Jane Eyre's journey through life closely resembles the Hero's Journey, a template created by Joseph Campbell to describe the path every hero, in all stories throughout the world, take. It starts with a call to adventure, the first beckoning call of change for Jane this is when Mr. Lloyd "recommended [Jane be] sent to school"(31). She receives her first summons to break away from Gateshead and start on her "quest". The next step in the Hero's Journey is assistance, where the hero meets someone who mentors them; usually, a master who is older and wiser. This mentor to Jane is Helen Burns, who teachers Jane a great many things about life, most importantly how to be a good Christian. Jane claims Helen "was qualified to give those who enjoyed the privilege of her converse, taste of far higher thing" (93). The next stop in the Hero's Journey is departure, when the hero leaves their ordinary world and enters a "special" one. The real heart of the adventure starts at this point. This happens when Jane leaves Lowood to become a Governess at Thornfield. Just as the story is leading up to her arrival at Thornfield, Jane in some ways has been training her whole life to go to live at that dreary hall. All the skills she possess are precisely the skills she need to survive and thrive at Thornfield. Her departure is made even more significant by the arrival of Bessie who reminds her where she comes from and gives her a sort of final farewell.The Hero's Journey next stops at trials, these are the smaller tasks the Hero must complete before facing their worst enemy. This is the stop Jane is on now, all her encounters with Mr. Rochester and indeed, all her moments at Thornfield are small trials; testing her resilience, strength, and wit. There are certainly more trials to come, including her biggest and most dangerous; I am sure as the story progresses, more stops on the Hero's Journey will be met. Jane is now at the middle point of her journey; a follow-up argument will be made once she reaches its end.
No comments:
Post a Comment