The differences and similarities between the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet and chapter XXIII in Jane Eyre

An intimate atmosphere wraps two couples in a bubble full of strong, deep feelings. The darkness broken by the bright moon, in summer, the breeze amongst the fruit trees of the orchards, birds singing, and the flowing love, frame two romantic actions.
This night, it is the men that are in search of their beloved women. Romeo climbs the wall, a literal and a figurative one that embodies the obstacles between his forbidden love called Juliet, a Capulet, and himself, a Montague. However, Mr. Rochester is in his own mansion, he hasn't got difficulties to reach Jane, walking outside. Despite there also being a wall, Mr. Rochester hasn't to climb it, but, in some way, it also symbolizes a kind of barrier in their relationship. To both couples, there are two interpretations of the "sea", so inmense that represents a strong love, but so large that marks a distance.
Without noticing Romeo's presence, Juliet thinks of him in aloud voice; on the other hand, Jane knows she can be seen by Mr. Rochester. Former's ignorance and latter's precaution have different male's reception. Romeo is amazed at being rewarded with Juliet's love, but Mr. Rochester has to do his best to obtain Jane's correspondence.
In general, Romeo and Juliet's situation is represented explicity. Every difficulty that implies their love is represented by objects of the scenery. Juliet, being at the balcony, shows her high level – as Romeo sees her, comparing her with so bright a sun. The wall is another example, a physical obstacle that comes from their families' enmity. However, in Jane Eyre, these difficulties are shown in every chapter: social status, wealth and Blanche Ingram. Jane is assumed as the inferior, the governess, poor and with no connections. And Mr. Rochester, the master, the rich man, powerful and dominant, represents superiority. Here we also have two levels.
As for men's intentions, they try to get love in different ways. Romeo can't help flattering Juliet, while Mr. Rochester behaves in a very weak, pathetic way: firstly, by telling Jane to leave Thornfield, and then, by begging her to stay forever. Both are childlike behaviour, logical in Romeo's case, he being a teenager, but incongruous in thirty-five-year-old Mr. Rochester. Despite their immature behaviour, both men go against the world.*
It is Juliet and Mr. Rochester that want to get married: Juliet, as a woman in love, for security and possesion, and Mr. Rochester, due to his dark past, for getting peace and calmness with his angel. On the other hand, Romeo and Jane are afraid of the other's declaration being a dream, they want to be sure about their oath of love. Blind as Romeo is, he only flatters Juliet and appears not to listen to her; Jane is sceptical, no wonder, due to Mr. Rochester's changes of mind, which makes him so much more insecure.
Common to both is that, finally, none of them wants these lovely instants to finish, though, after all, they say: "Good night, my Darling" and "A thousand times good night".
Footnote* Romeo says: "With love's light kings did I o'er perch these walls;/ for Stony limits cannot hold love out,/ and what love can do that dares love attempt;/ therefore thy kinsmen are not let to me". And Mr. Rochester: "Is there not love in my heart, and constancy in my resolves? It will expiate at God's tribunal. I know my maker sanctions what I do. For the world's judgement – I wash my hands thereof. For man's opinión – I defy it".

A place to forget

Gateshead is that awful place which only deserves to be a bad memory. Jane suffered very much there, and all of us have suffered some time in some particular situation. However, every wretched moment Jane had to bear happened at Gateshead, every day. Gateshead symbolizes Jane's misfortune, a place which she wants to forget but this one which will remain in her mind and will deeply mark her forever.
The constant verbal and physical abuse form her cousin and aunt made Jane's time at Gateshead unbearable. They were permanently reminding hers lower class, even their servants, and thought they were entitled to scorn and slight poor Jane and to punish her ardently, without pity or reasons.
For Jane, Gateshead is the red room, an awful, big, dark place where she felt small, alone and frightened. It was a room like a jail, while outside the weather always was cold, dark and rainy. The bleak winter weather not only reflected Jane's inhospitable surroundings but also her lonely state of mind.
When she left Gateshead, she felt triumphant, her first won fight, after expressing her non-conformism to her aunt, all the hate she had inside, the result of her longing for justice and also for revenge, because of having borne so much humiliation and her honour having been raped on and on.
Leaving Gateshead means starting a new life, the possibility of gaining happiness for the first time. However, her handicap is that she is still an immature little girl, needed of love, who will have to build her character by herself, without parents' guidance.
So, she will have to find a new refuge as that window seat close to the class, hidden by a heavy red curtain, had kept her far from uneasiness.

A tale of two men

It was the resemblance itself, it was the embodiment of disparity, it was the time of trust, it was the time of treason, it was the stage of giving, it was the stage of receiving, it was the occasion of defense, it was the occasion of crime, it was the feeling of modesty, it was the feeling of vanity, it was the expression of subtleness, it was the expression of insolence, it was the epoch of honour, it was the epoch of rebellion, it was the call to Death, it was the call to Life.
There were a man of good abilities and good emotions and a man with some evidences of having commited high treason or, at least, of being a dangerous criminal –as he was pointed out by the mirror over the heads of those who were to be executed-, whose ways were crossed in the middle of the mud of a deadly inn-yard called Old Bailey. Two men, two souls. At a time when whatever was, was right, two lives were put together: Mr. Carton was to save, Mr. Darnay was to be saved. So handsome and well grown were they, that the audience that used to pay to see such a spectacle thought they were drops from the same fountain. But never such a similarity in features had made a stronger difference in human nature. That similarity and the scoundrels as accusers brought freedom to Mr. Darnay.
A meeting between these two gentlemen in a tavern of Fleet Street threw light on both personalities, and was enough to see they hated each other. They tried to keep up appariences till it was not possible anymore. Mr. Carton showing himself as a drunkard eager to forget the world, Mr. Darnay had come back to life. This fact made the former be a hopeless case, without any hope for his own salvation, just trying to mend his supposed error doing things for the others, not wanting any thanks nor meriting any. On the other hand, Mr. Darnay believed himself superior, behaved haughtily though gratefully, not uttering polite words but annoying ones. Mr. Carton is sure of his worth, but despises and wastes it. He lacks perseverance, so only uses his brain to help his friend and colleague Mr. Stryver. Mr. Darnay is very confident, greedy for justice and rebellion and fight. We still have to find out whether he does it with good or bad intentions…
Since it could not be any other way, not only does this juncture link both men, but also a young woman, of golden hair and a slight pretty figure, of an age to be loved by anyone who sets eyes on her. Who knows who will win in this time of competition which takes place in two cities.