Similarities:
* Religion's Role: Both novels explore the complex relationship between individuals and their religious beliefs.
* Jane Eyre: Jane grapples with the strict and often harsh religious doctrines of her time, finding solace in her personal faith and a sense of moral justice.
* Things Fall Apart: Okonkwo struggles to reconcile his traditional Igbo beliefs with the encroaching influence of Christianity. He finds himself caught between two opposing forces, ultimately leading to his downfall.
* Class & Social Hierarchy: Both novels examine how social structures and class divisions impact individuals.
* Jane Eyre: Jane experiences the harsh realities of poverty and social exclusion as an orphan, while also encountering the limitations placed upon women by societal expectations.
* Things Fall Apart: Okonkwo's status within his community is heavily influenced by his social rank and the expectations placed on him as a man of power. The arrival of the British colonists further disrupts the existing hierarchy, leading to conflict and displacement.
Differences:
* Religious Background: Jane Eyre is set in a predominantly Christian society, while Things Fall Apart depicts a pre-colonial African society with its own unique religious beliefs and practices.
* Nature of Oppression: In Jane Eyre, oppression is primarily experienced through social and economic inequality, particularly regarding women's rights. In Things Fall Apart, the oppression stems from colonialism and the clash between indigenous traditions and imposed foreign ideologies.
* Role of Education: Education plays a significant role in Jane Eyre's journey towards self-discovery and empowerment. In Things Fall Apart, education is associated with the colonizers and viewed as a threat to the Igbo cultural identity.
* Protagonist's Agency: While both Jane Eyre and Okonkwo strive for self-determination, Jane finds agency through education and personal development, while Okonkwo's actions are driven by a fierce sense of masculinity and tradition that ultimately leads to his downfall.
In Conclusion:
Despite their distinct settings and cultural contexts, both Jane Eyre and Things Fall Apart grapple with universal themes of religion, class, and the struggle for individual agency within societal constraints. They provide powerful insights into the complexities of human experience across different times and places.