《简爱》英文读后感

　　AnotherinterestingaspectofthenovelisthecharacterBerthaMason.Bronteherself,alludingtothelatestdevelopmentsinVictorianpsychiatrictheory,attributedBertha’sbehaviorto“moralmadness”(qtd.inShowalter73).Womenwerethoughttobemoresusceptibletosuchdisorders.Sexualappetitewasconsideredoneofthechiefsymptomsofmoralinsanityinwomen;itwassubjecttoseveresanctionsandwasregardedasabnormalorpathological.AccordingtoShowalter,theperiodicityofBertha’sattacksuggestsaconnectiontothemenstrualcycle,whichmanyVictorianphysiciansunderstoodasasystemforthecontroloffemalesexuality.Rochester’scomplicityinthedestructionofhiswife’sspiritisindicatedinJane’srecognitionofthethirdstory’sresemblancetoacorridorin“Blubeard’scastle”(Bronte138).Intryingtopersuadehertobecomehismistress,Rochesterasks,“Ifyouweremad,doyouthinkIshouldhateyou?”“Idoindeed,sir,”Janereplies,andsheissurelyright(Bronte328).Bertha’sdeath,“thepurgingofthelustsoftheflesh,”mustprecedeanysuccessfulunionbetweenRochesterandJane.Whentheyfinallymarry,theybecomeequals,“notonlybecauseRochester,inlosinghishandandhissight,hasleanedhowitfeelstobehelplessandhowtoaccepthelp,butalsobecauseJane,indestroyingthedarkpassionofherownpsyche,hasbecometrulyher‘ownmistress’”(Showalter75).

　　Asaconclusion,CharlotteBronte’sJaneEyreisunambiguouslyoneofthemostwellwrittennovelswithprofoundthemes.Ithasinfluencedgenerationsofreaders,appealingtobothchildrenandadults,womenandmen.