbidding and unhandsome. In Jane’s eyes, Mr. Mason is handsome, but she does not like him because he seems vague, unsettled, and inanimate. Jane also gives comments on St. John: a statue-like man, with a Greek face, not plaid but restless, hard and eager. All these judgments show that Jane observes others initiatively. She is no longer being the object observed, and she is the principal part of judgment.
Jane’s initiative is also reflected by her eloquence. Patriarchy demands women’s docility and silence, depriving of their right to speak. In this way, women cannot prove their existing value and strive for the equality in words. However, Jane dares to say and she does never hide her inner thoughts. When she misunderstands that Mr. Rochester plans to marry Ingram and wants her to stay at Thornfield, Jane speaks out these words angrily,“ DoyouthinkIcanstayto becomenothingtoyou ? DoyouthinkIamanautomation , amachinewithoutfeeling,andcanbearto havemymorselofbreadsnatchedfrommylips , andmydropoflivingwaterdashedfrom my cup ? Doyouthink , becauseIamsoullessandheartless ? You think wrong ! Ihaveasmuchsoulasyou and full as much heart ! AndifGodhadgiftedmewithsomebeauty andmuchwealth , Ishouldhavemadeitashardfor youtoleaveme , asitisnowformetoleaveyou . Iam not talking to you now through the medium of custom comventionalities , norevenofmoralflesh :itismyspirit thataddressesyourspirit ; justasifbothhadpassesthroughthegrave , andwestoodatGod’sfeet , equal—asweare !”[4]
At last, she is cheated by Alec again. At that time, her family is homeless, and she believes that her husband will not come back. So she is forced to leave her family, and live with Alec. When Angel comes to find her, she suddenly recognizes that Alec is a true swindler. She can bear the reality no longer. She shows her great revolt and murders Alec. It is perceived that Tess is not only a victim at that times but also a dissenter of social evils.
2. Initiative
Tess’s father is still out drinking, but he has to set out early the next day, so Tess is concerned when he returns. She first sends her young brother Abraham, and then goes herself to bring him back. From this, we can see Tess does not just wait for the answer, but makes decision on her own initiative to change the situation. When Tess is in trouble, she always tries her best to solve problems.
Her initiative is challenging the pessimistic fatalism. We often find passion in Tess’s eyes. She is not frightened by difficulties and solves problems to the best of her ability. She thinks back over her past, and looks forward to her future. She wants to make her future brighter. Eventually, although she lives in a miserable life, stirred by the renewing of life in the spring, she decides to move away from Marlott to take up a job as a dairymaid at Talbothays. Tess sets out in May, two years after her return from Trantridge, full of a natural optimism ( she is still only twenty), and arrives at Talbot hays at milking time. She fights against wretched fate and wants to use her own hands to create her own future.
3. Kindness
The innocent sixteen-year-old girl Tess, lives in the village of Marlott, her home a small house crowded with six children, and is ruled by a mother and father careless of their responsibilities. Because of poor family, Tess is persuaded to ask her relatives for help. To help her family, she goes against her wish and goes to the Slopes to ask for help, which makes her caught by Alec. Later, she yields to Alec completely because her family are poor and homeless. She sacrifices a lot.
At home, she is more diligent than her father; she is cleverer than her mother; she loves her sisters and brothers more than loves herself, which shows her natural kindness and selflessness.
Tess’s kindness can also be seen from her words to her husband: “These pitiable girls, could you kiss them[Tess’s friends] once? The first one and also the last one.”[6] This woman’s selflessness let’s readers respect and love her.
Both Jane Eyre and Tess are rebelious, initiative and kind. They long for an equal, independent and happy life. But at that time, there is no equality between men and women. Men have a lot of rights, which women do not own. In order to reach their aims, they have initiative in hand to make progress in their lives. They do not wait for fate’s arrangenent, but challenge pessimistic fatalism. They are representatives of women consciousness.
ⅢThe differences of Jane Eyre and Tess’s characters
A. Jane Eyre’s character
Reason
Jane’s reason rules her emotions. One day, she asks Mr. Rochester to sing. After singing a love song, Mr.Rochester comes toward her. Because she fears sentiment, so she makes sharp remarks about the song. She will not kiss him. She determines to keep him on edge and avoids too much sentiment. Her reason protects her self-respect.
After leaving Mr. Rochester, she meets St.John Rivers. Then comes the proposal from St.John Rivers that she marries him and becomes a missionary. St. John tempts her to a life of self-sacrifice, duty, and usefulness, but wihtout love. Jane instinctively feels that marriage without love is prostitution. So she keeps control, even under the almost hypnotic spell of St. John’s religious fervor. Jane’s calmness gives her happy life later.
B. Tess’s character
Emotion
Tess is an emotional girl and we often see passion on her face. She is passionate to live in the world, but she does not have reasonable understanding of this world. Most of times, she is controlled by her feeling. That is why she is cheated by Alec twice.
And she is an idealist. She believes that her loved husband is tolerant and selfless like herself. But she is wrong. Tess’s mother in a letter advises her against telling her past to Angel, but Tess is conscious of their [Tess and Angel] purity and resolves to tell Angel her past. Her over-idealism hides the danger of losing Angel. On their wedding day, Angel confesses his early debauchery. Tess happily forgives him and believes that Angel will forgive her past, too. So she tells the story of her past. Tess’s foolishly confident confession is handled with great sureness. Her idealism leads her miserable life later.
Jane Eyre reads a lot of books, so she has a clear understanding of the society. She is passionate, but her reason always can rule her emotion. This character helps her maintaining her self-respect and independence.
Tess likes to learn, but she does not read a lot. She is innocent and knows a few about the sinister aspect of the society. Her aim is to reach an equal, independent and happy life. She does things with her passion.
ⅣThe background of Jane Eyre and Tess
A. Jane Eyre’s background
In the 19th century, English government has carried out capitalistic democratic innovation, and social productive force developed rapidly. The innovation had great influence on English society, social weath becoming affluent and people’s value conception changing deeply. Women started to work outside and earned their own living. Through working outside, they set up their self-confidence, found out the value of themselves and began to think about their own situation, future and fate. At that time, they were lower ranking, having no right to claim equality. They were regarded as the slaves of family. Under that situation, English government formulated some measures and laws to ensure some rights of women, such as working and accepting education. But women still did not have equal rights to men. Women in order to get equal rights to men, they started to fight the unfair social environment. Jane Eyre is a typical woman at that times.
B.Tess’s background
In the 20th century, people accepted Victorian assumptions about society, sexual morality and religion. Bourgeoisie defended their traditioanl morality. On judging purity, they had different standards on men and women. It is the root, which causes Tess’s miserable life.
Ⅴ. Conclusion
Through analyzing two protagonists’ characters, their noble quality appears before our eyes. At their times, their rebellious character has great significance. We can say that they are pioneers of feminism. Generally speaking, they are pure, self-respent, independent, kind and brave. They almost embrace all lofty characters, which are admired by modern women. Of course, they have differences. Janc Eyre is reasonable. She always can control her emotion, no matter what situations are. But Tess is an emotional girl. Most of times, she does things with her feeling. Their differences are partly due to their different living environments. Nevertheless, they are nearly embodiment of perfection.
Today, we have some similar environment to their times. Although women own some rights, men and women are still not completely equal. So in our times, what characters should the modern women possess? How can women base themselves upon in the modern society? In my opinion, they should learn some flickering points from Jane Eyre and Tess.
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