Helen Burns in Jane Eyre

Though Helen Burns is a ill-judged- lived character, her appearance in the book is signifi stomacht on a symbolic level. In the novel, Helen epitomizes religious devotion and Christian principles, with the idea of love your enemies summarizing her beliefs.Helens religious beliefs shape her character and atomic number 18 referenced to help demonstrate the missing relationships in her and Janes life, as a result of being orphaned. Her religious conduct provides a allay to her, and later on a comfort to Jane when confronted with her dying friend.The intimacy gradeed with Helen with child(p)ly affects Jane and teaches her a lot, including how to mask her passion. Helen is the first person we see Jane form a friendly and intimate relationship with, increasing the impact and significance of Helens death medical prognosis which can be viewed as a pivotal moment in Janes life, and a potential symbol of the death of her passion. Helens references to religious teaching can be used in the novel to demonstrate missing relationship dynamics in the girls life and help look the friendship that they form.For shell, Helen refers to graven image as receiver, father, friend, universal parent. It is significant that God has these roles, as they are foundation figures in life that the girls take up fallen short of. It is possible that part of the appeal of God to Helena, and soon to Jane, is because these individuals are not present in their life.This would demonstrate and explain the importance of religion in Helens life and the comfort God brings to her. Similarly, Helen suggests that one of the appeals to God and religion is the opportunity it provides to create a relationship.When Helen tells Jane I love him, I believe he loves me, she is presenting ides of reciprocity and balance in a relationship. These ideas are contrasted in the relationships Jane and Helen have experienced in Mrs Reeds house, the orphanage and at Lowood.However, this can be a reminder to us that these ideas are seen with in the relationship between Helen and Jane emphasizing the importance of their friendship to each other and further increasing the heartbreak of her death for Jane. Helen represents a model of Christianity that stresses tolerance and acceptance.Helens compliant pose to life is center to her character and is significant in the story as it has a great impact on Jane. Helen Burns is a character incapable of anger or vengeance. This can be seen through the bullying of Helen by Mrs. Scratcherd.As Jane observes Mrs. Sctratcherd continually make her an object of constant notice she at long last lashes out at Helen for not having cleaned her nails. Helen without being told, unloosened her pinafore, and Mrs Scratcheard striked her a dozen times. Helen is unresponsive.Jane is confused by Helenas patient response to mistreatment and later tells Helen that If I were in your place, I should dislike her, I should resist her. However, her faculty to remain gracef ul and calm even in the face of (what Jane Sees as) unjustified punishment makes a great impression on Jane who heard her with wonder as Helen explained the way she conducts herself. It is possibly through Helen Burns example that Jane learns to mask her passion. As well as being an ideal for the Christian ethos, it could be tell that the character of Helen Burns possesses Christ like characteristics.Helens suffering of rejection at Lowood can be compared to savior suffering of persecution. Furthermore, her response to suffering can be said to mirror those of Jesus. The idea of Love your neighbor, summarizes Helens beliefs she never passes judgment or rebels, and she seeks to forgive those who hurt her.This view of Helen should be noted as it strike to and can emphasize the idea of Helen being a teacher to Jane, and the large impact that Helen will make on Janes life. While Jane and Helen are very dieeferent characters, Jane very much feels she can relate to Helen and learns fro m her influence.Like Jane, Helen is an orphan who longs for a home. In the scene before her death, Helen tells Jane she is going to my long home- my last home. This is one example of the difference in the two girls beliefs. Helen believes that she will find her home in heaven rather than England.This dialogue about life after death contrasts what adults in Janes life have taught her and similarly goes against Janes previous fears regarding ghosts, death and the supernatural. In this moment, however, we as the reader see Jane iscomfortable literally next to death, a concept she feared when living with the reads.This is the first intimate moment we see Jane experiencing- Jane is nestled in close to her friend, whose arm is around her. In this moment we feel Jane is contempt and comfortable. It is possible that Janes attitude to death was a fear of the unknown, which now Helen has made more familiar, therefor providing her with the strength to cope so close to death. Helens death can be seen symbolically on many levels.One interpretation of Helens death is that it symbolizes the death of Janes passion. The name Helen Burns itself implies destruction, fire and burning. Fire is a recurring subject throughout the beginning of the book, which is referred to to represent the fiery and passionate nature of Janes character.As well as this, during the short friendship between Helen and Jane, we can notice the awe in which Jane has for the levelheaded attitude that Helena carries. Therefore, on both a literary and symbolic term, the death of Helen burns suggests death or destruction to Janes passion.