Jane Eyre Research Paper
Charlotte Brontë’s Social Revolution In the novel Jane Eyre, author Charlotte Brontë emphasizes the religious aspect of life during the Victorian Era. Near the beginning of the preface Brontë states, “Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness in not religion”(Brontë, 1). With this statement, Brontë criticizes pseudo-religious manner in which many members of Victorian society live. She chastises her contemporaries for leading a life where empty words of justice and virtue are preceded by inconsistent behavior. Through the actions of the Reed family and Mr. Brocklehurst, Charlotte Brontë denounces the Victorian aristocracy for their self-righteous attitudes and their paltry treatment of members of lower social classes. Charlotte
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Through John’s degrading response, Brontë exemplifies the two-faced nature of the Reed family. She shows that while the Reeds feel Jane is not grateful of their charity, the Reeds treat Jane like an animal. After Jane is struck by her older male cousin John, her aunt has the audacity to say, “God will punish her: He might strike her down in the middle of one of her tantrums”(Brontë 10). Though the Reeds act as if they are a good Christian family, they have just convinced themselves that their maltreatment of Jane is justified because of their own prejudices. While Jane’s behavior may have been childish, the violent conditions Jane is forced to tolerate are not acceptable. Jane probably would have been better off living in an orphanage than being exposed to the hostile environment of Gateshead. This sentiment is best reiterated by Adrienne Rich with the statement, “Moments after the novel begins, John Reed provokes Jane’s childish rage by striking her in the face and taunting he with her poverty and dependency. Thus immediately, the political/social circumstances of Jane’s life are established”(Rich 471). John Reed’s actions in this scene indicate that the Reeds feel that because of their charity to Jane they can treat her however they want. Brontë uses Jane’s situation to highlight the contrasts between the Reed’s actions and
Through John’s degrading response, Brontë exemplifies the two-faced nature of the Reed family. She shows that while the Reeds feel Jane is not grateful of their charity, the Reeds treat Jane like an animal. After Jane is struck by her older male cousin John, her aunt has the audacity to say, “God will punish her: He might strike her down in the middle of one of her tantrums”(Brontë 10). Though the Reeds act as if they are a good Christian family, they have just convinced themselves that their maltreatment of Jane is justified because of their own prejudices. While Jane’s behavior may have been childish, the violent conditions Jane is forced to tolerate are not acceptable. Jane probably would have been better off living in an orphanage than being exposed to the hostile environment of Gateshead. This sentiment is best reiterated by Adrienne Rich with the statement, “Moments after the novel begins, John Reed provokes Jane’s childish rage by striking her in the face and taunting he with her poverty and dependency. Thus immediately, the political/social circumstances of Jane’s life are established”(Rich 471). John Reed’s actions in this scene indicate that the Reeds feel that because of their charity to Jane they can treat her however they want. Brontë uses Jane’s situation to highlight the contrasts between the Reed’s actions and