Gender Roles In Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre
Fantasy, make-believe, and dream in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre serve the purpose of highlighting the reversal of gender roles established between Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester, as well as the fundamental difference between the two characters. Mr. Rochester views, in his fantasies, Jane Eyre as a “fairy”, to save him and take him to “the moon”. Jane Eyre views Mr. Rochester realistically, but does have fantastical views of the world, whether it be fairies leaving “notions” (103) for her or her mother reaching out to her in a dream. Jane Eyre’s fantasy comes from her own desires and Mr. Rochester’s fantasies come from Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre, at certain junctions of change in her life, refers to decisions she’s made as decisions made by some
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Rochester’s perspective on Jane Eyre change through the course of the novel, and this is reflected in one conversation he has with Adele and Jane Eyre. He at first describes how he is going to “take mademoiselle to the moon” and “gather manna” (307) for her, firmly placing Mr. Rochester in the role of the caretaker and power figure in his relationship with Jane Eyre. Adele mentions how Jane would tire of “living only” with Mr. Rochester “in the moon” (307), and how neither Mr. Rochester or have “have wings to fly” (308). Mr. Rochester then goes on to describe how a fairy will fly him “to the moon” (308), the fairy being Jane Eyre (309). Mr. Rochester, through the course of this conversation, switches the seat of power in the relationship from himself to …show more content…
Rochester’s story about Jane coming from “Elfland” (308) reflects how Jane Eyre will come from Marsh End, a place where she received her fortune and seemingly had her first “divine” experience, and save Mr. Rochester from his decrepitude at Ferndean. Jane Eyre, divided between her sense of duty and her individualistic passion, chooses to follow her own individual desire, being confident in herself to know what is right for her. She does not want to be at the mercy of anyone else, unlike Mr. Rochester, a broken man who is willing to “consent to” being at the mercy of Jane. Mr. Rochester, once his wife is discovered, wants Jane Eyre to stay with him so he can leave the “narrow stone hell” of Thornfield
Rochester’s perspective on Jane Eyre change through the course of the novel, and this is reflected in one conversation he has with Adele and Jane Eyre. He at first describes how he is going to “take mademoiselle to the moon” and “gather manna” (307) for her, firmly placing Mr. Rochester in the role of the caretaker and power figure in his relationship with Jane Eyre. Adele mentions how Jane would tire of “living only” with Mr. Rochester “in the moon” (307), and how neither Mr. Rochester or have “have wings to fly” (308). Mr. Rochester then goes on to describe how a fairy will fly him “to the moon” (308), the fairy being Jane Eyre (309). Mr. Rochester, through the course of this conversation, switches the seat of power in the relationship from himself to …show more content…
Rochester’s story about Jane coming from “Elfland” (308) reflects how Jane Eyre will come from Marsh End, a place where she received her fortune and seemingly had her first “divine” experience, and save Mr. Rochester from his decrepitude at Ferndean. Jane Eyre, divided between her sense of duty and her individualistic passion, chooses to follow her own individual desire, being confident in herself to know what is right for her. She does not want to be at the mercy of anyone else, unlike Mr. Rochester, a broken man who is willing to “consent to” being at the mercy of Jane. Mr. Rochester, once his wife is discovered, wants Jane Eyre to stay with him so he can leave the “narrow stone hell” of Thornfield