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Jane Eyre's Role in Victoria­n Society - Charlott­e Bronte Analysis

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Universität Hildesheim

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Kröger 2007

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Introduction to English Literature Winterterm 2007/08
 “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte

“Describe the role of girls and women in Victorian society by looking at the character Jane Eyre.”

 

 

 

Table of contents

 

 

 

Topic:                                                                                   Page:

 

1.      Introduction.............................................................................         2

 

 

2.      Jane Eyre, an Victorian woman between social classes..........2-4

 

 

3.      Conclusion...............................................................................4-5

 

 

4.      Bibliography............................................................................         6

 

 

a.      Literature

 

 

b.      Internet

 

 

5.      Appendix.................................................................................         7-12

 

 

6.      Statement.................................................................................         13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Introduction

"Live with your century, but do not be its creature." This wisdom of Friedrich Schiller could apply to the view of Jane Eyre in the same book by Charlotte Brontë.

The book follows the development of Jane Eyre from a young child into a young woman in Victorian society. The parents of Jane Eyre live in the bad conditions of lower social class, when Jane is born. But the parents die and so she grows up with her relatives, who are of the upper social class. So she learns much about these live with higher social standards and the requirements, in which the women have to fit. In the course of the story Jane tries to find the balance between the moral and social norms of the society and their individual needs. The story gives references to the expectations of society regarding the role of women in the Victorian period. This "typical" role of women is also expected by Jane. In the fallowing text, the role of Victorian women in society will be described by looking at the character of Jane Eyre.

 

2. Jane Eyre, a Victorian woman between the social classes

Jane is an orphan who grows up by her aunt and their children. The story begins when Jane is about ten years old. At the beginning of the novel, the reader is witness of a quarrel between Jane and her cousin John. It is about a book Jane dares to read although it belongs to her aunt. When John demands an explanation, she speaks to him without using the word “Master” (Cp. Jane Eyre c. I, p. 12). But for a boy it was already normal to have a higher position than a girl. Jane doesn’t accept this in that situation.

Nevertheless, she describes herself as habitually obedient to him. This fact becomes clear when he calls her and she appears immediately. But when he starts throwing the afore said book at her face, she bangs into the door, hurts herself, and as a result swears at him with “wicked and cruel boy”, “murderer”, “slave driver” and “roman emperors” (cp. Jane Eyre c I, p. 13). This shows that Jane is not completely subservient to him. If she was, she would not struggle in a verbal way, what she does impressively. So, Jane doesn’t submit to all cruelties without a reaction.

Therefore, she soon ends up in a school for orphans, called Loowood. There, the headmaster Mr. Bocklehurst discriminates Jane in front of the others by describing her as a liar and a bad person that one should keep away from. While he informs her classmates about her supposedly bad habits, Jane only sits there quietly without saying a word. To specify, she does not try to justify herself or even to contradict. Reflecting this situation, Jane seems to be very intimidated and she does not dare to express her opinion (cp. Jane Eyre, c. IV, p.  78f.) .That’s why she goes with the image of the Victorian girl.

Later on, she teaches two years at this school. This was not self-evident for Victorian time. There were only some women, mostly the upper and lower working class, who had a job.

Afterwards, Jane works in Thornfield as a governess teaching a little girl, called Adèle. Sometimes Jane is thinking about her life and her position, when she is walking through the gates and looking into the nature: “Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; ...” (Jane Eyre c  XII, p.129f).

With the help of this quotation one can see that Jane wants to use her faculties and does not want to be treated differently, because of the fact that she is a woman. “It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex.”(Jane Eyre c.  XII, p. 130). This quotation of Jane shows us, that she is not willing do to what others expect of her, but she wants to find her own way, although this maybe won’t be a traditional one. She cannot understand why women should only manage the household and care for their children, which were the main exercises of upper class women in Victorian time.

Jane fall in live with her employer, Mr Rochester, but her love doesn’t stand a chance, because she’s as a Governess from a lower class. When she hears, that Mr Rochester wants to marry Blanch Ingram, she knows that she’ll leave Thornfield soon. Obviously, Adèle does not need any Governess, when she is sent to school.

In an interview Rochester offers Jane his help in searching a new job. During this conversation he treats Jane like a good servant: "Consider that when a dependent does her duty as well as you have done yours, she has a sort of claim upon her employer for any little assistance he can conveniently render her; (…)" (cp. Jane Eyre, c. XXI, p. 290) Jane answered with "Sir", which shows that she is aware of her lower social standing. "It is a long way off, sir." (cp. Jane Eyre, c. XXIII, p. 290)

Nevertheless Jane tells Rochester her feelings. In this situation she fits no longer into the role of the “good servant”. The thought about going away from Thornfield and the big distance between her and Rochester hurts Jane. "From you sir" (cp. Jane Eyre, c. XXIII, p. 290) Furthermore the class difference is still between them. Jane offers her feelings but she still uses "Sir".

The lower status of women in Victorian time is typical. Married women have to do what their husbands want them to do. Moreover it is not normal for a servant to marry her “Master”. Therefore Mr Rochester wants to change Jane into a “typical” upper class woman. He buys her jewelleries and new clothes but Jane feels like his doll. "(…) and I shall not be your Jane Eyre any longer, but an ape in a harlequin's jacket (…)". (Cp. Jane Eyre, c. XXIV, p. 299)

So it seems that the planned wedding of Jane and Rochester is doomed to failure.

Jane leaves Thornfield and after a short time she has no money and only the clothes she bears.

She is picked up by the Rivers, who discern her education and intellect despite her poor appearance. Jane could play piano and is very good in drawing; these were the drawers in which an upper class woman was educated. Only Hannah, the servant, admits Jane in a conversation that she has no respect for her, because Jane is poor and has no home. Jane opposes these class prejudices, which were typical in this time of Queen Victoria. "Some of the best people that ever lived have been as destitute as I am, and if you are a Christian, You ought not to consider poverty a crime."(Cp. Jane Eyre, c. XXIX, p. 393) But two chapters later Jane has already the same prejudices against her pupils in Morton. She knows the educated upper class life and now, when she meets pupils, who haven’t got these luck Jane has, she does not seem to be very sympathetic. "(...) Three of the number can read: none write or cipher. Several knit, and a few sew a little. They speak with the broadest accent of the district. At present, they and I have a difficulty in understanding each other's language. Some of them are unmannered, rough, intractable, as well as ignorant (…) "(cp. Jane Eyre, c. XXXI, p. 413) .And so Jane thinks that she has taken a step down the social ladder.

Due her heritage from her uncle, Jane finally reaches the status she needs to be on one social level with Rochester. She is educated and has money which is of prime importance.

After all it comes to a successful wedding and Jane fits into her "new" social status. So Mr Rochester has still a big authority and Jane respects him. She asks him, for example, whether she can leave Thornfield to look after Adele "I soon asked and obtained leave of Mr Rochester, (…)" (cp. Jane Eyre, c. XXXVIII, p. 518) .Jane wants to care for Adele, but Rochester needs all her help, because of his loss of sight. "(…) my time and cares were now required by another - my husband needed them all" (cp. Jane Eyre, c. XXXVIII, p. 518) Jane blossoms out in her role of a loving wife and a careful stepmother.

In the end of the book Jane tells her view ten years after the wedding. The role as typical Victorian upper class women becomes stronger. Jane says: "I am my husband's life as fully as he is mine." (cp. Jane Eyre, c. XXXVIII, p. 519) She is a careful wife. "Never did I weary of reading to him; I never did weary of conducting him where he wished to go." (cp. Jane Eyre, c. XXXVIII, p. 519f) .But the deep love Edward Rochester shows Jane every day distinguishes Jane from many Victorian women in that time.

 

 

 

3. Conclusion

Jane Eyre does not live a usual life like other Victorian women. She is a child or rather a woman of the lower social class, but she develops into a Victorian upper class woman. She is well-educated and is well-mannered, exactly like a woman of the higher social standard. Nevertheless, first she cannot cross the limit to upper class. Her love with Edward Rochester is unusual and the wedding cannot happen until Jane heritages a lot of money. She only marries Rochester, when she is sure that there is a marriage between equals.

In Victorian time there is a male-dominated society and the most important job, especially for women in the upper class, was to manage the household and the home. Women are educated in drawing, doing music and sewing. Women have no right to go to university. They have to obey their husband and give birth to children and to an heir. That is what Jane does not like. She knows she could do more with her education but no one accepts this fact. As a strong and independent woman in the end she marries Rochester, because they are equal now and she knows that he would not treat her like his

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Bibliography

 

a.       Literature

 

Brontë, Charlotte (2006²). Jane Eyre, London: Penguin

 

Rivers, Bronwyn (2005). Women at work in the Victorian novel: the question of middle class women’s employment, Lewiston, NY: Mellen

 

Langenscheidt-Redaktion (Hg.) (20028). Langenscheidt’s Power Dictionary. Englisch - Deutsch; Deutsch – Englisch, Berlin und München: Langenscheidt KG

 

 

b.      Internet

 

(19.02.2008) (appendix)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.      Appendix

a.      (20.02.2008)

 


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