A Comparison Of Jane And Mrs De Winter In Rebecca

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Both the protagonists, Jane and Mrs De Winter in Rebecca are characterised as naïve females who have encountered traumatic and demoralising events in their early years. Through the subsequence events of the plot, these females undertake a bildungsroman journey to adjust to high class society. The heroine in Rebecca has been constantly haunted by the ghost and ‘femme fatale’ figure of Maximillian’s deceased wife (Rebecca) and is unable to live up to society’s expectations. In contrast, Jane can appear to be left demoralised by her extended family, her Aunt and cousins, where she was abused, from a very young age, for standing up for herself. However, her punishment can be seen as a blessing because the time spent in the ‘red-room’ was the
By Jane expressing rage and blatantly retaliating against authority it was defiance against the traditional role of women. After expressing her feelings, Mrs Reed sends her away to Lowood School. However, before doing so she severs her ties with her Aunt by saying ‘I will never call you aunt again as long as I live’. Here Jane gains familial liberation and expresses her emotional state of mind as she takes a stand and shows some empowerment. Likewise, in Rebecca, the late Mrs De Winter was also portrayed as a strong female who could stand up for herself. In addition, the psychological effect Jane experienced throughout chapter 1,in the ‘red-room’, is also demolished once she said expressed her thoughts to her Aunt as she felt her ‘soul begin to expand.’. This indicates that she is finally free from the burden and torture that her ‘soul’ had to carry which also reflects the physical freedom that she has gained when moving away from her Aunt. However, as her ‘soul’ began to expand, Brontë could be implying that God is on her side since an expanded soul indicates that one has been forgiven or has seen the light. In addition, Jane also asserts her authority against Aunt Reed as she declared

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