Topic > Criticism of several religious aspects in Jane Eyre

During the Victorian era, the status of religion was one of the most pressing social and moral issues. Although Charlotte Bronte was raised in a religious family, she, like many other authors, criticized some aspects of religion although, like the protagonist of her novel Jane Eyre, she remained primarily a religious and spiritual person throughout her life. Through Jane Eyre, Bronte successfully conveys to readers his religious beliefs, as well as criticisms of some of the injustices and frauds he perceived within the church. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In his novel, Bronte uses subtlety of characterization to heighten and emphasize his dissatisfaction with the Church of England. One of Jane's first encounters with religious hypocrites is her meeting with Mr. Brocklehurst, the wealthy and influential owner of Lowood. He insists that “humility is a Christian grace,” yet he and his family are luxuriously and fashionably adorned, “beautifully dressed in velvet, silk and furs.” Upon closer examination of this particular passage, we can see that it is Bronte's use of subtlety, Jane's innocent yet questioning remarks, that bring to light Bronte's dissatisfaction with such men. Meanwhile, Brocklehurst's invective against children serves an additional key purpose: Bronte portrays how evil and ugly his doctrines are, used to subjugate, control, and manipulate. Furthermore, the notions of hell and punishment, which Brocklehurst uses to intimidate Jane, show how confusing and frustrating these two aspects of religion can be: the optimistic concepts of love and forgiveness versus the notions of hell and damnation. has not yet offered her much love or forgiveness, it is during her stay in poor Lowood that she initially encounters sincere examples of good Christian values ​​in the characters of Helen Burns and Miss Temple, the latter of whom is described as "full of goodness" by part of her students. In Helen, Jane discovers a side of religion that she has never encountered before, which fills her with hope and affection. However, despite Helen's gentle and passive doctrine of "turning the other cheek", Jane does not she is still able to fully accept her belief, insisting that she "must detest those who, whatever I [Jane] do to please them, continue to detest me... who punish me unjustly." Jane's may not seem very Christian; however, Bronte uses Jane's beliefs to bring out her strong will and desire to follow her own belief system, to develop Jane's stubborn character. It is therefore obvious that Helen and her doctrine serve as an obstacle to Jane and hers, as Jane attempts to disconnect from the liabilities she perceives within Christianity. Once she has found herself and her confidence, she is able to grasp and accept her own beliefs, refusing to adapt to the rampant mentality and notions of the Church. After maturing into a young woman and discovering herself through the many challenges posed in her life In her journey, Jane meets St. John Rivers, who is perhaps one of the most disciplined Christians in the novel. His absolute and unquestionable opinions on religion make him an interesting character. Jane notes that he is extremely active in both clergy and missionary work, but despite his enormous efforts, he is described as a cold man, one who "has not yet found the peace of God". Despite his great determination in charity work, neither did he experience that “mental serenity, that.