Lee
Pursuit of Feminism in the Victorian period
In the novel Jane Eyre, the author Charlotte Bronte advocates the spirit of feminism by illustrating how Jane overcomes the stereotypical belief that many people in the Victorian era holds about women. Women were considered inferior and constricted by the society that they lived in. Bronte firmly conveys the message of feminism by depicting the equal rights women should possess during the particular period of time. Through Jane, Bronte advocates feminism by portraying how Jane successfully resists the belief that people had towards the figure of women, men’s oppression, and restrictions of being women.
Jane strives to transform the image that people hold about women. The development of Jane’s thoughts and emotions enables Jane to acquire the sense of bravery to fight. She constantly endeavors to fight against the unfair reality to gain the equal rights that women should have. She keeps in mind that women do not have to depend on men mentally, physically nor financially. Blanche Ingram, who hopes to marry Rochester for his money, wants to find a rich man whom she can depend on for the rest of her life. Ingram believes that woman’s role is to look beautiful and attractive enough to appeal a man with wealth and look. Because Jane senses how woman like Ingram is looked upon others, she struggles to alter this image. Jane rejects to marry Rochester when he proposes by stating, “‘Think of his misery; think of his danger; …Who in the world cares for you? Or who will be injured by what you do?’”(Bronte 342) She implies that she does not want to marry a man due to his absence of wealth. Furthermore, even after Jane accepts to marry Rochester, she asserts “I shall continue to act as Adele’s governess... I shall furnish my own wardrobe out of that money, and you shall give me nothing but your regard” (Bronte 290). Although Jane is now an upper class woman, she declares her independence showing that she can be autonomous without men’s help. The fact that a woman with a high social status has an occupation shows that Jane strongly believes she is just as equal to Rochester and is able to take care of herself with her own abilities. Furthermore, Mr. Brocklehurst represents a man who strictly believes in the social convention about women. He insults Jane in front of her classmates and teachers claiming that she is a wicked girl. However, Jane proves him wrong by showing her own deeds that she is not a wicked girl. She asks Miss Tempe for help saying “Because I have been wrongly accused…you, ma’am, and everybody else will now think me wicked” (71)
