Places of Destiny in Jane Eyre and David Copperfield

During the mid-nineteenth century, many English Victorian works of fiction were about youth and growth. Amongst these are Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre and Charles Dickens' David Copperfield, both of which are novels that are narrated in retrospect, through the eyes of protagonists who recount their development and maturation through various stages of life. Jane and David both begin as children who are faced with hardships that challenge their will to survive and strength of character. Both Jane and David must go through multiple stages of growth in order to achieve their complete selves, and attain true happiness that is the realization of their proper destinies. The importance of setting is pivotal to this concept of fate that exists in both novels. Each event in the lives of the protagonists is one that is meant to be, with a specific meaning and purpose. The spaces that Jane occupies represent stages of her life as she makes a moral journey towards providence. David's voyage is one in which he must grow from his mistakes and learn what is best for himself, his development, and survival in society. The settings in the novels represent steps in the lives of the protagonists, which can be divided into categories of childhood in a home environment, schooling and young adulthood, and adulthood.
Both Jane Eyre and David Copperfield follow a similar development scheme that begins with a dysfunctional childhood home. Being a helpless orphan, Jane lives with the Reeds as an outcast. From the opening of the novel, Jane is introduced as an outsider, as she states "I was a discord in Gateshead Hall; I was like nobody there; I had nothing in harmony with Mrs. Reed or her children, or her chosen vassalage" (CB, 47). When not being taunted scolded, Jane spends her time alone, most notably in the window-seat next to the panes of glass that she comments to be "protecting, but not separating me from the dreary November day" (CB, 39). Jane does not belong anywhere, and although she has a shelter in a house, she belongs to no home. Jane's experiences with the Reed family strengthen Jane's notion of justice and intensify her sense of right and wrong. When Jane is unfairly locked in the red room, she becomes overwhelmed by the forceful feelings that she has, causing both her heart and mind to be thrown into turmoil. Although the red room is where Mr. Reed had died, it is not a room of death for Jane. The color red in Jane's case is one of "warm blood," and a color that embodies her internal passion (CB, 46). At this young age, Jane is unable to completely grasp and control her feelings and actions. While in the red room, Jane witnesses a streak of light that is her first supernatural experience. Although Jane's reason tells her that her situation is unjust and she is full of rage, she eventually succumbs to fear as she pleads to be released from the red room. Jane exhibits a strong-willed passionate soul that periodically shows itself against the face of injustice. However, at this point in her life, Jane is unable to reconcile her emotions and gives way to fear as would be suspected of a child. Nevertheless, it is this incident that allows her to leave the Reed house and embark upon another stage of her moral journey.
Unlike Jane, David has a living mother, although Clara is but a child herself. Following Clara's marriage, David's childhood at home only becomes increasingly negative and it is this situation that ultimately allows him to leave and begin his journey. On his way to London, David's naivety causes him to be tricked out of all his money and dinner but does not realize that he has been fooled. An older David comments "I am inclined to believe that with the simple confidence of a child, and the natural reliance of a child upon superior years, I had no serious mistrust of him on the whole" (CD, 66).
The next stage in the lives of the protagonists takes place in a school environment in which they interact with other children and learn about society. At Lowood, Jane meets two characters who represent two possibilities for her moral journey. The first is Mr. Brocklehurst, a hypocrite who preaches a life of poverty, but lives and supports a life of luxury, as displayed by the lavish clothing of his family. Jane finds Brocklehurst and many of the adults at Lowood to be cruel and describes her first quarter there as "…an irksome struggle with difficulties in habituating myself to new rules and unwonted tasks" (CB, 59). Once again, reason tells Jane that this treatment is wrong and unjust. This reaction is contrasted to the second religious perspective Jane encounters, Helen Burns, who is constantly criticized and punished but is never resentful. Jane sees that this treatment is wrong whereas Helen finds it appropriate and deserving, as she believes that the heavens will see her suffering and anticipates death, for "…only a separation of spirit from flesh to crown us with a full reward" (CB 101) In response to the strong sense of resentment and detestation that Jane feels towards the unfair treatment at Lowood, Helen tells Jane that she thinks "too much of the love of human beings" and that she is "too impulsive, too vehement" (CB, 70), again acknowledging the passion that is within Jane. It is true that Jane has not completely gained the ability to equalize and control her reason and emotions but Helen's passiveness and lack of life lead her to her only appropriate end, death. At Lowood, Jane has become, as Bessie remarks, "a lady" (CB, 123) and is now ready to embark upon a life of her own. Moreover, the reader recognizes that Brockelhurst's hypocritical spirituality and realized that Helen's yearning for the after-life are not the options that fit Jane, who is just and full of life.
At the charity school, David meets Steerforth and Traddles and it is here that he first gains exposure to the hierarchal nature of English society. This social structure that the young students establish in the school reflects that of English society, in which people are judged by their class status rather than their merits. Traddles is kind and loyal but does not receive nearly as much esteem as Steerforth, whose wealth puts his stature of power above even the teachers.
After Clara's death, David revisits Yarmouth, where he once again experiences life with a caring family, even though the members are not related in the traditional sense. David then joins Mr. Murdstone's business, which is an important stage in David's life because it is the first time that his manners and conduct distinguish him as a "little gent" (CD, 144) as contrasted to the course, uneducated boys and men at the warehouse. Also, working at the warehouse allows David to become acquainted with the Micawbers, who give him lodging. At the Micawber house, David is treated as an equal, an adult with an important voice and responsibilities for the first time. However, Mr. Micawber's finances are unstable and David clearly has no future in the warehouse. Appropriately, Dickens has the Micawbers move away from London after Mr. Micawber is released from prison so that David may move on from this stage in his life.
On his journey to find his Aunt Betsy, David is stripped of all his possessions and is left hungry and tired once again, signifying David's fall to the lowest depths of despair in order to rise again. When David reaches his aunt's home, Janet points out that David is there to beg, and although David quickly responds "No" he realizes that it is true and in a moment of humbled shame, David states "I held my peace in confusion, and felt my face burn" (CD,166). Having reached this low point, David is able to finally settle into a stable family with Aunt Betsy and Mr. Dick, and quickly rises to the top of his new school in Canterbury. There, David meets the Strongs and Mr. Wickfield, through whom he then meets Uriah Heep. Canterbury provides David with a proper education and connections to characters who will eventually play significant roles in his life.
After their education, the protagonists venture upon life in society and are faced with tests that both challenge and guide them towards their destinies. Jane begins as a governess at Thornfield with high expectations for a new life. Indeed it is here that falls in love and it seems that Jane has found all that she has hoped for. However, it is clear that Jane's journey has not yet reached its end when Jane faces her decision to leave Rochester after finding out about Bertha. Although Rochester is the only man that Jane has ever loved, she stays true to her values and resists the temptation to travel and live with Rochester in sin. At this point, Jane is no longer a child, but a woman who is in charge of her own life, able to make her own decisions according to her own sense of justice and morality. With this decision, Jane has another supernatural experience in which a spirit whispers "My daughter, flee temptation," to which Jane replies "Mother, I will" (346), displaying Jane's deep faith.
Jane's strong bond to the spirits is further emphasized in her journey away from Thornfield, during which she, like David, is stripped of all her possessions. Jane is left helpless in the hands of nature, crying out "Oh Providence! Sustain me a little longer! Aid!-direct me!" (CD, 356). The natural world is a representation of all that is divine and not human, and in this environment, Jane has only her faith to rely on, and her belief that Providence will give her life and lead her to where she belongs. Indeed, Providence leads Jane to the only family she has, the Rivers. There, Jane meets St. John who represents yet another model of religion. St. John deeply believes in the rewards of heaven for the deeds on earth and asks Jane to marry him. Despite the fact that Jane respects his strong religious values, she cannot live a life without love. Throughout her trials, Jane remains true to herself and her beliefs. Jane is tempted by St. John and his religious ways as a possible path of morality, but in the end, Jane is able to realize what is right for her.
Jane's transformation is complete when she returns to Rochester, who is now injured and feeble. Jane becomes Rochester's caregiver and lover, which is a life that makes Jane completely happy and content, as she declares to the reader, "I know what it is to live entirely for and with what I love best on earth. I hold myself supremely blest" (CB, 459). Compared to the child at the beginning of the novel, Jane has developed and matured, and most importantly, learned to integrate the various parts of her into a being she is able to accept without self-conflict between reason and emotion. Jane fulfills her destiny as a wife and mother, as well as the independent and caregiver and decision maker of her household.
David's life is stable and peaceful until he is forced to work due to Aunt Betsy's financial demise. David's experiences at Doctors' Commons exposes him to the functions of society and he advances in the world through his own merits. After much hard work, David learns short hand and makes a respectable career for him. David has developed to become self sufficient and independent as a member of society but he has not fully realized himself, as shown by his marriage to Dora. Neither David nor Dora are able to successfully run their household, which represents the child that is still in David. Dora is a figure much like Clara, and David's attachment to his wife is similar to that of his childhood love for his mother. It is not until after Dora's death is David able to grow out of this child-like state and come into full adulthood. David's time in Switzerland is recovery that is not just physical, but also mentally and emotionally, as David realizes himself and what he wants in life. Upon returning, David finally declares his love for Agnes and makes his life with her, thereby finding an equal companion for life.
Both Jane and David face adversity to achieve happiness by fulfilling their destinies. Jane finds her moral path by staying true to herself and being strong in her faith and belief in Providence. Although David makes many mistakes in his life, he only learns and improves from them. Through perseverance and hard work, David makes a life for himself and eventually understands what his destiny is in life, and how to achieve it. The destinies of Jane and David are mapped through the places they go and played out through the people they meet, all culminating to a fully formed self, that is essentially the destiny of each individual.