Jane Eyre as Cinderella

The novel definitly had elements of a fairy tale, complete with a poor young girl marrying her “Prince” in the end and living happily ever after. As for it resembling Cinderella, there are many clues:
1. Just as Cinderella was an orphan, so was Jane
2. The Reeds are Jane’s “other” family, complete with the evil stepmother and evil siblings (including two “wicked” step-sisters)
3. Bessie, Miss Temple, and Helen (to an extent) play the role of Fairy Godmothers at differnt points in Jane’s life. Bessie is the only kind person in Gateshead, as Miss Temple was the benevolent teacher at Lowood that Jane turned to for support and obtained encouragement and wisdom. As well, Helen taught Jane about the “finer, higher” aspirations in one’s life, and showed her patience, endurance, and humility. While Helen’s quite fortitude was a contrast to Jane’s tempestous nature, Helen’s presence is necessary in the improvement of Jane’s character.
4. Prince Charming: Rochester (um..yeah…not your average, conventional Prince LOL): While Rochester could have chosen any other woman, including a woman from the upper class (such as Blanche or even any of the Miss Reeds), he chose poor, plain, Jane.
5. The Ball: Jane romances with Rochester while she stays as governess in Thornfield (and all these scenes constitute the “Ball” scene in Cindrella), and there is even a Ball at Rochester’s house where he is all the more attentive to Blache while Jane watches in the midst of despair. Eventually Rochester “sees” and “falls in love” with Jane and “leaves” Blanche (this is when Jane returns after the death of Mrs Reed), and he even proposes to her. However, just when they are about to marry, Jane runs away from him (just like Cinderella runs away from the Prince on the stroke of Midnight).
6. The Prince finds Cinderella: Rochester does in some sense “find” her again, because they have the telepathic connection between them that would not leave them, and hence they cling to each other regardless of distance. Jane cannot get enough of Rochester, and it is to such an extent that she compared other people (such as St. John) to him, and decided that only Rochester would complete her. In the end, the “calling” gets so intense that it forces her to seek Rochester (in contrast to the Prince seeking Cinderella of HIS own accord, Rochester “calls” out to her and Jane does the “seeking”).
7. This is my BEST IDEA so far: The Shoe in Cinderella is analogous to the telepathy in JE!!! Because ONLY Jane and Rochester can have that telepathy JUST as the shoe that the Prince finds on the night of the Ball can ONLY fit Cinderalla and NOT anyone else.

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