Jane Eyre is an independent individual. She completes her education despite the intervening obstacles, and spends two years . She becomes a governess: plain and hard-working governess. She believes that "Women are supposed to be very calm generally; but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex." Bronte states that women should not be imprisoned and condemned within her sewing circler. Women’s potentials must be recognized as an approach to confront societal limitations and constraints based on gender and social class. Equality of the sexes and social class shall allow women the ability to voice their opinions, the societal acceptance of legitimate creativity and the opportunity to perform free will.
As a woman of the Victorian-era, Jane Eyre was expected to behave according to the “correct behavior” of the time period as demonstrated by Mrs. Reed. Mrs. Reed is the ideal woman of the Victorian-era who maintains her appearance and duties of sewing, reading, hosting and attending social events. On the contrary, Jane Eyre and Mrs. Reed’s characters reveal the dichotomy of the social differences. While Mrs. Reed is performing her duty of a Victorian-era woman, Jane Eyre is committing a tyranny against the “correct behavior” derives from her childhood experience at Gateshead. As an orphan, Jane Eyre was treated as a servant. Mr. Reed promised she would treat Jane as her own. However, she favors her own spoiled children and harshly punishes Jane for her seeming impudence, even locking her up in the "red-room." Society permitted this and Mrs. Reed was empowered to do it because it was accepted behavior at the time, especially towards girls. When Jane is ten years old, Mrs. Reed sends her to Lowood and then tells John Eyre that Jane has died of typhus fever at the school. On her deathbed, Mrs. Reed reveals that she hated Jane because Mr. Reed loved Jane more than any of his biological children, and she refuses to apologize for mistreating her. Mrs. Reed’s acts reveal her character of “correct behavior” at the time period. Being an aristocrat has allowed Mrs. Reed to behave in this particular way since she is principled by the “correct behavior” of society consisting of mistreating others who are of lower status. In fact, her efforts are recognized as “correct” and applauded. Mrs. Reed portrays herself as the ideal woman of the Victorian-era, whose duties consist of hosting and attending social events while Jane Eyre disagrees with this injustice. Jane Eyre was compelled to follow the set standards of a woman of the Victorian-era. Nevertheless, her retaliation reveals her firm belief that woman of lower class should not be dehumanized. Hence, Mrs. Reed’s ideal of anti-feminism is revealed throughout her relationship with Jane Eyre, where Jane Eyre is the complete opposite.
Jane Eyre’s characteristics were radical compared to the masculine idealism. During the nineteenth century, women are submissive to the male-figure. For the reason being, Jane Eyre’s feminism is an attempt to break the iceberg of inequality between the sexes. The depiction of Jane’s strong-willed and independent character is manifested throughout her relationship with Edward Fairfax Rochester. Soon after meeting him, Jane falls in love with Mr. Rochester, her master, despite his higher social class. Regardless of the unconventionality of the couple, Mr. Rochester reciprocates this love. It was neither her appearance that he finds attractive, nor her wealth. He is fascinated by her mind, and how interesting an individual she is, placing Jane Eyre in a separate category while implying that all ideal Victorian-era were only good for their appearance. Within this love affair the author allows her to resemble the rebellion of the masculine idealism. Jane’s bravery aims to overthrow the constraints of lower status women not being able to love their master. At the time period, women are not allowed the freedom to love. They are subjected to marriage in accordance to social status. Jane Eyre is a feminist novel based on the one feminist aspects that woman should have opportunity to choose their path in life. Those who dare to object this unwritten rule of “correct behavior” are disapproved by society. For the women, they either marry to improve their social status or marry someone who is of equal status. Jane Eyre allowed her feminist belief to shine by abiding to her true feelings.
Relationships in Jane Eyre exemplified the limitation of ability and opportunity of middle-class women. Early in Rochester’s life, he married a young woman from a rich family out of pure greed. Bertha Mason, his wife, “Caught the germ of insanity,” according to Mr. Rochester, soon after their marriage. She had to be pent up in a third story apartment within Thornfield Hall, a mansion of his, for the remainder of her existence. Once this is revealed to Jane, she is forced to make a decision. She feels she would lose her self esteem and pride if she’s made his mistress, so she chooses to leave him, once again exerting her feminist belief that the will to choose is permissible. During that time period, the sole ability of middle-class women is to become governess and the sole opportunity to commit to arranged marriages. In the eighteen hundreds, the common belief was that men are superior to women. As analyzed, the relationship between Jane Eyre and Rochester is merely a servant-master relationship as it is illustrated in the novel. The anti-feminist voice of Jane Eyre is preaching to the choir that “Mr. Rochester might probably win that noble lady’s love, if he chose to strive for it (223). On the contrary, the feminism side of Jane Eyre is screaming “it does no good to no woman to be flattered by her superior, who cannot possibly intend to marry her; and it is madness in all women to let a secret love kindle within them, which if unreturned and unknown, must devour the life that feeds it” (226). Jane is now declaring her stand and considering herself as his equal. Through Jane Eyre’s character, Charlotte Bronte declares that women should be allowed to marry for love, disregard of her social status or whom she is marrying. An additional evident that illustrate Jane’s feminist character is her desire to remain as the “plain, Quakerish governess” when she is about to be married to Rochester (363). Jane Eyre wants to become an equal to be husband to be, Edward Rochester. Jane clearly warned Rochester that he should not expect anything “celestial” of her- for he “will not get it, any more than I shall get it of you: which I do not at all anticipate” (365). Maintaining a formal appearance is one of the duties of a Victorian-era woman. A well-dressed woman will assuredly receive her position at the peak of the social hierarchy. However, Jane Eyre objected “norm” of a Victorian-era woman. One should not be judged upon her appearance, but rather the ability to carry herself, the legitimate creativity that she possesses, and the opportunity to express her femininity.
When Jane Eyre refuses to marry Rochester, one can see the feminist belief once again revealed. Marrying Rochester would ultimately require Jane to be confined to Rochester and this decision would not be collaborative but a limiting of her feminist self. Xxxxxx She is no longer is strong and independent woman she strikes to be. So far we have seen that Jane demonstrates herself to be a strong and independent character due to her refusal of Rochester’s proposal. “When my body and soul is rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? If I cannot believe it then I am insane – quite insane (448). She is exerting her strong feminist belief of living independently. Rochester once asked “who in the world cares for you? Or who will be injured by what you do?” Fully aware of her feminist capability, Jane professed “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself” (447). In Bronte’s feminist world, women are no longer dependent upon the male dominant male figures yet they know the powerful and personally limiting social reality of “feminism” of ,perhaps, friendlessness standing alone against accepted conventions. Jane declared that she will take care of her own self, without Rochester’s assistance. Approaching the end of the novel, Jane decides to make her return to Rochester and eventually got married to him. This time is different from the previous event of their attempt at marriage because Jane agreed to marry Rochester by choice. In any circumstance, feminists believe that women should be allowed the freedom of choice in marriage. With Jane agreeing to marry Rochester by choice, the power pyramid of men dominating women is broken. In the first attempt at marrying Rochester, Jane revealed a great deal of doubts and worries toward her future marriage with Rochester. Perhaps, it was due to her lower status or she was afraid of surrendering her independence now that she has to be inferior to her husband-to-be, Rochester. However, after inheriting a fortune from her uncle John, she is presently a wealthy heiress. Now, Jane Eyre has advanced to Rochester’s level of social status to define herself as an equal to him. Moreover, Jane did not marry for convenience as portrayed by a plurality of Victorian-era marriages, but rather she marries for love. Earlier in time, Jane would comply with Rochester’s order. However, as the novel progresses, the role of authority and power shifted from Rochester to Jane. “I will abide by your decision” said Rochester, as an implication that Jane is now the more dominant figure. Perhaps, Rochester is inferior now because he is crippled and blind so he needs Jane’s presence to guide him and substitute for his amputated arm. Ironically, Rochester’s life is now dependent on his former “servant.” The physical power transition is another indication that Jane is now an equal of Edward Rochester, if not less than more, ceasing the master-servant relationship. Once again, Jane Eyre triumphs as a feminist who believes marriage mandates a negotiation of love, not convenience or money.
John Reed helps Jane define herself as a feminist. She first committed her rebellious act against John Reed. John Reed is a fourteen year old schoolboy who is four years older than Jane, also physically larger. Thus explaining his physical power exerted upon Jane. Jane was bullied and punished by John Reed; “not two or three times in the week, nor once or twice in a day, but continually” (5). His mother was oblivious of the actions that her son was committing which includes: twisting the necks of the pigeons, killing the little pea-chicks, setting the dogs at the sheep, stripping the hothouse vines of their fruit, and breaking the buds off the choicest plants in the conservatory, calling his mother ‘old girl’ and destroying his mother’s attire (12). John Reed reveals himself to be very destructive and rebellious. On the contrary, Jane exemplifies a calm, well-conducted manner to gain the affection that she longs for from the Reed family. Instead of receiving a tiny bit of gratitude or decency from her kinfolks, Jane “was termed naughty” when she “dared commit no fault; and strove to fulfill every duty” (13). While John Reed is being destructive, Jane Eyre is trying to be accepted. However, nothing is ever just for Jane Eyre. John Reed’s horrible acts are overlooked while Jane’s smallest flaw is noticed and critiqued. Jane sought this mental battle of equality between John Reed and herself. This is evident that Jane Eyre is principled by the strong feminist idea that equality should be mandated. Jane does not think that she deserves the status of a servant for she knows of her self-worth is more than that, more than a servant or a “mad cat” (8). John Reed’s behaviors are “correct” while Jane is being punished. In this given time period, higher class individuals have the will to define what the “correct behavior” is. Women of lower class have no ability to voice her opinion. Eventually, Jane could not endure one more brutal attempt from John Reed. She decided to strike against him to defend herself. This act of rebellion was additional evidence of femininity. If John Reed is able to get away with his actions with out his mothers punishment then Jane should do him justice by rebelling against John. As a result, she was locked in the red-room as a punishment. At the time period, the social differences allow higher class individuals to be “masters” and lower class individual to be “servants.” Unfortunately, this “norm” is acceptable in the Victorian-era. However, Jane Eyre demonstrated and proved herself to be an equal to John Reed by this attempt. Jane Eyre believes in the equality of social status of men and women; servants and masters. John Reed cannot overpower her because he is a man or a master and she is a woman or a servant but they are equal.
Feminists exert a belief that women and men are, and have been, treated differently by our society, and that women have frequently and systematically been unable to participate fully in all social arenas and institutions; a desire to change that situation; that this gives a "new" point-of-view on society, when eliminating old assumptions about why things are the way they are, and looking at it from the perspective that women are not inferior and men are not "the norm." As a feminist writer, Charlotte Bronte confronted societal expectations and limitations of middle-class women, based on birth and gender. Jane Eyre, a character created by Bronte who was born into the middle-class family and as a woman experienced a multitude of struggles and difficulties due to her social status and gender. However, Jane Eyre sought to overthrow the tyranny of societal limitations and constraints by manifesting the freedom to love, freedom to speak their minds and freedom to be equal.
