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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the study

Jane Eyre was a romantic novel in the 19th century written by Charlotte

Bronte. It was published in London, England, in 1848 by Smith Elder & Co.

Charlotte’s Jane Eyre novel was published under the name Currer Bell. She

wrote the novel with two younger sisters Emily and Anne. They were

famous as trio of poet and novelist women whom had a major influence in the

world of England literature. Jane Eyre novel was Victorian genre; it consisted

of 691 pages.

Charlotte Bronte was born in Thornton, Yorkshire, England, on 21st of

April 1816. Charlotte was daughter of an Anglican clergyman and she is the

third children of six siblings from Patrick Bronte and Maria Bronte. Her

mother passed away on 15th of September 1821. After her mother died,

Charlotte and her three sisters were sent to Clergy Daughter's School at

Cowan Bridge in Lancashire, the school was Lowood School in Jane Eyre

novel. Charlotte’s two eldest sisters died of illnesses while at school because

of school condition. The cheap school featured bad food, cold rooms, and

harsh discipline, all reflected in the image of the boarding school portrayed in

Jane Eyre. All of the condition made epidemic tuberculosis and two her eldest

sisters died cause it. After two eldest children died, Maria and Elizabeth,

Charlotte was left with her sisters Emily and Anne, and brother Branwell to

the care of their father, and their strict, religious aunt, Elisabeth Branwell.

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She continued her study in Roe head, Mirfield from 1831 until 1832.

She worked as governess, poet and novelist. She came back as teacher in 1835

until 1838. In 1839, she worked as governess to some of family in Yorkshire.

She wrote four novels such as Jane Eyre in1847,Shirley in1849, Villette in

1853, The Professor in 1857. She wrote first novels The Professor at about

1844. The professor was written based on her experiences of teaching in

Brussels. It wrote and published in 1857. The Professor is published under the

name Currer Bell. After wrote it, she wrote the second novel, Jane Eyre,

which came out on October 1847, and became an immediate successfull. The

other novels of Charlotte were Shirley (1848) and Villette (1853), based on

her memories of Brussels. In 1854 Charlotte married with Arthur Bell

Nicholls. Charlotte died when her pregnancy on 31st of March 1855 in

Haworth, Yorkshire. Her opus influences many literatures and arts of the

world of novel, opera, poetry, film, and song.

Jane Eyre novel was an orphan young girl, who was growth, became

independent woman. She was the daughter of minister who was poor. Her

parents died when she was a child, her mother wrote dying exhortation for

mother’s brother, Mr.Reed. Her mother asked Mr. Redd to pay attention to

Jane Eyre. Unexpectedly, her uncle died and that in his last moments he had

required a promise of Mrs. Reed that she would rear and maintain Jane as one

of her own children.

As an orphan, Jane spent her childhood with a cruel aunt family. While

she spent in Gateshead (house of Mrs. Reed), she felt suffer because no one
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loved and liked her. Her aunt family hated Jane, because she was ugly and

poor. Mrs. Reed’s servants also hated Jane; they consider Jane was lower than

servants and ugly. Although, she was poor and ugly, she had great soul and

spirit who could not be defeated, as well as perspicacity and audacity.

When she was 10 years old, she was sent in Lowood School, because

her aunt had not endure with Jane. In Lowood, she was not comfort because

the facilities of school is not good enough. It has bad food, cold rooms, and

harsh discipline. But she found her best friend first, Helen Burns. Jane spent in

Lowood School for 8 years, 6 years as student and 2 years as teacher. When

she was 18 years old, she decided to leave Lowood School and look for new

life, she wanted to look for new experiences. After she left Lowood School

and went to Thronfield, she worked as governess for daughter Mr. Rochester,

he was a landlord who was eccentric and mysterious.

Mr. Rochester was not handsome but Jane was attracted by his face

full of an interest, charismatic intelligent. Mr. Rochester also saw peculiarly in

Jane self, however, she was not beautiful but had intelligent, spirit, strength,

perspicacity, sensitivity, and also obstinacy whom was not show by beautiful

women and decorous. As they know that rank and wealth server them but

there were in their brain and heart whom assimilated her mentally to him.

Finally, Mr. Rochester decided to marry Jane without considering the

fortune or loss, because marriage in the period considered connection gave

fortune for them. Mr. Rochester had found spouse her. He felt her comparable

with himself of principle aspects and a look of life. Unfortunately, the

marriage was never happened because there was secret in Thornfield Hall, that

Mr. Rochester had a wife.

Jane could not accept it. She chose to leave her beloved and continue

her life. In escape, she was saved by a family which consisted of young

minister (St. John) and two younger sisters (Diana and Mary Rivers).

Actually, they were her cousins. She felt very happy because could find her

family. Meanwhile, St. John Rivers urged her to go with him to India as

missionaries. The offer interested in Jane who wanted to see world, but she

should marry with St.John Rivers first and left the birth land. It was difficult

choice, but she had to choose one of them.

Jane proposed St. John to give her time to think about it. Then, Jane

decided to look for Mr. Rochester because she wants to know the news about

him. She met again man who ever beloved. She saw that Mr. Rochester was

dolorous condition. It happened because his house was fire. He had lost his

wealth and deformity. Jane had to reinstate Mr. Rochester’s life. Finally, she

married with him. She felt alive, happy, and comfortable live with Mr.

Rochester. She believes that Mr. Rochester really loves her. Here, Yorkshire

became background of the love story between Jane and Mr. Rochester, but

many hindrance and tragedy of their love story, separation that might live

before they could meet again.

There are many public responses to Jane Eyre novel such as reader’s

response, industry, and market’s response. In reader’s response, it brings

positive and negative effect. The first is positive response can be proved by its
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adaption of novel to film. The director who adapts the novel is Fukunaga. He

is one of directors of film who adapts from Jane Eyre novel. In addition, there

are several silent film was adapted the novel in 1910, in 1915, in 1915, in

1918, and etc. Jane Eyre is a romance classic which is timeless

http://labirinfilm.blogspot.com/2011/05/review-jane-eyre-2011.html). The

second is negative response. From Devin, he states that:

I just wanted to take a moment and talk about why I would enjoy
seeing the Jane Eyre movie. First, movies rock. For me, it is so
much easier to follow a visual plot, as opposed to trying to create the
images in my head. Also, the language in the book is rather difficult
for me to comprehend. My focus is also more astute when watching
a film. A strategy that proved helpful for me in the past was
watching the film, and then reading the book. This way, I could
develop a general understanding of the novel, and could therefore put
more of my focus on the character development, scene analysis,
symbolism, character relationships, etc. I am, however, looking
forward to watching the Jane Eyre movie within the coming weeks
for class. (http://devindebowski.blogspot.com/2012/01/jane-eyre-
movie-vs-book-rrj-14.html).

The industry also shows success of the novel. It can be shown by

ranking and award. BBC television gave an award to Charlotte Bronte of

Jane Eyre novel with lifting in a series of miniseries. In 2007, this classic

could reach the third rank in the poll of 100 British favorite books

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16191329).

There is market’s response. This novel has best seller response. It can

be shown by sale of novel. Jane Eyre was published in 1848 and became an

immediate successful. Many people were interested to buy this novel.

There are four reasons that make this novel really interesting,

especially for the researcher. The first reason that makes Jane Eyre interesting

is character and characterization, Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester are the major
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character in Jane Eyre novel. The novel has the depth of its characterization.

Jane Eyre is an orphaned, ugly, and poor but she has soul and spirit who can

not be defeated, as well as perspicacity and audacity. Mr. Rochester is not

handsome but he is a landlord who eccentrics and mysterious. The appearance

of the physic and wealth can not purely to understand a man. As well as,

slogan don’t judge the book from the cover.

The second that makes the novel interesting is style of language.

Charlotte Bronte’s writing can make the reader feel the conflict in the novel.

It gives the reader more of a feel for what is going on.The readers can make

feel the conflict, if they read it.

The third that makes the novel interesting is setting. The setting is

Northern England in the early 1800s. Bronte uses different setting in order to

show what the characters are felling. The novel viewed four distinct settings:

the Gateshead Hall during Jane’s childhood; the Lowood School in which Jane

receives her education; Thornfield Hall, the home in which her first love

grows; and Moor House in the town of morton where she finds her paternal

relatives.

The four is the story in the novel. Jane Eyre is one of the interesting

novels that are made by Charlotte Bronte. It is classic roman that is timeless.

Charlotte writes the story in the novel alive, because it compares to her life in

some ways. The story is different with other roman novel. The roman novel

usually tells the major character that is handsome, beautiful, and love story,

but the novel tells about the journey of life Jane Eyre and it inserts love story.
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Jane Eyre novel has many issues in the novel but the researcher choose

one of them, it is quest for meaning of life. Quest for meaning of life is issue

which is chosen by researcher in the novel because it tells life of Jane Eyre.

The childhood of Jane is suffered because she spent with a cruel aunt family.

But finally, she found her family from her father’s family, happiness, freedom,

existence, and love. All of it is quest for meaning of life in Jane Eyre. Quest

for meaning of life is important because we life in the world must be had

purpose of life to find the meaning of life.

The meaning of life is to give life meaning (Ken Hudgins in

http://dwihimura.wordpress.com/). This slogan is give different meaning that

we must be gave the meaning of life for our life itself. Although, we have

different manner to give the meaning of life. Every person has side or opinion

to give the meaning of life itself such as wealth, honorary, and love. The

meanings of life give a spirit to go through better life. We have the motivation

and energy to start our daily lives. So, every people must be quested for

meaning of life.

According to those reasons the researcher would like to analyze Quest

for meaning of life Jane Eyre in Charlotte Bronte’s novel based on An

Existentialist Criticism. The researcher constructs the title QUEST FOR

MEANING OF LIFE IN CHARLOTTE BRONTE’S NOVEL JANE

EYRE (1848): AN EXISTENTIALIST CRITICISM.

B. Literature Review

The researcher finds two previous studies which are interrelated to this

research. There are two researchers using Jane Eyre novel to the research but

it differences with theory and issue.

The first researcher is Suyadi, (UMS, 2007) who conducted a research

entitled The Influence of Environment on Jane Eyre’s Behavior in Charlotte

Bronte’s Jane Eyre: A Behaviorist Perspective. In this study, the researcher

attempts to explore the influences of the environment on the major character

Jane Eyre in the Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. The result of the study shows

the following conclusion. Firstly, there is a close relationship between literary

works and psychological phenomenon. Secondly, the psychological analysis,

specifically behaviorism falls into general curriculum that human’s behavior is

influenced by the personality and environment where they live. The dominant

influence that builds Jane Eyre’s personality is the characters in the

environment where she stays.

The second is Yustina, (UMS, 2010) who conducted a research entitled

Jane’s Sacrifice for Love Reflected in Jane Eyre Novel (1848) by Charlotte

Bronte: An Individual Psychological Approach. She focused on how is Jane’s

Eyre sacrifice for love in Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre novel based on An

Individual Psychological Approach. The result of the study shows the

following conclusion. An individual psychological approach is used for

analyzing the relationship between major principles of individual psychology

and real type of Jane Eyre’s personality. These approaches are applied in order
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to get the appropriate analysis and answer the problem. The researcher finds

that loving someone is always full of sacrifice.

In this research, the researcher chooses issue and theory that is

different from both of the researcher above. The difference is this research

using differences theory that is An Existentialist Criticism and the issue is

Quest for Meaning of Life. But, the researchers use the similarity of the novel

with title Jane Eyre novel to research.

C. Problem Statement

Based on the title, the researcher has main problem statement as

follows: “How is the quest for meaning of life of Jane Eyre reflected in

Charlotte Bronte?”

D. Limitation of the Study

In this research paper, the researcher limits her study on the problem of

Jane Eyre Quest for Meaning of Life and focuses on Sartre’s theories of

existentialism.

E. Objectives of the Study

1. To analyze the novel based on its structural elements.

2. To analyze the novel based on the Existentialist Criticism.

F. Benefits of the Study

From this research, there are two benefits of the study including

theoretical benefit and practical benefit:

1. Theoretical Benefit

This research can be used as references to another researcher with literary

theory on the novel from Existentialist Criticism in enlarging English

2. Practical Benefit

To give more understand about the novel and Existentialist Criticism,

especially to the researcher.

G. Research Method

1. Type of the Study

From the novel and other references, the researcher uses descriptive

qualitative method.

2. Object of the Study

The object of the study is Jane Eyre novel written by Charlotte Bronte.

3. Type of the Data and the Data Sources

The type of data is text consisting of words, phrases, and sentences from

the novel and others sources relating to the problem of the study. The data

sources are the primary data and secondary data:

a. Primary Data

The primary data of the study is Jane Eyre novel, written by Charlotte

Bronte. It was published in 1848 and it contains 691 pages.

b. Secondary Data

The researcher uses several references to secondary data such as

articles, essay, internet, encyclopedia and other to support the subject

matter.
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4. Technique of the Data Collection

The research note taking technique includes:

a. The researcher reads the Jane Eyre novel in many times and

comprehends it.

b. The researcher searches the supporting data such as by internet,

journal, and books

c. The researcher takes the important notes of important data, both

primary and secondary data.

5. Technique of the Data Analysis

In data analysis, the researcher uses descriptive qualitative method,

structural elements of the novel, and existentialist criticism.

H. Research Paper of Organization

This research consists of five chapters. Chapter I is introduction

including the background of the study, literary review, problem statement,

limitation of the study, objective of the study, benefit of the study, research

method, and paper organization. Chapter II is underlying theory including

notion of existentialist and Sartre’s major theory of existentialism. Chapter III

is structural analysis including structural elements. Chapter IV, on the other

hand, is existentialist analysis. Chapter V is conclusion and suggestion.