As corny as this may sound I really admire Jane’s inner objective to support the independent woman in 17th century England. In chapter twelve she claims that “Women are supposed to 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.” Jane is a powerful role model for women, which is why this story can be considered a contemporary novel in the modern world. Women today are still fighting against a male dominant society. Gender issues today still inflict concerning issues within the work place, home life and school environment.
Throughout the story the reader meets an array of different woman. We learn to love and admire some (like Bessie and Helen), as well as, despise and hate others (like Mrs. Reed). It is interesting how Charlotte Bronte includes women from all backgrounds and aspects, but in the end we all aspire to be more like Jane. Although men do play a role in the novel, women dominant most if not all of the scenes. Mrs. Reed runs the Gateshead household alone, all the teachers at Lowood are female, and Mrs. Fairfax is the manager at the Thornfield. These women hold positions that have at least a little bit of authority. The men that we have thus encountered are not perceived as great or noble in any sense. Mr. Lloyd is only an apothecary who is used for the lower classes and Mr. Brocklehurst is presented as a harsh man with an evil heart. Neither holds a physically powerful role in the story. Women have been doing the good deeds, and maintaining encouraging images the keep the story moving. We have to yet to meet a man that dominates the scene in a positive manner. I have inkling that Mr. Rochester will fulfill this missing void.
Overall Jane Eyre is an intriguing novel that I have come to really enjoy.
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3 comments:
thank you for this life changing insight
on a realistic note; ya i totally agree that she's probably the face of strong women of that time period. what's awesome is the amount of women in this novel that have higher-power responsibilities, as well as the un-spoken companionship each woman gives to one another throughout their issues; ie: Jane and Helen prior to her death, as well as Mrs Fairfax and how she welcomes Jane into the new house.
Terrific post! (Sorry I've been a little slow in keeping up with these). Though informal (appropriately so), this is very thoughtful and well-expressed (save, perhaps, for the fact that we're talking about women in the 19th century, not the 17th). I like your observation that, though politically and socially suborned, women seem narratively dominant in this book. I wonder if this view of yours will hold as Rochester becomes more of a 'player.'
Again, good post. Write more!
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