Throughout the book we repeatedly see people beautiful on the outside but inside they have ugly qualities. Blanche Ingram is a beautiful woman but she repeatedly treats Jane and Adele like inferiors because she is self-centered and arrogant. Jane Eyre, the main character, is described as a plain woman, but has pleasant qualities that make her a beautiful person in the eyes of Mr. Rochester. Because Mr. Rochester prefers Jane over the beautiful but snobby Miss Ingram, it is apparent that he cares more about personality than appearance.
Even as a child Jane was treated differently because of her appearance. This passage from the novel reflects how she was treated with inequality to the other children of the Gatehead house:
The author clearly shows an understanding that sometimes looks can be deceiving. In Jane's case, her appearance is plain but once you get to know her she is truly a brave, opinionated person who generally is not afraid to say what she is feeling.
Brontë, Charlotte, Susan Ostrov. Weisser, and George Stade. Jane Eyre. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2003. Electronic.
Mr. Rochester, like Jane, is also generally not considered attractive to most people; Jane loves him still because he is a good person and has an original personality. Even after he is blind and crippled at the end of the book, Jane marries him and they become even closer as Jane helps Mr. Rochester in his poor condition. (Bronte 526)Bessie, when she heard this narrative, sighed and said, "Poor Miss Jane is to be pitied, too, Abbot.""Yes," responded Abbot, "if she were a nice, pretty child, one might compassionate her forlornness; but one really cannot care for such a little toad as that."
"Not a great deal, to be sure," agreed Bessie: "at any rate a beauty like Miss Georgiana would be more moving in the same condition."
"Yes, I dote on Miss Georgiana!" cried the fervent Abbot. "Little darling! – with her long curls and her blue eyes, and such a sweet colour as she has; just as if she were painted!" (Bronte 66)
The author clearly shows an understanding that sometimes looks can be deceiving. In Jane's case, her appearance is plain but once you get to know her she is truly a brave, opinionated person who generally is not afraid to say what she is feeling.
Brontë, Charlotte, Susan Ostrov. Weisser, and George Stade. Jane Eyre. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2003. Electronic.
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