In a world composed of so many gray areas and ambiguous shadows, rarely anything is in black and white. Like a painting, one's life and the people in it are more than flat colors; they have intricate shading and hidden layers. However, in the world of literature, many situations and characters are often depicted in black and whites; complete opposites. In Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester and Jane are the total antithesis of the traditional hero/heroine figure. They go "against the grain" so to speak.

The stereotypical hero is both charming and handsome, while the heroine is usually a stunning, strong, independent woman. In the Scarlet Pimpernel, Sir Percy Blakeney, the hero, is good-looking and noble. His wife, Marguerite, is charismatic, intelligent, and beautiful. Together, they are a perfect example of the classical hero and heroine stereotypes. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary states that a hero is a man admired...