May 4, 2004

Beauty, Jane Eyre

            Beauty is one of the most prevailing themes which persists throughout the novel.  We are first introduced to the theme of beauty through Jane Eyre’s sensitivity for beauty: unlike the Reed children, the young Jane Eyre realizes herself lacking “a more attractive and sprightly manner” (Bronte 1).  Rooted in the ideology that attractiveness corresponds with privileges and success, Jane Eyre constantly subjects her self to such a doctrine and time and time again restricts her self-confidence and abilities. 

           However, during her board with the Lowood, she guards her unrestrained regard for beauty: school rules strictly spurn the concept of vanity, and for a while Jane Eyre’s keen eye for beauty lays dormant and unused.  Jane Eyre’s sensitivity for beauty re-surfaces when she is reunited with Bessie, her former caretaker, before leaving for Thornfield:  Jane Erye opens the conversation by asking questions concerning the beautiful Reed sisters: “‘Georgiana is handsome, I suppose, Bessie?’” Bessie answers that Georgiana is in fact gorgeous now and that she recently charmed a young man, who then greatly desired her hand in marriage.  Jane Eyre’s concern for beauty and her understanding that the beautiful have privileges she does not is thus confirmed by Bessie, who adds, “‘you are genteel enough; you look like a lady, and it is as much as ever I expected of you: you were no beauty as a child’” (Bronte 79).  Jane Eyre is set back into the mold of an ugly duckling incapable of the sort of achievements a beautiful swan like Georgiana could garner. 

Jane Eyre’s perception of self can be perceived during scrutiny of Rochester’s physiognomy; both Rochester and Jane are on the same attractiveness level: Rochester says to Jane, “‘you are not pretty any more than I am handsome’” (Bronte 116).  The first time they meet along the road, Jane says of Rochester, “Had he been a handsome, heroic-looking young gentleman, I should not have dared to stand thus questioning him against his will, and offering my services unasked. . .”  But she did because she recognized him of the same attractiveness level; she did not feel intimidated.  It has been thought that beautiful women and men can be intimidating dates for those who are less attractive in nature.  Current studies have also proved that people of the same attractiveness level tend to date; therefore, it is not surprised that both Jane and Rochester eventually find each other agreeable.