Jane Eyre's Buildingsroman

972 Words4 Pages
Bildungsroman through Jane’s life Bildungsroman is a novel genre that describes a protagonist’s procedure of psychological development and focuses on experiences and changes that supports the growth of the character from youth to adulthood. “The term “Bildungsroman” was introduced to the critical vocabulary by the German philosopher and sociologist, Wilhelm Dilthey (1833–1941). In order for a novel to utilize Bildungsroman, the protagonist in a novel will go through certain forms of downfall that pulls him or her away from either family or home and into the voyage of desiring self-identity. At the end of the story the protagonist prospers in the society. The plot of Jane Eyre, written by Charlotte Brontë, generally follows this procedure. The growth of the main character, Jane Eyre, is uniquely divided into chapters by places that she stayed at, starting from her tragic childhood to her final endpoint as Mr. Rochester’s mistress. The changes of emotions and growth of identities as Jane Eyre goes through her life provide proof of a Bildungsroman. Through the novel, Jane Eyre grows up, moving from a radical stage to a more logical consciousness. Psychological maturation is a typical characteristic of Bildungsroman genre. At the beginning, Jane uses the knowledge she learns from the books to defend herself when she is angry: “‘you are like a murderer – you are like a slave-driver – you are like the Roman emperors!’” (Brontë 17). Her angry and chaotic emotions built up since she lost her parents and was adopted unwillingly by Mrs. Reed. Jane couldn’t find her place in this family. Her anger and desperation became more powerful each time Mrs. Reed’s family treated her not as a family member but more like a servant. Jane’s burst of feelings against her cousin, John, resulted in her being locked into the Red Room and eventually sent to the Lowood

More about Jane Eyre's Buildingsroman

Open Document