Bronte's Novel Jane Eyre example essay topic

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. Women of the Victorian era were repressed, and had little if any social stature. They had a very few rights and fewer options open to them for self-support.

For most women the only way to live decently was to get married, and in many cases it was not up to the women to choose whom she married. It was almost unheard of for a woman to marry out of her social class (Cain 20). If a woman did not marry, the only ways she could make a living other than becoming a servant was either to become a prostitute or a governess. For the most part, a woman was not given the opportunity to go to school and earn a degree unless she was born into a high social class. The average Victorian woman was treated not as a person, but as an object or piece of property.

She had very few rights either in society, or marriage (Cain, 25). Bronte, born into a middle class family, refused to be repressed by society. She recognized the injustices of her society, and in rebellion against society's ideologies involving women, wrote Jane Eyre. Bronte's feminist ideas radiate throughout the novel. There are many strong and clear examples of these ideas in Bronte's protagonist, Jane, her personality, actions, thoughts, and beliefs.

From the beginning of the book, Jane's strong personality is quite clear. She often gets in trouble, arguing with her cousins, and defying Bessie and Miss Abbot, as well as her aunt. She is not afraid to speak her mind and is dogmatic and assertive about her ideas. Some of the best examples of this characteristic can be found in the first few chapters of the book: after being blamed for provoking her cousin John, Mrs. Reed orders her to be locked in the "red room".

Jane "resisted all the way", and "like any other rebel slave... felt resolved... to go all lengths" (Bronte, 11). While this is her earliest act of "mutiny" in the book, the most powerful and profound act of resistance and defiance occurs in chapter 4, after Mr. Brocklehurst's visit to Gateshead Hall. This is just after Jane has discovered that she is being sent away to Lowood. She confronts her aunt in a fiery argument, unleashing the feelings of rage that emerges from her assertive personality and powerful ego. "I am not deceitful: if I were, I should say I loved you, but I declare I do not love you: I dislike you the worst of any body in the world except John Reed... I am glad you are no relation of mine: I will never call you aunt again as long as I live... and if anyone asks me how I liked you, and how you treated me, I will say the very thought of you makes me sick, and that you treated me with miserable cruelty" (Bronte, 36) In this passage, Jane breaks free from the bonds that hold her down and repress her, and for the first time the reader realizes Jane's true personality and individuality (Anderson).

Following this dramatic scene, there are many situations in which her individualism can again be sensed. During her stay at Lowood Jane is emotionally subdued and her personality is in many ways suppressed. It is not until after Miss Temple, the person that seemed to shine light on the school, leaves that Jane realizes the restrictions that she is under. It is at his point that she has the sudden urge to leave the confinements of the school, seek a job as a governess, and experience the "varied fields of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements, awaiting those who had courage to go forth into its expanse (Bronte, 86)". This example shows her individualism, courage, and will to go out and make a living as an independent woman (Yuen).

These same characteristics are seen again during the time she works for Mr. Rochester. This is first seen in chapter 13 and 14 during her first days knowing Rochester. He treats her in a condescending manner, and is quite rude and disrespectful, insulting her piano playing, art, knowledge, and even her looks. In many ways he treats her as he would treat one of his servants. Jane is fully aware of Rochester's arrogance, finding him to be quite unpleasant. Jane replies to him with wit and sometimes sarcasm, refusing to give into his insulting attacks.

One example is her response to one of Rochester's questions "Now ma " am, am I a fool?" She replies "far from it, sir. You would perhaps think me rude if I inquired in return whether you are a philanthropist?" (Bronte, 134) Jane, being assertive as she is, makes it very clear to Rochester that she will not be treated as a servant". I don't think sir, that you have the a right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made to your time and experience". (136) After her shaky introduction to Rochester, Jane and he become good friends. They seem to have a unique relationship, and Rochester treats Jane increasingly as an equal as it progresses.

In the beginning of this relationship it is almost as if Rochester is testing Jane to observe her personality. He sees that she is a unique woman; that she has a strong personality, is quite independent, and that she is not one to take orders like a servant (Lamonaca). As their relationship grows, Jane and Rochester seem to be on increasingly equal footing until their wedding day. Jane, being the individual that she is, defies the social belief that people should stay in their own social class. She decides to disregard social policy and follow her heart and intuition.

It is at this point that Jane feels she has achieved equality with Rochester (Anderson). This sense of equality is lost, however, when Mr. Mason uncovers the truth about Rochester's crazy wife. Despite Rochester's plea that she leave with him she refuses. Acceptance would cast her in an inferior position. His respect for her would be lost if she tolerated his deceit (Yuen). Jane believes that equality can only be achieved through honesty, and while he was still married to Bertha, there marriage would be a lie.

She describes the internal ordeal of her decision making as a "Terrible moment full of struggle, blackness, burning! ... I must renounce love and idol". Jane feels that she must depart from Thornfield in order to escape her emotional struggle and repression.

This escape from Thornfield marks a new level of self-discovery for Jane. Her will is tested by the mental and physical demands of her fight for survival in the town of Whit cross. She suffers from starvation, and receives aid from only a few people. This section of the novel represents an independent emotional struggle in which Jane must find inner strength in order to stay alive (Lamonaca). The reader realizes that Jane is a very strong and determined woman who can overcome even the harshest of conditions.

In chapter 30, Jane is offered a job from St. John as the head mistress of a girl's school in Morton. She accepts this offer despite the fact that she would be teaching "poor girls - cottagers' children", that all she would teach would be "sewing, reading, and writing", and that the pay would be poor. This decision shows that she is eager to be independent from St. John's care, and to live on her own. In Jane's mind, the job of teacher is a very suitable one, and preferable to that of a governess because she would not be looked down on as a household servant.

Bronte goes on to emphasize yet again Jane's ability to make up her own mind and take charge of her own actions when she refuses to marry St. John. Despite his deep influence over Jane, she breaks free from his mental and emotional grasp (Mo glen, 485). This is just another example of how a man, even one of God whom she respects, could not control her actions. Throughout the novel, characters such as Aunt Reed and Blanch Ingram, who demonstrate stereotypical Victorian female characteristics, are cast in a negative light.

These characters demonstrate ignorance, submissiveness, and above all, cruelty. They are essentially distasteful characters. Jane's Aunt Reed for example is a widower who has gained control of her husband's estate, and is dominated by her son john, a dissipated gambler. She takes orders from him, always siding with him and never punishing him during his youth, and sending him money on command during his adulthood. Aunt Reed is not able to recognize his many faults, and because of this she is not able to help him from over come them as a good mother would (Anderson). Jane on the other hand is praised and looked highly upon by readers as a strong female character, fighting for acknowledgement in a society dominated by males.

She, unlike her aunt, is not afraid to stand up to John, and is not bossed around by him. She is constantly fighting with him. Bronte uses this difference between Jane and the other women characters to create the picture in her reader's mind, that women who display the behaviors of the classical Victorian female are bad, and that the women who show independence and individuality are good. Bronte's Jane Eyre is brimming with feminist ideology rebuking Victorian-Era gender-roll ethics and ideals. As a creative, independent woman with a strong personality and will growing up during this period of female repression, Bronte wrote Jane Eyre as a feminist message to society. She criticizes the average, servile, ignorant Victorian woman, and praises a more assertive, independent, and strong one.

She does this through her protagonist Jane, who embodies all of Bronte's ideal feminine characteristics. She is a strong woman, both mentally and physically, who seeks independence and is in search of individuality, honesty, and above all equality both in marriage and in society in a world that does not acknowledge women as individuals.