"Jane Eyre is a typical novel of its time". Discuss.

"Jane Eyre is a typical novel of its time"

Discuss this quotation, paying particular attention to the social, cultural and historical context within which it was published.

There are a large number of elements in the novel 'Jane Eyre' that are very typical of the way of life in the mid 19th century, and also of other novels at that time. Through the novel Charlotte Bronte puts across exactly the factors which were characteristic of the late 18th and 19th century: class and status – both of women and of poor people; public health and illnesses at the time; religion, as well as the gothic elements which were particularly common in 18th/19th century books.

Outside even of the actual story, we see evidence historically of the status of women during the 18th and 19th century through the fact that because Charlotte Bronte was a woman, to get her novel published – regardless of its quality - she was forced to use a male pseudonym, Currer Bell. This is a classic demonstration of how women at the time were seen as inferior to men and the sexist views that restricted them in the mid 19th century.

The second example of typicality in the novel is the "Red Room"; Charlotte Bronte uses the room to incorporate into the novel the gothic elements which were popular culturally at that time. Bronte puts the room across as a gothic, sinister omen through Jane's fear of it and the association she makes with it and her uncle's death. Further gothic elements are seen later in the novel through Bertha Mason.

Jane's arrival at Lowood introduces the reader to the appalling public health conditions which were customary to Bronte during her lifetime. It's likely that the death of Jane's close friend, Helen Burns is a depiction of the deaths of Charlotte Bronte's two sisters who both died at school from Tuberculosis too; and that Lowood itself is an illustration of the boarding school which Charlotte Bronte attended – Cowan Wood, the conditions at which Bronte was known to blame for her health later in life. Death and illness is a continuous theme throughout the novel and this is most certainly typical of the public health during the 18th and 19th century; tuberculosis and cholera epidemics were not uncommon and Bronte suffered the loss of numerous relations through such illnesses. During the mid 19th century, people had no real understanding of disease or the importance of hygiene and cleanliness - entire streets would share one toilet, the waste of which was disposed into the rivers which people then collected their drinking water from. Consequently, it is not surprising that death rates from diseases like Tuberculosis were so high.

Later in the novel, when Jane leaves Lowood and goes to work as a Governess at Thornfield for Mr. Rochester; we see further evidence of status incongruence and the divisions created by the differences between social classes. As a governess at Thornfield, Jane describes how she felt alone so much as she did not fit in to any particular group – she was slightly higher than the "servants" but not good enough to mix properly with the company of people like Mr. Rochester. When Jane later realises that she has fallen in love with Mr. Rochester, and he with her; the reader is continually shown the obstacles they face created by the differences in their social classes. When Mr. Rochester finally asks for Jane's hand in marriage, she at first cannot believe it and when Mrs. Fairfax hears of it she warns Jane, saying that men like Mr. Rochester are not "accustomed" to "marry their governesses". This is most certainly typical of the time at which Charlotte Bronte wrote ‘Jane Eyre’, when there was great emphasis placed on the different social classes that people fitted into. The rich would not mix with the poor, and there was great stress put on the divisions separating different types of people. This is demonstrated further when Mr. Rochester has company at Thornfield and Jane is invited to be amongst them, many of Mr. Rochester's guests choose to ignore her, Miss Ingram even declares that Jane looks too "stupid" to “play a game" of any sort with them.

The gothic theme which was common in 18th/19th century novels is repeated at Thornfield by the existence of Mr. Rochester’s secret wife; the eerie mystery that takes the whole novel for Jane to solve ensures there is a continuous gothic theme running throughout the story. The description of Bertha conjures up a sinister picture in the reader’s mind, through referrals to her as a “monster” and also the described detail of the injuries she inflicts on Mason indeed make her seem some sort of mad, vicious animal.

The status of women during the 19th century is also reflected in the novel. ...

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The status of women during the 19th century is also reflected in the novel. There is continuous reference to the view that was held at the time, that women were inferior and their role in life was to submit to the "man" and remain at home being "calm", making "pudding" and "knitting". What is not typical is the opinion Bronte expresses through Jane which is in great contrast to this sexist belief of a woman's role. In chapter 12 lies one of Jane Eyre’s most famous quotes where she outrightly criticises the restraints society puts on women, saying it’s in “vain” to believe that people should be “satisfied” with “tranquillity”. Jane expresses her beliefs that a woman is no different to a “man” as far as the need to “exercise their faculties” is concerned and she says that anyone who should “condemn or laugh” at a woman for seeking more in her life, as a man would, is “thoughtless”. Such a view during the 19th century was near unheard of and for it to be publicly expressed through a published book caused uproar at the time as can be seen in the contemporary reviews of ‘Jane Eyre’.

A further aspect which is typical of the way of life at the time ‘Jane Eyre’ was written is the role of the man and the fashion in which the woman is defined in terms of the man. There's a persistent emphasis on Jane's choice of patriarchal figure – Mr. Rochester or St. John. The contrasts between the two characters – Mr. Rochester and St. John are complete opposites - highlight how the choice Jane makes will shape her future as an individual, reiterating the influence a man has on a woman. It’s clear however, in the book, from the meaningful communication between Jane and Mr. Rochester that it is possible for two individuals to be equal in their beliefs, regardless of where they stand in society. The effect of who Jane marries will have on her only goes to stress further the diversity between different social classes. If Jane marries Mr. Rochester, her life will change dramatically. She would have money for the first time in her life, and she would actually be elevated from educated, lower-middle class to upper class, she will be amongst the likes of Miss Ingram and Mr. Rochester’s other friends. This possibility highlights Jane’s ‘plainness’ which had not been shown to trouble Jane previously. Beauty was considered very important by the upper class during the 19th century; when Jane compares herself to the exquisiteness of Blanche Ingram, her jealousy is apparent when she entitles her appearance: “portrait” of a “poor, plain Governess”. Miss. Ingram and Mr. Rochester are, socially speaking, considered a perfect match; because Jane is “plain” and lower class than him, their partnership would be frowned upon.

Another factor in ‘Jane Eyre’ which is typical socially of the late 18th to mid 19th century is the ending. Linking also to religion, it was typical in novels of this time, as well as socially and culturally for there to be a punishment if there had been wrong done; particularly for disobeying God's law. This is echoed in ‘Jane Eyre’ through what happens to Mr. Rochester – he tries to commit bigamy and at the end of the novel is left maimed and blinded after the fire. Religion is therefore another aspect of Jane Eyre which is traditional of the time the book was written. During the 19th century nearly everyone went to church and the Bible was strictly followed by most; religion had a heavy influence on culture and society at the time. Jane Eyre conforms to this tradition not only through its characters, but also through the acts that could be seen as punishment for transgressing God's laws. In ‘Jane Eyre’, Helen Burns for example is portrayed as very religious, explaining her passiveness to punishment as the path away from "evil" and toward "God". Mr. Brocklehurst also uses religion as justification for his cruel and severe actions, claiming it is to make the students independent and "better" people. Towards the end of the book, further evidence of religion is seen when Jane is wandering destitute, near to death with no money or food; when in the distance, she sees a light in the dark which she follows and is ironically led to a house where she seeks food and comfort – with her cousins. This 'light of guidance' is a very religious belief and reflects the importance of religion during the time Jane Eyre was written.

At the end when Jane and Mr. Rochester can finally be together, social inequality is seen again through them only finding happiness together after she has been elevated, and he has been brought down in society to balance the pair of them, allowing only after this has taken place, for them to be together in peace. This draws attention back to social incongruence and the distinctions between classes which were most typical of the mid19th century. At the same time, throughout the novel and at Ferndean especially, the reader is aware of the isolation Jane and Mr. Rochester are in. Jane speaks of the benefits of being “friendless” and living a “solitary” life. She and Mr. Rochester are not integrated into society, the separation between them and the rest of the world is quite obvious; making the social class differences between them quite ironic seeing as their match is not actually a threat to society anyway.

What is most definitely not typical of the times ‘Jane Eyre’ was written in though, is the radical feminism which is clear throughout the novel. It is obvious from the beginning of the book that Jane is a strong believer in justice and is not the type of person to give up at something - she will fight for what she believes in. The description of Jane's life at Gateshead details the problems that Jane's stubborn beliefs create between her and the Reeds. The reader also sees how Jane is very witty and clever in what she says, a memorable example of this being when Mr. Brocklehurst asks her what she should do to avoid the firey pit that is hell, Jane replies, without hesitation, that she must "keep in good health" and "not die". Jane has a belief in herself as an individual, regardless of her gender, that was very rare during the 19th century.

Looking at the contemporary reviews of Jane Eyre, written at the time the novel was published; it is clear by the fact that many of the reviews criticise the novel for going against the way of “life” at that time and calling it unjust, some claiming the book was even “anti-Christian”, that there were most definitely aspects that were not typical of the mid 19th century. As a result of the radical feminism - that was practically unheard of at the time - expressed by Bronte through Jane Eyre, many critics did speculate that ‘Currer Bell’ was infact a woman. Most people, or certainly most men, were quite happy with their way of life, which is most likely why they were so outraged at Jane’s rebellion against reality in ‘Jane Eyre’. Jane’s continuous questioning of the way of life, and also her role in life lead to many readers questioning their role; and people did not like this.

Furthermore, some modern critics actually suggest that Bertha represents Jane’s repressed self. If this is true, it just goes to further impress on the reader the boldness and strength of what Jane does believe and how conflictive it is of the time the book was written. Women were not encouraged, or even supposed to talk openly about their feelings or opinions on matters. Their inferiority is exemplified not only in the book but also by the struggle Charlotte Bronte, and her sisters faced to get their work published, simply because they were women.

In ‘Jane Eyre’, Jane questions from the very outsight, the social, cultural and historical restrictions that are imposed on women. Her individuality and belief in herself are evident from the beginning, and as some contemporary reviews do show; this was refreshing to readers who lived in a society where people, women especially were not supposed to stand out in any way or form whatsoever. Having “respect” for herself is clearly very important to Jane, her advice is to “trust in God and yourself”. Women’s thoughts and opinions in the mid 19th century were considered worthless by the majority, and a writer who disagreed with this was unsurprisingly, a pleasant surprise in a society where the male dominated every aspect of life. In the novel it’s clear that part of Mr. Rochester’s attraction to Jane is her refusal to conform or to be dominated, he is not overtly offended when he asks Jane if she thinks he is “handsome” and she replies “No, Sir”.

The controversial quotation from Jane Eyre, in chapter 12 which basically argues against the entire social acceptance of the mid 19th century was so rare for its time that it is claimed to be the first and original murmurings of radical feminism, and the basis of female discontent in society. Never before had a woman publicly stated “men” and “women” to be equal or questioned her role in life as Jane did.

In conclusion, it’s clear that the novel ‘Jane Eyre’ conforms to a number of the social, cultural and historical factors which were typical of the era it was written, and of other novels of its time. Many of the situations Jane finds herself in are undeniably similar to Bronte’s experiences which were characteristic of the time she was alive – public health and illness in the 19th century; social incongruence and status; the importance of religion and the position of the poorer class and of women. What, however, is most definitely not typical of the mid 19th century, is the radical feminism which is expressed through ‘Jane Eyre’. Jane’s belief in herself as an equal individual is arguably the impetus of the questioning of class, status and male superiority that followed the mid 19th century. Subsequent to ‘Jane Eyre’, the late 19th and 20th century saw the disintegration of social segregation. The absolutely unique themes of the novel, in particular the extreme feminism and strength of a woman’s mind confirm that there are aspects of ‘Jane Eyre’ that are most definitely not typical of the time it was written.

Kelly Nash 10P