On Freedom of Divorce as Reflected in Jane Eyre
Abstract: Divorce, which is commonly seen in most countries nowadays, is prohibited in Christianity some other religions and civilizations, and this is why Jane and Rochester fail to get married for the first time. This thesis starts with this part of the novel Jane Eyre and elaborates on the beliefs about marriage in Chritianity and the history of the freedom of divorce.
Key words: Divorce; Freedom of divorce; Jane Eyre; Britain.
Outline:
Ⅰ. A brief review of the wedding of Jane and Rochester and their reunion at last
A. The termination of the wedding.
B. Their final reunion.
Ⅱ. The explication in Christianity
Ⅲ. Freedom of divorce in five great ancient civilizations
A. In Ancient Egypt
B. In Ancient Babylon(Mesopotamia)
C. In Ancient India
D. In Ancient China
E. In Ancient Greece
Ⅳ. Evolution of freedom of divorce(mainly in Britain)
Three important laws relating to the freedom of divorce in Britain:
A. The Matrimonial Causes Act, 1857
B. The Divorce Reform Act, 1937
C. The Divorce Reform Act, 1969
Ⅴ. Conclusion
On Freedom of Divorce as Reflected in Jane Eyre
In the Victorian novel Jane Eyre, the writer, Charlotte Brontë(1816–1855), tells of an autobiographical story that Jane Eyre, a governess at Mr. Rochester’s Thornfield, who is an ordinary-looking woman and lower in social status, and who, however, never ceases the fight for dignity and equality and the seeking for the true love, falls in love with her master and finally gets married with him, despite of the failure of their first wedding ceremony.
The biggest suspense is Rochester’s lunatic wife, Bertha Mason, who is kept in a locked cryptic room in Thorfield. He explains that the marriage is decided by his father. Before they get married, he only knows that “Mr. Mason, a...