The novel, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, can be analysed from a critical Feminist perspective. There are significant statements in the novel about issues central to women and their lives in a Victorian society. These issues are firstly hinted at when investigating the context of the novel and finding that Bronte had to publish under the male pseudonym 'Currer Bell' in 1847, so that her work would get recognition.
In 1966, R.B Martin stated that Jane Eyre was the first major feminist novel; "although there is not a hint in the book of any desire for political, legal, educational, or even intellectual equality between the sexes"
Jane Eyre:
Jane seems to express feminist ideals almost unintentionally, through her speech and actions. Jane lived in a world in which her success depended on her 'marriageability'. In comparison to other young women around Jane's age, it is blatant that marriage is not Jane's main priority.
When Rochester disguised as an old woman with the ability to tell her future, he asks Jane which tale she wishes to hear, in which she replies "Oh, I have not much choice! They generally run on the same theme-courtship; and promise to end in the same catastrophe-marriage" The use of the word 'catastrophe' here to describe marriage shows Jane's opinion that marriage is alike to entrapment. This shows that Jane's major aim is not to get married, but to preserve her identity and freedom in the patriarchal society she is in. This is why she has the courage to stand up, defy the rules of society and speak up when she feels unfairly treated, even if the person treating her unfairly is her aunt, oppressive cousins, Mr Brocklehurst or Rochester. It may also be worth mentioning, that Rochester disguises as a woman who can see into the future, this could be inferred that Rochester believes that women are of great, unexplainable power- hence why he accuses Jane of using black magic on his horse.
From the very start of the novel, Jane has the courage to defy her aunt when she is punished in the red room. At the time, Jane's action of talking back to Aunt Reed was considered improper. Women and girls, especially poor ones, were expected to be passive and meekly accept their position in society or their circumstance. And yet, Jane simply can't accept her unfair treatment, hence she feels her soul begin "to expand, to exult, with the strangest sense of freedom, of triumph, I ever felt..." This sounds as if Jane is describing the feeling of empowerment, in which she takes forward with her.
Jane's relationship with Rochester
Jane meets Rochester after becoming his governess, yet she does not consider herself to be inferior to Rochester in terms of spiritual qualities. In which she says;
"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! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you (...) Do you think I am an automaton? A machine without feelings?"
"It is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal - as we are"
It seems as if Jane wants recognition that both sexes are equal in terms of the "heart and spirit", she refuses to be defined in marriageability and rejects being objectified too;
"the more he bought me, the more my cheek burned with a sense of annoyance and degradation"
When Jane says this, she highlights the idea of women becoming men's possession through marriage and in which she felt Rochester was trying to rebrand her from being a 'poor' governess, into a higher class woman. Not only does this anger Jane's issues concerning class inequality, but this perhaps angers her as she doesn't feel that she is any less than Rochester. The symbolism of her cheek burning tells us how angered and passionate she is about this feeling of degradation and being controlled.
Jane does not commit to being Rochester's wife until she is finally considered his equal, being equal to him seems to be of sentiment to Jane.
St.John's proposal
It is clear that Jane sees marriage as entrapment, and something she perhaps fears due to the likelihood she will lose her independence and self. This, aside of her love for Rochester, is why she refuses her cousin St.John's marriage proposal.
When Jane refuses, St.John's attitude to the refusal shows us a lot about the attitude towards unmarried women of the Victorian era; "do not forget that if you reject it, it is not me you deny, but God (...) refuse to be my wife, and you limit yourself forever to a track of selfish ease and barren obscurity". This emphasises that women choosing to not commit to marriage were sinning before God. But it shows that Jane cannot deny her spirit- "though the imprisoned flame consumed vital after vital" Jane is literally stating that if she were to marry St.John, her passion would be 'imprisoned' and trapped.
Bertha
Sandra Gilbert puts forward the idea that Bertha is Jane's female rage in a patriarchal culture governed by economic and social rules, such as the woman being the 'angel of the house' . It is not until Jane is free from the 'raging specter of Bertha' that Jane becomes Rochester's wife and his equal. Jane states that she no longer needs to "keep the fire of her nature low", which could be considered a coincidence as Bertha died in a house fire.
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