Representation of the ‘Other’ in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre
Abstract
This study aims at examining the representation of the’ other’ as portrayed in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre (1847). It attempts to inspect how the ‘Other’ is viewed in Nineteenth century England and the cultural ideology behind such specific representation. It poses crucial questions as to why the ‘Other’ is always represented negatively in main-stream western narrative as in the case of Bertha Mason who is portrayed as a madwoman and a voiceless monster that deserves a ten-year- rigorous confinement in the Attic. I will attempt to focus on the cultural and historical context of ‘Jane Eyre’ and its impact on the representation of the’ Other’. I will also draw on
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Therefore, there is a great importance to focus on the ways in which meaning is produced and reproduced as the result of a particular discourse. According to Donnelly,' Discourses are sets of experiences that are displayed through language, they are ways of referring to or constructing knowledge about a particular topic of practice'. (2002:57). We come to know that representation is a form of discourse and it involves social conventions and unequal power relationships and that some people have more power to speak than others. Edward Said observes that the contemporary Western View of the Orient as an outsider and an inferior part of the West is manifested in the academic sphere. Western scholars use Oriental images and ideologies to consolidate the intellectual awkwardness of the' Other' .In other words, these views of the Orient are attempts to portray the superiority and intellectuality of the western status. (Said,1979). For Spivak, representation is not only a matter of ‘speaking about’ but also ‘speaking for and the role of literature in the production of cultural representation shouldn’t be ignored. (Spivak, 1988). She argues that many western writings ,for example Jane Eyre ,have not adequately portrayed the reality of the colonized 'Other' and tend to exclude the voices of the 'Other' where she concludes that the
Brontë is describing how Jane is feeling. I felt as if I was locked in the
The novelist Charlotte Bronte, published Jane Eyre in the 19th century, which depicts the romance and affairs involving Jane, through Blakemore’s interpretation “St John is arguably more sadistic than Rochester.” It can be inferred that St John version of marriage is basically slavery with no passion and love involved. This is accomplished by the juxtaposition of Rochester’s and St John’s proposals, characterisation of St John, and motifs of hypocrisy, in relation to situate the audience to view St John’s perception of Jane as nothing more than a tool. As presented in the novel, Jane’s two love interests, St John and Rochester, proposed to Jane, analysing the dichotomy of the intentions in marrying love demonstrates different insights. St John’s
Charlotte Brontë’s coming of age novel, Jane Eyre, deals with the struggles of womanhood and finding strength in the toughest of times. Jane Eyre is a young woman who, throughout the novel, becomes stronger and more independent. In Essaka Joshua’s critical essay, “‘Almost my hope of heaven’: idolatry and messianic symbolism in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre,’” he analyzes the idolization of character’s as gods; however, in Judith Leggatt and Christopher Parkes essay, “From the red room to Rochester's haircut: mind control in Jane Eyre,” they analyze the idea of mind control in Jane Eyre.
At first glance and under insufficient scrutiny, the persona of Jane Eyre reflects a slightly expanded Cinderella character. But Jane Eyre's personality and life delve much deeper than a superfluous "rags to riches" story. Her identity is as complex as literature can convey and her characteristics are manifested through several subtle parallels. These parallels relate to objects and nature, but mostly to one particular individual in the novel. A seemingly exact opposite of the persona's placid character, the maniacal Bertha Mason actually personifies an inner part of Jane, the part of her personality that longs to live free but goes crazy under the oppression of society, and especially
she is only ten years old and is an orphan. Jane is separated so much
The Reed’s household; Gateshead, is a representation of the beginning of Jane’s long and extensive search for not only injustice for herself, but to those she encounters along the way of her journey. Mrs Reed and Master John Reed are two pivotal characters that are symbols of selflessness and ignorance that had occurred during the nineteenth century between those belonging to the upper-class and those who remained in the lower-class. Both of these figures are cruel and abusive and are the main and central reason of Jane’s suffering. Mrs Reed perceives Jane as the devil and a detriment to her household and her own children. “You were born, I think, to be my torment: my last hour is racked by the recollection of a deed, which, but for you, I should never have been tempted to commit.” – Mrs Reed (page, 243). The sole purpose of Mrs Reed treating Jane Eyre in such a negative and abusive way, all revolves around jealously and injustice. Along with John Reed, Mrs Reed believes that Jane should be categorized along with the servants because of where she has originally come from. Jane begins her story as an orphan raised by a wealthy
Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë, is set in 19th century England, and tells the story of a young woman named Jane Eyre who undergoes many hardships as she matures and ultimately grows into a more complex person. The people Jane encounters throughout the novel both shape her opinions and the person she becomes, and serve as foils, or characters who set off other characters by strong contrast. Many of Jane Eyre’s supporting characters possess unflattering or unfavorable qualities. The way they treat Jane, the manner in which they interact with other people, and their worldviews, either positive or negative, equally impact Jane, and serve as a contrast for Jane’s own traits. Brontë’s use of foils in Jane Eyre as a method of characterization enables the reader to better understand Jane as a character, and emphasize certain
“Jane Eyre” is a book centred around female duality. In a time when females were still expected to fulfill their “womanly duties,” Charlotte Bronte wrote a novel dealing with a woman’s view on morality & sexuality, passion & sensibility, and conformity & insanity, among other themes. This motif of duality plays a strong part in the dynamism that makes up the book, and is not limited to the themes, but is also used to relate many of the characters to the titular Jane. In “The Mystery at Thornfield,” Valerie Beattie makes claims that the character Bertha Mason’s insanity is a representation of rebellion toward the limitations of Victorian women. Not only is
"Each picture told a story; mysterious often to my undeveloped understanding and imperfect feelings, yet ever profoundly interesting." --Jane Eyre (9)
At the start of the captivating novel titled, “Jane Eyre”, our main character Jane defies many of the stereotypes of Victorian women in the time. Charlotte Bronte, the author, sends a strong message of the types of behavior that isn’t very common for women to show. Throughout the exhilarating book, the readers travel through the life of a young orphan who blossomed into a strong woman. During the Victorian period, women weren’t seen as much excepted the person who takes care of the home and children. Gregg Newby states ,in an article called “Expectations of Women in Victorian Society”, “In the eyes of society, women were ill-equipped to meet the demands of the outside world.
In present day America, there is no societal statement that is proclaimed more often than "all people are created equal." However, this value is in complete contradiction to the class oriented views of the 19th century. The 19th century was most known for society's oppression towards the lower class and especially women. Jane Eyre, an award winning novel, depicts and vividly describes these stereotypical beliefs that the people of this time withheld. All these beliefs are told and persevered through one character, Jane Eyre. Eyre’s character and events throughout the story reveal the oppression towards women and the diffident feelings that the lower class in the 19th century endured.
Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre is presented in the Victorian Period of England. It is a novel which tells the story of a child's maturation into adulthood. Jane's developing personality has been shaped by her rough childhood. She has been influenced by many people and experiences. As a woman of her time, Jane has had to deal with the strain of physical appearance. This has a great effect on her mental thinking and decision making. Jane Eyre's cognitive and physical attributes have been affected by her environment throughout her life.
The belief that women should have equal economic, political and social rights which were offered to men was known as feminism. Feminism has been a prominent and controversial topic in writing for over two centuries, with the view articulating in the “19th century meaning that women were inherently equal to men and deserved equal rights and opportunities.” (Gustafson, 1) Many women throughout time have stood forward towards women’s rights. Jane Eyre was written and published during the Victorian Era. The novel was written by Charlotte Brontë, but published under the
Charlotte Bronte wrote the novel Jane Eyre in the mid-eighteen hundreds. In her novel she expresses her views on many important factors present during this time including social problems such as race, class, gender, and the role of religion. Each of these factors affects the way that the protagonist, Jane Eyre, grows as a person. Throughout the novel Charlotte Bronte uses images and symbols that either influence or represent Jane's growth. Bronte uses a common imagery throughout the novel reflecting images of "fire and ice." She also uses symbols in Jane's life such as the red-room, from her childhood, and the character Bertha Mason Rochester, during her time at Thornfield. Other characters who
Social status has a way of dictating life to many people, like Jane Eyre, whose very existence was shaped from a demanding social hierarchy. Social norms are unwritten rules about how to behave, what is expected of us and what limits society has placed upon us. Each culture and even era has its own set of social norms. We are all judged by these rules and they are emphasized by the attitudes of our peers towards us and our families. The book Jane Eyre is written in a Victorian era.