China and the West

Charlotte Brontë in China allgemein.
Wu Qinghong ; Huang Lu : The reason that Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë becomes a masterpiece of world literature is closely related to the Gothic techniques of Charlotte Brontë. She uses Gothic tradition to make the novel enveloped in somber, horrible, misery and bitter color, which arouses the horror and compassion of readers and increases the effect of the work. Gothic techniques highlight the personality of characters, glamorize the horrible atmosphere, deepen the theme of the work, thereby, make the work show unusual and unfailing artistic charm.
Some of the critics just discuss the religious and cultural factors of the novel. Most critics like to reinterpret Jane Eyre from the feminist perspective. They assert that Jane Eyre embodies the ideal of feminism which proclaims that women are born to be equal with men and encourages women to achieve their independence and freedom by subverting the patriarchy and by establishing an equitable world.
It is believed that the first Chinese readers of Jane Eyre were those who studied in the schools sponsored by Christian missionaries or those who went to Western countries at the end of the 19th century.
Soon after the translated version of Jane Eyre aroused immediate attention from Chinese critics. They all agreed, that Charlotte Brontë had originality and uniqueness, a vivid realistic description of life. Brontë was deemed to 'have too many desires and romantic ideas' and 'was determined to describe the social reality'.
The Chinese translators' efforts are obviously of great significance, since most of the readers only read the translated Chinese versions.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, young people still could not base their marriage on love, but on parent's decision under the constraints of the feudal social system in China ; women had no say at home, let alone in society ; the Chinese cultural tradition advocates collectivism instead of individualism ; under the extreme leftist communalists' political control in 1950s and 1960s, people could hardly maintain their personalities. When they finally come across Jane Eyre's story of romantic love, personal struggle in life and unique development of personality, they cannot suppress their emotion any more. They admire Jane's courage for pursuit of love and happiness, and wish to follow her example. Though the heroine Jane Eyre is a British girl, she has virtues which are in accordance with traditional Chinese ethics. Chinese people cherish friendship and will risk their lives for the sake of their friends. They are told by Confucius, one should show their love, benevolence, sympathy, charity, humanity and kindness to every human being. Jane's clear love and hatred, her fight against John Reed's violent tyrannies, and her aversion straight to Aunt Reed all prove she is a benevolent person. Though she is poor, she has a noble soul of self-respect, self-confidence and self-reliance. She behaves just as Chinese people usually believe : one should sometimes restrain their love for some moral considerations. After she inherits a large sum of money, she shares with her cousins. She certainly reminds Chinese people of their true hero who 'neither riches nor honors can corrupt him ; neither poverty nor humbleness can make him swerve from principle ; and neither threats nor forces can subdue him'.