Power

Through studying the ‘numerous aspects of power’, a richer perspective on what exactly power is, and how it can be represented can be obtained. Through the study of 17th century poet; Christina Rossetti’s; Goblin Market, the BBC’s 1996 adaption of Charlotte Bronte’s much loved classic- Jane Eyre, and the novel; The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett; this fuller understanding of the concept of power has been acquired. These texts allow for an examination of the power of love in order to heal someone or something, and consequentially, the effect of this. Christina Rossetti’s poem; The Goblin Market; looks at how the power of love can influence one’s decisions, and through this idea, how the power of love can heal or save another. Due to the temptation and desire created by the goblin men in the poem; and consequentially, Laura’s surrender to temptation; the power of love to heal shines through in the form of familial love. This is conveyed through Laura’s sister-Lizzie’s actions, such as when she confronts the goblin men, with motive only to save her sister. In stanza 27 of the poem, Rossetti “One may lead a horse to water. Twenty cannot make him drink”. Through this quote, Rossetti conveys the power love through Lizzie’s actions-resisting the temptation inflicted by the goblin men- and by means of an aphorism. This technique not only helps to convey the view Rossetti is trying to express through the written word, but exemplifies its effect. Thus showing, when an aspect of power, such as familial love to save another, is examined alongside text such as The Goblin Market, an interesting insight into one of the ‘numerous’ aspects is revealed. The BBC’s 1996 production of Charlotte Bronte’s classic: Jane Eyre, provides and remarkable insight into the idea that love forms such a strong bond between two people, that it has the power to save the other. Due to the complex storyline of Jane Eyre, there are numerous aspects o power to be interpreted, however; the power of love to save another is revealed toward the closure of the film. As a result of the protagonist-Jane Eyre- removing herself from the scene, leaving Mr Rochester to deal with his troubles, and events that take place- i.e. the fire of Thornfield Hall, in which Rochester obtains irreversible injuries, both on a physical and emotional level; Mr Rochester begins to deteriorate, not unlike Laura’s character in ‘The Goblin Market’. The overwhelming power love can instil in a person in order to save another is reflective of Jane’s experience upon her return to Thornfield Hall, and in so her discovery of the level of depression and physical damage Rochester has endured . “Your life is not yours to give up, it is mine, all mine, and I forbid it”-Jane Eyre; this quote demonstrates the overwhelming power love has, in regards to saving another from, in this case, emotional damage. The film exemplifies the meaning of this quote with facial expression and camera angles etc. All things considered, the film relays a great deal about the concept of power of love to save another, and how quotes, camera angles and diction can be used to convey such a concept. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett relays an influential insight into the realms of the power of love to heal or help another. In this text, the idea of love or friendship having a healing effect is revealed through the characters of Mary, Colin and Dickon. This trio’s ever growing friendship essentially heals Colin, in the instance when they take him to the secret garden and teach him to walk for the first time. However, the power of healing love is not only evident when Colin learns to walk, but also through the statement made by the Gardner-“where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow”. This quote metaphorically shows Colin and Mary’s respective metamorphoses. In the light of the metaphor; once both characters are thinking of their ever growing friendship with Dickon, and the secret garden-i.e. how it is coming to life, neither can concern themselves with their childish worries. The quote metaphorically represents both Colin and Mary’s transformations by use of the rose imagery, which doubles as a like to the secret garden itself. This text provides an interesting outlook in regards to the influential concept of the power of love or friendship to heal/save another. Through the study of the overall concept of power, and the examination of the power that love and friendship have to heal/save, through the three aforementioned texts, it can be said that, power is a concept with numerous aspects accounting to it, all of which contribute to the understanding of power acquired.