In our life, there always are certain principles that we stick to. As Emily wrote in her poem, “the soul selects her own society, then shuts the Door”, those principles are unchallengeable. For Jane, this principle is her understanding of marriage. When Jane realized that she fell in love with Mr. Rochestor, she disapproved the potential marriage between Rochester and Blanche since they seemed don’t love each other. When she got engaged and people around her showed disrespect toward this unequal marriage, she insisted that marriage is the bond in the basis of love instead of wealth and class. Jane stuck to her principle when St. John asked her to marry him. Following the call from her soul, Jane turns back to the person she loved and married Rochester. From the way Jane deal with her marriage, we can observe that she is as stubborn as a stone.

Jane and the theme of hope really is a main theme that we neglect in the book. Jane struggles from the youngest age event at her peak in life and this poem “Hope” by Emily Dickson, does the best job comparing with Jane in poetic language. “Hope’ is the thing with feathers…That perches in the soul”, I perceived Jane as the bird in the poem. The bird that sings and the idea of Jane “singing” to me means that she’s living. Living and speaking. It may be a voiced opinion or a change and she will let you know that she is there and outspoken. “I’ve heard it in the chillest land – And on the strangest Sea – Yet – never – in Extremity, It asked a crumb – of me” this last part of the poem develops and describes that Jane throughout all her struggles and hardships could’ve begged for a different life but humbly remained and with low points in her life I would argue as to why Jane didn’t end her life. But, just like the bird, Jane has parted with her parents, got through life on her own, and remains the same.

Dickinson mentions “I’ve known her…close the Valves of her attention — Like Stone –“. This refers to the focus of someone whose morals and principles stand intact during adversity. In the text, Jane constantly struggles between her passion and integrity during her time spent with St. John. “I understood, …how he should mistrust its ever conducting permanently to his happiness or hers.” During the beginning of her quarrels with St. John, Jane experiences moments of clarity in which her principles and values dictate her ground of argument against St. John. Dickinson’s character holds similar to Jane through the similarity of unyielding moral strength. Jane, throughout her time with St. John, feels a multitude of emotions; she feels oppressed, she feels unsuitable for love, and as she matures, she learns to have control over her mind and heart. Through meditation, Jane has revelations that show her how unfitting St. John will be as a husband, instead of the other way around. She continues to display her moral fortitude throughout their interactions and sacrifices her love in order to free herself as well as realize her responsibility to her principles.

I found the first poem “I dwell in possibility” reminded me about the a thread in Jane Eyre I notices. Throughout the book Jane is often looking out a window imagining a life for herself that she doesn’t have.  Jane has these moments of self empowering speech, however she is constantly oppressed. After quickly looking up the poem I learned that Dickinson also spent  a lot of her life cooped up. The similarity between the points of views was very prevalent in the tone of the poem. In the poem, the narrator is taking herself on a mental escape, as Jane did a few times in the book. I don’t know the entire backstory to the poem, but I do know in Jane Eyre Jane is able to keep a hold of these fantasies to carry her through the book. Jane is given limited opportunities and is basically shamed in the beginning of the novel, and  has major self confidence issues. However she is strong enough to go against her love for Rochester when he begs her to stay as his mistress because she wants to strive for a life that makes her happy. Regardless of how many times she has gotten knocked down, she knows that making the decision to stay would prohibit her from lifting her name. The poem was reminiscent of Jane’s day dreams in the beginning of the book, and it reminded me of how Jane was able to find her happiness as well at the end, as if her dreams became realized. Of course her life did not turn out exactly like what she would imagine, but she was able to live equally amongst the man she loved. Jane was happy at the end of the book, and happiness the true goal of her fantasies.

Jane is a character who has always faced hardships. During her earliest years; in the very beginning when she was terribly mistreated by her aunts she one day day took a stand and ended up standing up for herself. That right there was Hope manifesting itself through her words and actions. Hope was also there for her when she learned that she was going to be moving to a brand new school and leaving her troubles behind. The issue with that is that Hope isn’t a solution, only a means to carry on.  No matter where she went she would always face moments of despair–hope’s opposite. She would have to always find hope and never give in to despair. The bird in Emily Dickinson’s poem remained hopeful no matter how strong the storm was. Indirectly, I’m sure that even Emily Dickinson must have realized that hope cannot exist without despair. It’s the balance of nature that makes the most sense. Jane is clearly the bird, the song is Jane’s hope and the storm is all of her despair.

Carlos M.

As it is stated in the “hope” is the thing with feathers, “[Hope]That perches in the soul”, I found this poem reflected Jane Eyre’s life because she also has hope that stays deeply in her soul. Jane lost her parents, friends, love, and so on from her childhood to adulthood. For example, her only friend Helen, who encouraged and helped her ended up leaving her forever. It is not easy for a woman to overcome a lot terrible situations like Jane Eyre did. However, she was still able to have rational thinking and did not give up. I believe she has strong hopes: her hope of changing her life, gaining knowledge and being together with Mr. Rochester all motived her to take actions.

Even though the poem reflected that hope never asked a crumb or little return in the end, it actually plays a crucial role on a person’s life, on Jane’s life. If Jane does not live with hope, she might already give in to the society, in which women have submissive positions. She might lose her mind under Mrs. Reeds’ and classmates’ miserable treatments. She might be desperate after the truth of Mr. Rochester’s first marriage. Every time when Jane’s life becomes a little better, there is always another storm that will break her expectation. Because she has a hope for a change, she chose to resist and go against everything that cracks her down.

Hope does not only stay in Jane’s soul, it also exists in ours. Our hope and dream for a bright future will always motivate us to move forward and overcome challenges.

Jane separated herself from rest of the world; she sees what she wants to see. She locked herself in a house that would allow the people or event which she accepted, and denied ones she disliked. Like Emily’s poem locked ones in a house, with everything close. Those types of person make mental disorder and social disorder. Because they have less in touch other, and in touch with the world other than the place have been. The place Jane had been was limited; her aunt’s house, the church, and Rochester’s house. Therefore, she thought were also limited, that she can’t think broadly.

Jane is like a dumb girl after she falls in love on Mr. Rochester. Hence, she accepts none negative bad about her love. Well, she kind of like a normal girl in this way, after they told each other about their love. Jane is allowing Mr. Rochester in her house, and accepting all greeting and ignores the dislikes.

Emily Dickinson’s poem “Hope” is the thing with feathers clearly resembles one aspect of Jane’s character. In this poem, we are introduced to a metaphor between hope and a bird in the first stanza. Dickinson continues to take us on this journey of hope via a bird’s everyday life a very important part of this poem that helps me tie Jane’s life is in the third stanza. We are introduced to a storm which means the many hardships the bird does face. However, it never stops its journey. We notice Jane undergo many hardships throughout her life from not being appreciated to fleeing a place she was learning to love but all of that doesn’t stop her she just continues to go on her journey in look for a place she will call home. She takes on any weather condition that comes at her just like the bird does. When people deny help to Jane in her toughest times of need she doesn’t easily accept the rejection she continues to chirp away till she is finally heard and given entry.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers by Jane Dickinson reminds me so much of Jane Eyre. A strong minded, courageous, and most of all hopefully woman. Jane’s entire life can be described within this poem. Hope was all she had and what kept her sane through it all. It was her drive, what kept her going and not giving up. More than often it was a good thing but sometimes it wasn’t. Jane had hope her life would be different, but every time it was close to changing for the better things got ruined. Through every obstacle she faced she didn’t give up on her life she kept hope that one day things will get better. In the poem hope is described as a bird that keeps people warm and doesn’t ask for anything in return. This is a great analogy because in a way it protects you and your sanity. Jane does have her own little bird of hope.

The poem I chose is “The Soul Selects Her Own Society” by Emily Dickinson. Jane Eyre’s journey through life in this book is parallel to this poem. Dickinson believes the “Soul” has the power to make its own decision, to approve and disapprove of whom or what it pleases. The soul is the most important and superior part of a human being. Society, from my understanding, is the term Dickinson uses to refer to people we choose to keep around or possibly the morals or values we choose to hold close. Jane’s soul selects her “society” at Thornfield, where she falls in love with Mr. Rochestor. Later she learns of his wife, Bertha, and is forced to repress her feeling of love for him so that they are “present no more” (Dickinson). In the second stanza Dickinson writes, “Unmoved — an Emperor be kneeling / Upon her Mat” This relates to Jane because she refuses to marry someone for status. St. John wanted to make her his wife so that they can go to India and be missionaries. Jane refuses because they do not love each other.  Finally, once the soul chooses it’s companion, as Jane chose Mr. Rochester, she closes the “valves of her attention/ like stone” to the majority. Jane remains loyal to Mr. Rochester despite his injuries after the fire.