Jane Eyre Gender Roles

In the novel Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë, Bertha and Jane seem as if they are foils of one another. However, upon careful consideration, they are actually very similar. Both are scorned by society: Jane for her independence, and Bertha for her mental illness, they each have a part of them that is wild and untamed, and finally they both need Mr. Rochester in their lives: Jane for wages and his love, and Bertha simply for survival in a world that does not know how to treat mental disabilities.

Charlotte Bronte created one of the first feminist novels--Jane Eyre--of her time period when she created the unique and feminist female heroine, Jane Eyre. Throughout the novel, Jane becomes stronger as she speaks out against antagonists. She presses to find happiness whether she is single or married and disregards society’s rules. The novel begins as Jane is a small, orphan child living with her aunt and cousins due to the death of her parents and her uncle. Jane 's aunt--Mrs. Reed--degrades her as she favors her biological children. Jane 's aunt--Mrs. Reed--degrades her as she favors her biological children. Her cousin--John Reed--hits her and then Mrs. Reed chooses to punish her instead and sends her to the room in which her uncle

Charlotte Bronte’s novel Jane Eyre embraces many feminist views in opposition to the Victorian feminine ideal. Charlotte Bronte herself was among the first feminist writers of her time, and wrote this book in order to send the message of feminism to a Victorian-Age Society in which women were looked upon as inferior and repressed by the society in which they lived. This novel embodies the ideology of equality between a man and woman in marriage, as well as in society at large. As a feminist writer, Charlotte Bronte created this novel to support and spread the idea of an independent woman who works for herself, thinks for herself, and acts of her own accord.

If we had known who (or what) Bertha was from the beginning and why she was acting in such a crazed, psychopathic way, the novel would lose a lot of its Gothic vibe- there would be no mystery behind her bewildering actions. In fact, it's likely that the entire course of the story would have changed, as Jane would have found out that Rochester was married before he had proposed, and the opposite of such ends up becoming a major plot point later in the novel. In a different twist, if Bertha had committed less brutal acts, it wouldn't have accurately portrayed Jane's bottled-up emotions or future negative events as well as they did with the vehement events that actually took place. For example, if Bertha had simply tried on Jane's veil on the

Rochester and Bertha invites readers “to speculate on human development and civilization but also helped feed the viewer's sense of secured social/cultural status by inviting the audience to confirm their “normality” and the “superiority” of British nationality.” (Chen 2) By painting Bertha into a freakshow of immoral qualities and traits, the humanity behind her is lost, and an exaggerated caricature is formed. “Racial otherness and deformity became related phenomena and [are] treated as such” when Bertha’s features become equated with those of a vampyre, and the denigration of foreign traits only grows stronger. (Chen 2) While Charlotte Bronte does not seem to be doing this intentionally -- she clearly condemns racist acts such slaveholding and oppression through the countless analogies of Jane feeling like a “slave” -- Bertha is a taint on Jane’s and Mr. Rochester’s world, and she is ultimately needed be removed to make way for Jane and Mr. Rochester’s happiness to flourish. (12) Bronte’s “metaphorical use of race involves erasing the humanity of those of other races...Bertha institutes the great act of cleaning in the novel, which burns away Rochester’s oppressive colonial wealth and diminishes the power of his gender, but then she herself is cleaned away, burned and as it were purified from the novel.” (Meyer 8) In the end, Bertha is still just a plot device, not a fully developed character, her foreign “otherness” unfairly emphasized on to highlight her flaws and even justify Mr. Rochester’s previous

Throughout Jane Eyre Charlotte Brontë uses the character Jane as a tool to comment on the oppression that women were forced to endure at the time. Jane can be seen as representative of the women who suffered from repression during the Victorian period, a time when patriarchy was commonplace. Brontë herself was affected by the time period, because according to Wolfe, she was deprived “experience and intercourse and travel.” (70) Thus Jane offers a unique perspective as a woman who is both keenly aware of her position and yet trapped by it despite repeated attempts to elevate herself and escape the burden placed on by her different suitors. Although superficially it seems that Jane wants to break away from the relationships that further

The nineteenth century Victorian era woman needed wealth or position to avoid a life of drudgery.  Women were viewed as trophies or possessions men owned.  They were not permitted to develop nor expected to, and even venturing out on their own was considered inappropriate.  During the era in which Jane Eyre was published the home and family were seen as the basic unit of stability in society.  At the middle of this foundation stood a wife and mother representing the sum total of all morality - a Madonna-like image.  This image was reinforced by social institutions such as mainstream religious and political beliefs.  Women were steered away from independence, confidence, and

Jane Eyre was born an orphan and raised under the hands of a heartless Aunt. Aunt Reed stressed to Jane that she was privileged to live so well without any

Jane’s approach could be considered romantic and embodies conventional feminist concepts; she remains headstrong and stubborn in the face of injustice. The representation of Jane as a strong, independent woman upholds the belief that woman can achieve their goals. Jane does precisely this; she marries Rochester, becomes a part of a family as well as gains financial independence. The way in which Bronte represents Jane is emphasized through her narrative stance. The reader is presented with a firm and rebellious character, her diction is simple and assertive. She addresses the reader directly and is able to identify and challenge the problems she faces with determination. Furthermore Jane is able to identify and comment on how she feels woman are subjugated by their society; she denounces that “woman are supposed to be very calm generally: but woman feel just as men feel […]” (Bronte

Jane Eyre, a novel by Charlotte Brontë, contains several notable themes and messages sent to its readers. Jane Eyre is a coming of age novel that is a story of a girl's quest for equality and happiness. A common theme that recurs throughout the novel is the importance of independence.Charlotte Brontë utilizes several techniques to convey this message, incorporating her personal experiences, as well as including symbolism and motifs. Charlotte Bronte subjects Jane to several conflicts that occur because of Jane’s desire for independence and freedom, such as love, religion, and gender inequality.

Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre displays cases of physical and social restriction, along with instances of avant-garde emotional freedom in terms of Jane Eyre’s freedom of choice in leaving Mr Rochester and rejecting St John River’s proposal.

“Little Girls with dreams become women with vision” (unknown). This quote expresses Jane’s entire life in the novel Jane Eyre written by the author Charlotte Brontë. The main character that is discussed in this book is Jane Eyre and she is trying to find herself despite being recognized as less than everyone else solely based on her gender and her poor place in nineteenth-century’s social class. Gender inequality is world wide problem with no end, dating back to the civil rights period to the present day. Mrs. Reed, John Reed, Mr Brocklehurst and Ms. Blanche Ingram, as well as many others are a prime example for this issue. For the reason being that they allow others’ mainly her son to not only treat her with disrespect but also torment Jane as well.

Printed underneath the pseudonym of "Currer Bell," the book "Jane Eyre" launched 31-year old Charlotte Brontë to common success in 1847 in to the top echelon of authors. Using the achievement of the book, Brontë could expose her personality that is true to her writer, also it quickly became well known that the novel's writer was a lady. This thought permitted "Jane Eyre" by making the general public to change sexist thoughts of authorship to attain one more degree of curiosity about modern culture. Even though text possibly relates activities in the decade of the 19th century, modern Victorians, especially females, recognized with Brontë's review of gender mores and Victorian course. Particularly, Brontë's discourse about the governess

At the start of the novel the reader knows nothing about Bertha mason. She does not make an appearance till Jane becomes aware of a “strong smell of burning” coming from Rochester’s room. Although she suspects Grace to have caused it, we find that Bertha set fire to his room. Rochester simply tries to hide her existence because he wants nobody to know of her, but cannot get rid of her. But that appears at this time it seems because Jane is troubled, a sort of doubling image. Bertha is constantly seen as an obstacle standing in Jane and Rochester's way of happiness and marriage. Her instability is illustrated in an extremely animalistic manner. Bertha threatens to “drain [Mason’s] heart”, similar to an evil being or vampire (ch.20). Again, Bertha is described as the polar opposite of Jane, as someone who acts out against typical norms and does how she pleases. So

Bertha could have been what is considered normal when she was first locked away in the attic. People are capable of going mentally insane when secluded for an extensive amount of time. The book makes it seem as if it is okay to have a woman locked away, where the only interactions she receives is from her caretaker. Bronte works the story in a way that the reader almost feels bad for Mr. Rochester. He is stuck married to this creature, and all he wants is to live a normal life. Bronte chose to leave a lot of detail out about Bertha and to leave her character as a mystery.