Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre-Feminist Hero
Jane Eyre: Feminist Hero
Submissive, domestic, good-tempered, quiet, agreeable and mild; these are all words that could be used to describe the ideal Victorian woman. Sexism and discrimination put up roadblocks and didn’t allow much room for educational growth for women. Education and job opportunities were limited and left most women with marriage, particularly to a wealthy man, as their best option for security. Jane Eyre broke the mold of the common Victorian woman; she was determined, stubborn, and would not be swayed from doing what she believed to be right and just. She worked her way up from orphan, to governess, to wife of a wealthy man – all without compromising her integrity, her moral standards or her pride. In a time where women had little to no say over how they lived their lives, Jane was doing just the opposite and taking control over her own destiny. It all begun when Jane left Gateshead as a young girl. She escaped her cruel aunt and cousins and ventured out on her own, leaving a semi-comfortable living situation and the …show more content…
If she had stayed at Thornfield with Rochester, she would have become his mistress, and despite loving Rochester with all of her heart and wanting to be with him, she ran, knowing that being his mistress would be morally wrong. Jane couldn’t be Rochester’s mistress, even though most women would have accepted the opportunity to be with Mr. Rochester, even if only as his mistress, because it meant security, wealth, comfort, and love. Rochester put Jane’s strength and determination to the test when he begged her to stay (Brontë 371). As much as he pleaded with her, she couldn’t and wouldn’t lower herself to living a life of sin, so instead, she bravely and independently ventured out on her own with no money, no job, and no
Submissive, domestic, good-tempered, quiet, agreeable and mild; these are all words that could be used to describe the ideal Victorian woman. Sexism and discrimination put up roadblocks and didn’t allow much room for educational growth for women. Education and job opportunities were limited and left most women with marriage, particularly to a wealthy man, as their best option for security. Jane Eyre broke the mold of the common Victorian woman; she was determined, stubborn, and would not be swayed from doing what she believed to be right and just. She worked her way up from orphan, to governess, to wife of a wealthy man – all without compromising her integrity, her moral standards or her pride. In a time where women had little to no say over how they lived their lives, Jane was doing just the opposite and taking control over her own destiny. It all begun when Jane left Gateshead as a young girl. She escaped her cruel aunt and cousins and ventured out on her own, leaving a semi-comfortable living situation and the …show more content…
If she had stayed at Thornfield with Rochester, she would have become his mistress, and despite loving Rochester with all of her heart and wanting to be with him, she ran, knowing that being his mistress would be morally wrong. Jane couldn’t be Rochester’s mistress, even though most women would have accepted the opportunity to be with Mr. Rochester, even if only as his mistress, because it meant security, wealth, comfort, and love. Rochester put Jane’s strength and determination to the test when he begged her to stay (Brontë 371). As much as he pleaded with her, she couldn’t and wouldn’t lower herself to living a life of sin, so instead, she bravely and independently ventured out on her own with no money, no job, and no