Poetic Disillusionment and Immortal Struggles: A Comparative Study of Lin Daiyu and Jane Eyre

Abstract: Lin Daiyu and Jane Eyre are both well-known characters in world literature. Though they are created by writers from different cultures in different times, many studies have found that they have many similarities and worth comparing. However, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding in Lin Daiyu and Jane Eyre's similarities and differences as well as the factors that influence them. Aiming to compare Lin Daiyu and Jane Eyre experiences and characteristics roundly, this essay not only summarizes previous studies, but also divides into three aspects to compare Lin Daiyu and Jare Eyre, which are personalities, love experiences and growth environment. It is found that Lin Daiyu and Jane Eyre both respect themselves as well as others, with strong self-esteem and the value of equality. At the same time, they both show their courage to resist unreasonable things in society. They both pursue pure love without material desires, while Lin Daiyu regards love as more important than Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre's harsh growth environment with simple relationships gives her tenacity, while Lin Daiyu's seemingly enjoyable growth environment with complicated relationships makes her more sensitive. The different experiences and values of the writers also have a significant influence on the characters they create. Comparing two famous characters from different cultures allows us to learn more about the themes of great literature works and witness the image of a group of people from different historical background.