Gender Roles in Jane Eyre In the novel “Jane Eyre” written by Charlotte Bronte the author illustrates gender roles in the Victorian era. Throughout the novel the main character, Jane, struggles with her role as an independent women, which hinders her ability to decisions. Jane is also conflicted with the choice of conforming to society by either marrying or working or to be a nonconformist by marrying for love. Meanwhile Mr. Rochester, Jane’s employer, also struggles with resisting the ways of society or being an independant. During the Victorian Era men and society had high standards of women and their responsibilities. The novel “Jane Eyre” proves this through the gender roles of money, social status, education and relationships. Jane herself proves this to be wrong by being a nonconformist and trying to be …show more content…
One way Jane conforms to society is by choosing to be a governess. Another way the main character complies with society's expectations is by higher a man of higher status than her. On the other hand Jane also resists society’s expectations is by marrying for love rather than to St. John who insisted she marry him and go to India with him. Bronte writes, “Again the surprised expression crossed his face. He had not imagined that a woman would dare to speak so to a man. For me, I felt at home in this sort of discourse. I could never rest in communication with strong, discreet, and refined minds, whether male or female, till I had passed the outworks of conventional reserve, and crossed the threshold of confidence, and won a place by their heart's very hearthstone.( chapter 32). Here Jane is speaking up for herself instead of restraining her feelings. When Rochester wants to buy expensive gifts for Jane she insists that he does not. Her resisting attributes to Jane’s nonconformist ways. All in all Jane both conforms and resists the ways of
Ultimately, as a woman, she is a limited agent and can only do so much indecently. Jane breaks off from the domestic sphere to which she is confined
Jane’s ability to undergo an atrocious youth allowed her to gain her tenacity. Though she does question herself, ultimately, Jane pursues her own individuality and self-respect. Jane’s pursuit complicates itself when she encounters Mr.
Finally, the details about society show that Jane recognizes the standards of her victorian society and needs to abide by them. After Jane had thought awhile, she no longer “felt justified in judging” Mr. Rochester and Blanche for “acting in conformity to ideas and principles instilled into them.” Though Jane wishes to be loved by Mr. Rochester, she comes to the realization that rich men do not marry lower-class women in her
Both characters, venturing out of their gender roles, find ways to compliment and figure out who the other person really is, and, in the end, a burgeoning love fully blooms. When examining the gender roles of Mr. Rochester and Jane, both are a blend of each and life seems better when conventional gender roles are forgotten. In Rochester and Jane’s first meeting, the two begin to show their blended gender roles immediately. Rochester is first described as having a “dark face” with “stern features”, with a complexion that seems, “ireful and thwarted” (146).
She is standing up for what she believes in. Another example of Jane resisting is when Rochester is trying to dress her up "No, no, sir! ….I am your plain, Quakerish governess." (299). Jane is staying true to herself by resisting the jewels and the fancy gowns.
Her refusal to submit to her social destiny shocked many Victorian readers when the novel was first released and this refusal to accept the forms, customs, and standards of society made it one of the first rebellious feminism novels of its time (Gilbert and Gubar). This essay will discuss the relationships Jane formed with the men she encountered throughout the novel and will attempt to identify moments of patriarchal oppression within the story. The first act of patriarchal oppression Jane experiences is quiet early on it the novel, during her childhood years spent at Gateshead. It is here where she must endure to live
Before Rochester, and his influence, Jane had been accustomed to men in power such as John Reed and Mr. Brocklehurst. Their influences on Jane were more negative as they tore Jane down instead of putting her up. These figures allowed the arrival of a seemingly encouraging, kind, and adoring man such as Rochester to be a shock to Jane when she was first employed at Thornfeild. This stems Janes biggest growth from Rochester, the bettering of her self-esteem. Due to Rochester’s exaggerative language he constantly teaches her the value of her self-worth and her beauty.
and is often seen “murmuring against the comforts of the rich. ”(p,452.) here the reader experiences Jane going against her roles of class and gender as she is in no way acting as a respectable, responsible
First, Jane Eyre’s attributes displays women in our society who are still in search for meaning and love in their lives. Just like Jane’s spirit of passion despite abuse, these women continue to search for respect from other
Jane Eyre is not an ordinary person for the time period which she lives in. She ignores the sexism that is shown towards her and other women throughout the text. Sexism is defined as, “relating to or characterized by prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex” (Google). People are the all unique in their own ways and are better at certain things than other things. This fact has nothing to do with whether you are male or female; gay or straight; colored or white.
At this point of the novel, Jane is becoming more of an adult, and adapting her opinions and values into real world situations, especially in those where Jane’s social status is questioned. While in conversation with Rochester, her shyness starts to dissipate and her opinions start to be heard and valued. “Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! - I have as much soul as you-and full as much heart!
The titular Jane in Jane Eyre struggles to free herself from the power of others to achieve independence throughout the course of the book. As a child, she fights against unjust authority figures, and as an adult, she spurs multiple unequal marriage proposals. Bronte, through Jane asserts that a woman should be independent from others. When Jane was young, she tried to free and defend herself from unjust authority figures. When Jane 's aunt unfairly confines Jane to the Red Room, Jane launches into a verbal diatribe against her aunt.
Jane hated that Mr. Rochester bought pretty jewelleries and dresses for her;” the more he bought me, the more my cheek burned with a sense of annoyance and degradation” (Brontë, 321). One can interpret this as Jane worries that the marriage would lessen her independence and put her at an inferior position. The fact that Mr. Rochester buys her all these things makes Jane feel objectified, and she could not tolerate it. Once again, this signals the feministic opinions that the character of Jane is associated with. Jane and Mr. Rochester does not get married during this section of the book, due to the fact that he is already in a marriage.
Charlotte Bronte takes us on a journey from the point which Jane Eyre, the protagonist lives with her aunt and cousins whom very much dislikes her in Gateshead to her going to a boarding school in Lowood, after which she becomes a governess in Thornfield where she falls in love with Mr. Rochester her employer whom she later finds out is married to a mad woman by the name of Bertha Mason, upon her discovery of this she picks up and leaves Thornfield, she then ends up at Marsh End where he meets her relatives. The novel carries us through ever important event in her life, which introduces us to new aspects of her personality, up until her eventual marriage to Mr. Rochester. The novel fits this theme as its protagonist chooses individualism as she refuses to take the role subservience as that of a traditional female of the Victorian era society, she stands up for her rights and want she believes in, she ventures in her own unique thoughts, and stands by her views even if it means disagreeing with those superior to her. Jane comments on the role of women in society and the greater constraint imposed on them. V.S Naipaul’s
- Edward is an economically independent man with a favorable status and influential connections still looking for a profitable match. Jane will be the one in charge to unmask him to the audience: “I saw he was going to marry her [Blanche Ingram] for family, perhaps political reasons, because her rank and connections suited him” (Brontë 205) This manner of conduct converts Mr. Rochester from a hero into a villain, a perpetrator and “his project of