Blanche Ingram in Jane Eyre free essay sample

In the novel Jane Eyre, Blanche Ingram indirectly raises Janes sense of self-worth by allowing Jane to see that her humility and compassion can be prized above wealth and physical appearance. Blanche Ingram is a a complete contrast to Jane in the way she looks and acts. Ms. Ingram is beautiful and affluent, as described by Ms. Fairfax: Tall, fine bust, sloping shoulders; long, graceful neck: olive complexion, dark and clear; noble features; eyes rather like Mr. Rochesters: large and black, and as brilliant as her jewels. † Ms. Fairfax describes Ms. Ingram with very regal and powerful terms such as â€Å"noble† and â€Å"graceful. † Ms. Fairfax also says that, â€Å"her eyes are as brilliant as her jewels. † This right away put Ms. Ingram in a position of wealth and by comparing her to her jewelry. Also, buy comparing Ms. Ingram to a material object, the novel suggests that she is very vain and materialistic rather than humble and spiritual. We will write a custom essay sample on Blanche Ingram in Jane Eyre or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Ms. Fairfax than says, And then she had such a fine head of hair; raven-black and so becomingly arranged: a crown of thick plaits behind, and in front the longest, the glossiest curls I ever saw. She was dressed in pure white; an amber-colored scarf was passed over her shoulder and across her breast, tied at the side, and descending in long, fringed ends below her knee. She wore an amber-colored flower, too, in her hair: it contrasted well with the jetty mass of her curls. Here Ms. Fairfax describes the luxury of Ms. Ingram’s hair and dress. This is a wild contrast to Jane becauseJane was not accustomed to these luxuries, rather the opposite. At Lowood, a pious school for orphan girls as well as Janes previous residence, she was taught that luxury was associated with evil, and that you cannot be pure if you take so much time and pride in your physical appearance. Jane therefor is always in humble dress and her hair is always drawn back rather than in â€Å"glossy curls. † Miss Ingram is aware, in her vanity, that she has a strong, stunning beauty that contrasts to Janes simple appearance. She uses this to her advantage, flaunting her good looks and making sure she is well taken care of and dressed at all times. She uses her looks specifically to flirt with and entice Mr. Rochester. Her ostentatious and extroverted nature greatly differs from Janes demure was of acting around Mr. Rochester. Jane would rather sit untouched and undisturbed in an alcove, whereas Miss Ingram takes pleasure in being the center of attention. Due to their different personalities and levels of confidence, they greatly differ in the way that they express their feelings for Mr. Rochester. Jane concludes, Surely she cannot truly like him. If she did, she need not coin her smiles so lavishly; flash her glances so unremittingly; manufacture airs so elaborate, graces so multitudinous (277). In this quotation Jane noticed the extravagance of Ms. Ingram’s flirtation in order to get the attention of Mr. Rochester. She feels that if Ms. Ingram truly had feelings for Mr. Rochester, her actions would be more subtle rather than unremitting, meaning incessant. Also, she says that Ms. Ingram does not need to, â€Å"coin her smiles so lavishly. Coin means to fabricate or create, so Jane suggests that her smiles are not natural but rather are faked or at least exaggerated. She also says that Ms. Ingram â€Å"manufactures† the airs so lavishly. The word manufactures, again, refers to how man made and artificial Ms. Ingram’s way of acting appears to her. Throughout their stays at Thornfield hall, the true colors of both Jane and Ms. Ingram come out in their ways of treating Adele, Mr. Rochester’s â€Å"daughter†. Since Jane first met Adele, she has been patient and overwhelmingly kind to Adele. Even at times were Adele acted rather simple minded, Jane did not lose her temper. Ms. Ingram, on the other hand, treats Adele as a doll, and as hard as Adele tries to impress Ms. Ingram, the woman still just sees her as some sort of accessory, condescendingly describing her as a, â€Å"little puppet. † Furthermore, when Adele accidentally gives her false information about Mr. Rochesters return to Thornfield , Miss Ingram snaps at Adele, calling her a tiresome monkey (281). This comparison of Adel to an animal is very cruel, and impatient on the part of Blanche. I f she were really dedicated to staring a family with Mr. Rochester, she would not treat the closest thing that he has to a child in such a cruel way. Ms. Ingram clearly wants Mr. Rochester primarily for his money which is depicted in the gypsy scene when Blanche looks solemn after she hears that Mr. Rochester is worth less than she thought. Jane, however, does not care about Mr. Rochesters money, and is only interested in his interior, which leads him in falling for her rather than Ms. Ingram. His decision to chose Jane over Ms. Ingram, takes a positive toll on Janes self esteem and sense of self worth.