Media Similarities

You can relate this novel to any "girl power" movie. For example, "Charlie's Angels". Different goal, but women kicking butt...definitely a major part of it. Even the movie "Chicken Run" is viewed as female power. The movie is mainly female characters fighting against a higher power...rebelling...something that many may not consider due to that fact that it's a cartoon. The main character, Ginger, is one of the most inspiring female characters ever to be "clay mated". Both films, though not quite exactly the same form of girl power, are indeed, empowering.

The Main Themes from The Edible Woman

The most important theme of this novel would have to be identity. Marian longs to find herself, and looks to others in order to grasp a general idea of what that would be. Peter, well, he creates false ideas in his head as to what Marian is. Then, when Marian has more...unexpected behavior...Peter doesn't know what to make of it and gets frustrated and angry. Like he's dealing with a child instead of his fiancé; like they have switched roles around in a play. The most important symbolism of the novel is in regards to this outlook of Peter's. Marian makes a cake woman, which represents Peter's false perception of her. When Peter refuses to eat this "fake Marian", it shows that he will not change his views/opinions on her. However, when Marian eats the cake afterwards, it symbolizes that she has broken free from her need to find herself, because she has found herself. 


The food symbolism is also important because it displays the distancing that Marian does with herself. The story is even written in 3 parts: the first is in first-person, the second in third-person, and for the final chapter, she is back to first-person. This even displays the distancing because "I" becomes "she" as she doesn't view herself as being her anymore; she is someone else, and someone that she doesn't recognize. Marian rejects her food just like she rejects herself.

Another important theme in the novel is gender equality. Though this book is written 1969, the need for reform in this area is relevant in the novel. The way Atwood displays this is through Marian's relationship with Peter. She goes from having an equal position in the relationship, to giving up everything to him. It was displayed that Peter should make all the decisions, and that Peter was the dominant one. However, we see Marian change that  at the end of the novel. She literally becomes independent, and grows immensely to let everyone know that women have just as much a right as anybody else.

The Edible Woman Characters

As we did with Jane Eyre, let's start with the main character: Marian McAlpin. She is the protagonist of the novel. She is also described as being the "coping" character. Towards the end of the novel, Marian says "I'm coping, I'm coping"...which is exactly what she does throughout the entire novel. She copes with her fiancé, her roommate, her friends...she is seen as passive, used by other people, like a pawn. You constantly view her shifting herself in order to fit the needs of those around her, until she finally breaks free at the end. As described in my previous entry, a typical heroine of Margaret Atwood novels.

The next character that I find extremely important is Duncan. He brings out a different side in Marian, and in the end, they have an affair. See, Duncan is a moody college student. He is manipulative and so wrapped up in himself and his needs that he doesn't notice much else around him. However, it is through him that Marian ends up finding herself and getting through her journey of lost identity and severed ideas. He really adds to the plot of the novel.

Another important character would have to be Ainsley Tewce. Ainsley can be described as Marian's alternate ego, or her opposite. Where Marian gets stepped on, Ainsley is determined and independent; progressive. She is manipulative and is the typical rebel. She refuses to accept her "role in society" and sets out to fulfill her own desires. Ainsley is the character that you can compare to Marian, and although she is sometimes reckless, she is definitely someone to consider.

The final character we will look at is Marian's fiancé, Peter Wollander. Marian thinks highly of him because of how he is "ordinariness raised to perfection" and because he is a lawyer whose status is quickly rising. Peter is very picky about his surroundings. His room is tidy and everything organized quite extremely. He values organization, which is why he believes him and Marian to be a good match. However, he walks all over Marian and treats her like a child and is only happy when she starts to say "whatever you say dear" or "of course you're right darling"...because he starts to feel in control of her. He is the typical stereotype male, and they have a very old time relationship. While it lasts anyways.

About the Author

"Stupidity is the same as evil if you judge by the results." 

- Margaret Atwood (Surfacing)

Margaret Eleanor Atwood was born on November 18th, 1939 in Ottawa, Ontario. She is one of Canada's best-known writers. Atwood began writing at age 6, where she wrote morality plays, poems, comic books, and had even started a novel. She continued writing all through high school, where she drew some inspiration from her favorite writer: Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849).

Atwood then went on to study Victoria College, University of Toronto. Here she earned a bachelor's degree in 1961. Then, she went on to receive her master's degree at Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1962. Atwood also studied at Harvard University in Cambridge Massachusetts, from 1962-1963 and from 1965-1967.

Atwood has won many awards for her work: more then 55 to be exact, which include 2 Governor General's Awards. This award is given out by The Canadian Council for the Arts and recognizes the best in Canadian literature. So yeah, it is kind of a big deal. 


Atwood's novels are described as "sarcastic jabs of at society and as well as identity quests. Her typical heroine is a modern urban woman, often a writer or artist, always with some social-professional commitment. The heroine fights for self and survival in a society where men are the all-too-friendly enemy, but where women are often participants in their own entrapment." Being how it is described by http://www.notablebiographies.com/An-Ba/Atwood-Margaret.html. This is shown in the novel through the main character, Marian McAlpin who works at a company that arrange surveys for companies. The entrapment works well as well because Marian gets engaged and then finds out for herself that it wasn't the best idea.

The Edible Woman: An Introduction

"The Edible Woman" by Margaret Atwood, is the story of a woman in love...or so she thinks. Her world gets turned upside down by her engagement, and by the meeting of the classic "tall, dark, stranger". The following blog entries are snippets of the story and it's significance. Enjoy!

Similarities in Other Media

Jane Eyre is in most ways a biography, but with some added creativity. It is similar to any other media that is based on a true story. Anything from "The King's Speech", "The Social Network", and "The Blind Side"...all based on true events, all biographies of events or people. 

That is exactly what Jane Eyre is. A story based on the life of one girl, in an unforgiving society, where women were supposed to sit back and look pretty while men did the work. It is the story of her struggle to become independent, and to have faith in herself, her idea of religion, and in her idea of justice and integrity. 

The new movie "Jane Eyre" came out March, 11th of this year. Below is a trailer of the film. Enjoy (:

Themes

The biggest theme in this novel would have to be religion in my opinion. The force of religion in this novel is huge, it pushes and pulls the story as Jane travels through her life and forms her own ideas and opinions on the nature of life and religion's place in it.

Jane meets 3 really religious figures through the course of the novel: Mr. Brocklehurst, Helen Burns, and St. John Rivers. Each represents another state/strength of religion which Jane experiences and tries to comprehend. She in the end, rejects most of their concepts and ideas.

Mr. Brocklehurst represents the intense side to religion that some people can take. He takes the Christian way and warps it into something that makes him into a dictator type. Which is basically what his school is: a dictator's school. He has rules with false reasoning. For example, all the girls need to have their hair straight, because curliy hair is a sign of the devil. This he claims to be a "Christian need".

Helen Burns' take on religion is very passive. Jane loves Helen for being able to just let things go. However, Jane can not seem to be able to forgive and forget like Helen does. Therefore, she abandons being able to take up Helen's point of view.

St. John Rivers also has his own form of religion. He takes on the happier and empowering part of religion. Rivers believes it is the most important thing to sacrifice for the soul. This goes against Jane's values of justice so she rejects this form as well.

In the end, she comes up with her own view on religion that is based on her own ideas, opinions, and experiences. Which you watch grow and form over the course of the novel.

Another big theme in the novel is gender relations. All the main male characters in this book (Mr. Brocklehurst, Edward Rochester, and St. John Rivers), try to keep Jane down in some way. They try to over power her opinions with theirs because they believe that men are dominant to women. Which, Jane does not stand for. The events that prove her "rebellion" so to speak are when she gets away from Lowood Institution (rebellion against Mr. Brocklehurst), she rejects the wedding proposal (St. John Rivers), and finally, goes back to look for him and only after she gets an agreement from him that they will be equals when they marry, accepts his marriage proposal (Edward Rochester). Through these little ways she puts the "alpha males" of the novel back into place, and Jane teaches them that she is more independent then they think she is, and that they want her to be.

Characters of Jane Eyre

I think a good place to start is with the characters. They, after all, are what the story is based around. A book is always dull if there are not sophisticated characters for the plot.


Let's start with the main one shall we? Jane Eyre. She is the protagonist of the novel. This poor girl has to deal with so much during the duration of the novel. Everything from abusive cousins, to unfortunate circumstances that keep her from being married to the man she loves. Tragic is it not? Jane is a plain, honest, and quite intelligent girl for this era. Repeatedly she comes into contact with characters that try to change that. However, every time she asserts her position and is true to her sense of justice, and she manages to make decisions that people in this generation would be afraid and unsure of making. Jane is a strong female character in a world where women being independent was an odd thing. I guess you could say she was the lighthouse for a stormy era.


Now what would a story be without the "knight in shining armour"? Well, in this case perhaps the "knight in greasy armour"...for he tends to slip out of it quite a few times and reveals to the reader his flaws. The one and only Edward Rochester. This man is Jane's employer; she is the governess for his daughter Adele. He is the owner of Thornfield manor, and he is the one with the big, dark, nasty secret that takes the plot for a ride of suspense. Though he acts cold, we find him to be passionate and caring. If only he really knew how. The climax of the novel also is caused by him: his marriage to Jane is cancelled because he already has a wife...a woman named Bertha who is insane and is locked in a room in the vast manor. She tends to try to kill the occupants in the manor as well.


Now time to discuss the woman who started it all with her cruel and demeaning actions towards dear Jane. Mrs. Reed, Jane's aunt. This woman is spiteful, and INCREDIBLY blind. She allowed the abuse of Jane from her son, John. However, her actions are some what justified because she's jealous that her husband, the late Mr. Reed, always loved Jane more then he did his own children. We know this because it is Mr. Reed that takes Jane in and, on his death bed, made his wife promise to care for Jane like she was her own child. Which, to say the least, Mrs. Reed did not like.


Finally, it's time for Helen Burns. Helen is Jane's friend when she first attends Lowood Institution. She helps Jane realize many things because Jane was still a child and had seen many things she did not understand. Jane admires her because she sees life positively even when things seem to be at their worst. This is a trait Jane attempts to learn from Helen. However, before she can get a chance to fully understand Helen's thinking, she falls ill. A scene that makes the novel that much more powerful is when Jane visits Helen and falls asleep with her. The next morning, she finds out that Helen had died during the night.


These characters are the ones I find really shape the novels events. They are the key characters, each one from a different stage in Jane's life that shape who Jane is at the end of the novel.

Charlotte Brontë: Her Life

"But life is a battle: may we all be enabled to fight it well!"

- Charlotte Brontë (The Letters of Charlotte Bronte)

Charlotte Brontë was born on April 21st, 1816. She was the third child of six born from Patrick and Maria Branwell Brontë; her siblings being Maria, Elizabeth, Emily, Anne, and a brother: Branwell. Maria and Elizabeth died young, and their mother passed when Charlotte, Emily, Anne, and Branwell were children. Branwell was an alcoholic as well as being addicted to drugs. Charlotte, Emily, and Anne all took care of their brother due to his psychological problems. In 1848, Branwell died from his usage; Emily died shortly after; Anne died the following year. From reading the novel, many of the events in her life were shown through Jane. Her brother, Branwell, had psychological problems. Mr.Rochester (the rich man Jane falls for) has a wife which has psychological problems due to his usage. Connection? I think so. Another example between the novel and Brontë is that she was proposed to by Rev. A. B. Nicholls. In the novel, Jane gets proposed to by St. John Rivers in the novel. Another connection? I think so.

Charlotte Brontë's writing style in this novel is one with many layers. On the top you see the classic Gothic genre, but it is quite more then that. There are issues in it that range from men and women equality, to religious faith and religious hypocrisy. Due to it's nature and popularity, it is still one of the most popular of all English novels.

Jane Eyre: An Introduction

The story of Jane Eyre (1847), written by Charlotte Brontë, takes place in London during the early to mid 1800s. This novel has been categorized as everything from a garden variety romance to a feminist tract. Though it is all of these things, it is mostly a romance novel. A very powerful one. As you continue to read through this blog, I hope you come to learn and understand what I have from this compelling novel. Enjoy.