Victorian Woman Quotes
Opposing the Victorian Woman “Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." Harriet Tubman. This quote applies to Charlotte Bronte’s novel Jane Eyre, where the protagonist Jane, is living in the Victorian era where women have a specific role in society. Jane struggles with having to be confined to that role and like Tubman’s quote says to change the world, Jane has the desire to do that to her world. In the middle 1800’s, during the Victorian era, Jane, an orphan, is forced to live with her cruel aunt. The experiences she suffers through with her aunt, help her realize that she is not and never will be like the ideal Victorian woman is supposed to be. Jane
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is a blazing fire of emotions and passion while the Victorian woman was fragile and delicate. The ideal Victorian woman is portrayed as a dedicated person, specifically to her home, husband, and family, limited to intelligence, and dependent on others; however, Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, refutes the typical Victorian woman by being independent, outspoken, and passionate.
During the Victorian Era, woman had a role which they were expected to fulfill, a role which was thought of as ideal and even mandatory.
Ever since she was born she was set on a path with many aspects that dominated her life. One of those duties a woman had to fulfill was dedication to her home, husband, and family. According to the article “Ideals of Woman Hood in Victorian Britain” written by Lynn Abrams, “A good and virtuous [woman’s] life revolved around the domestic sphere of the home and family” (Abrams 2). Moreover, “Her diligence and evident constant devotion to her husband… [was an] example to other women” (Abrams 2). This shows that in order to be a “virtuous woman” you had to be principled and follow society’s expectations and gender roles at the time which were giving all your attention and time to others instead of focusing on yourself. For this reason, women were usually limited to intelligence and often preferred to be ignorant to the world around them. “A Women’s Place in the 19th Victorian History” by Pauline Weston discusses important qualities of a Victorian woman which were, “…to be innocent, virtuous, dutiful and be ignorant of intellectual opinion” (Weston 1). In other words, a general woman was thought of as delicate and was underestimated. She was only to complete certain tasks which were marriage, playing instruments, singing, and speaking foreign languages, but she wasn’t allowed to be in male activities (Weston 1). As a matter of fact, women were viewed as unacceptable if they did not fit with societies expectations. They were not able to pursue what they desired nor did they have the independence and freedom to discover what they were capable of. Furthermore, the lack of individuality produced the idea of overall dependence. With this in mind, women had everything done for them. It came to the point where there were rules and guidelines on a woman’s treatment. Michele J. Hoppe, the author of “Courting the Victorian Woman” explains some
of the etiquette, “Coming out meant a young woman had completed her education and was on the marriage mart” (Hoppe 1). In addition, “A single girl was never allowed out of the house by herself…” (Hoppe 1). This points out that women were seen as property that were fragile and needed constant attention. The ideal Victorian woman was dependent on others and was incapable of being independent. She was seen as a delicate, ignorant, and naïve inferior in Victorian Britain both because of her gender and her confinement to the domestic aspect of her life.
Charlotte Bronte wrote Jane Eyre for many reasons and one important reason she wrote it was to express the gender inequality in the Victorian age. As stated earlier, there was a role and expectation for a woman at the time. This role was being fragile, innocent, quiet, naïve, and able to be controlled. Bronte did not fully agree with these expectations and she expresses them through her character, Jane Eyre. In the novel, Bronte uses Jane to illustrate a different type of woman, one that was not like the ideal Victorian gentlewoman. Jane is very independent in contrast to the ideal Victorian woman which depended on others for many things. Part of the reason why she is like that is because she was an orphan and was forced to find her way through life’s struggles as a woman. Through her experiences she gained a sense of self worth and independence that was not traditionally achieved. On page 365 Jane and Mr. Rochester are discussing how they would feel if she left him after finding out that he has another wife. Because Jane is independent and knows her self worth, she does not succumb to Mr. Rochester’s ideas of needing a master to be happy. She strongly asserts, “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unstained I am, the more I will respect myself” (Bronte 365). This is a powerful statement Jane chooses to make given her social class and gender yet she tells Mr. Rochester very clearly that she does not need him. She is and independent woman that can support herself and she proves it later on when she becomes a governess after reaching Moor House. Along with being very independent, she is very outspoken and she’s not afraid to speak her mind. While a normal “virtuous” Victorian woman would keep her opinion to herself, she chooses to voice her opinions because she knows it’s important. While discussing her love with Rochester, she does not lie to him about how she feels instead she fully expresses her feelings. “Do you think I am an automaton? — a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! — I have as much soul as you — and full as much heart!” (Bronte 292). She is crystal clear with her opinion and how she feels, in no way does she try to conceal it even though society categorized her as inferior to him. In like manner, Jane is very passionate and animated. Unlike the Victorian woman who was set up for courtship and marriage, Jane admired being free and able to do and say what she wanted. She wasn’t the typical Victorian woman and everyone around her knew it, that is why Rochester wanted to marry her, he confesses to Jane that she is different. “To women who please me only by their faces, I am the very devil when I find out they have neither souls nor hearts — when they open to me a perspective of flatness, triviality, and perhaps imbecility, coarseness, and ill-temper: but to the clear eye and eloquent tongue, to the soul made of fire, and the character that bends but does not break — at once supple and stable, tractable and consistent — I am ever tender and true” (Bronte 500). Mr. Rochester definitely is right when describing Jane. He says that her intriguing character is more important than a materialistic woman who only cares about superficial parts of life. Jane is not like this, she values her passion, individuality, education, loved ones, and herself. She has this fire and rage within her and Bronte chooses to show this through Bertha Mason Mr. Rochester’s other wife in the novel. Bertha represents Jane’s emotions, when Jane feels something inside it is Bertha who acts it out. Once Bertha dies in the fire which could symbolize Jane’s fire of passion, she is able to marry Mr. Rochester and give in to somewhat being similar to the Victorian woman. Nonetheless, she’s very passionate in everything she does and she’s full of life and fire that burns for more than the ideal Victorian woman’s ambitions.
Jane Eyre is very independent, outspoken, and passionate throughout the novel, qualities that would have seemed unacceptable in the Victorian age because women were dependent. ignorant, and dedicated to a domestic role. Bronte chose to create Jane differently because she wanted to prove to society that everything they didn’t want to accept and believe. Everyone was close minded while Jane was a match ready to be lit with the passion she gained based on her struggles and experiences. Bronte’s masterpiece, Jane Eyre, expressed the inequalities women faced and used Jane to show that a diverse, intelligent woman is capable of the ambitions she sets her mind to. Women and anyone for that matter should be whatever their heart, mind, and soul aspire to be and there should be no fear to deviate from society’s norms, but an eagerness to light the fire within them.
is a blazing fire of emotions and passion while the Victorian woman was fragile and delicate. The ideal Victorian woman is portrayed as a dedicated person, specifically to her home, husband, and family, limited to intelligence, and dependent on others; however, Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, refutes the typical Victorian woman by being independent, outspoken, and passionate.
During the Victorian Era, woman had a role which they were expected to fulfill, a role which was thought of as ideal and even mandatory.
Ever since she was born she was set on a path with many aspects that dominated her life. One of those duties a woman had to fulfill was dedication to her home, husband, and family. According to the article “Ideals of Woman Hood in Victorian Britain” written by Lynn Abrams, “A good and virtuous [woman’s] life revolved around the domestic sphere of the home and family” (Abrams 2). Moreover, “Her diligence and evident constant devotion to her husband… [was an] example to other women” (Abrams 2). This shows that in order to be a “virtuous woman” you had to be principled and follow society’s expectations and gender roles at the time which were giving all your attention and time to others instead of focusing on yourself. For this reason, women were usually limited to intelligence and often preferred to be ignorant to the world around them. “A Women’s Place in the 19th Victorian History” by Pauline Weston discusses important qualities of a Victorian woman which were, “…to be innocent, virtuous, dutiful and be ignorant of intellectual opinion” (Weston 1). In other words, a general woman was thought of as delicate and was underestimated. She was only to complete certain tasks which were marriage, playing instruments, singing, and speaking foreign languages, but she wasn’t allowed to be in male activities (Weston 1). As a matter of fact, women were viewed as unacceptable if they did not fit with societies expectations. They were not able to pursue what they desired nor did they have the independence and freedom to discover what they were capable of. Furthermore, the lack of individuality produced the idea of overall dependence. With this in mind, women had everything done for them. It came to the point where there were rules and guidelines on a woman’s treatment. Michele J. Hoppe, the author of “Courting the Victorian Woman” explains some
of the etiquette, “Coming out meant a young woman had completed her education and was on the marriage mart” (Hoppe 1). In addition, “A single girl was never allowed out of the house by herself…” (Hoppe 1). This points out that women were seen as property that were fragile and needed constant attention. The ideal Victorian woman was dependent on others and was incapable of being independent. She was seen as a delicate, ignorant, and naïve inferior in Victorian Britain both because of her gender and her confinement to the domestic aspect of her life.
Charlotte Bronte wrote Jane Eyre for many reasons and one important reason she wrote it was to express the gender inequality in the Victorian age. As stated earlier, there was a role and expectation for a woman at the time. This role was being fragile, innocent, quiet, naïve, and able to be controlled. Bronte did not fully agree with these expectations and she expresses them through her character, Jane Eyre. In the novel, Bronte uses Jane to illustrate a different type of woman, one that was not like the ideal Victorian gentlewoman. Jane is very independent in contrast to the ideal Victorian woman which depended on others for many things. Part of the reason why she is like that is because she was an orphan and was forced to find her way through life’s struggles as a woman. Through her experiences she gained a sense of self worth and independence that was not traditionally achieved. On page 365 Jane and Mr. Rochester are discussing how they would feel if she left him after finding out that he has another wife. Because Jane is independent and knows her self worth, she does not succumb to Mr. Rochester’s ideas of needing a master to be happy. She strongly asserts, “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unstained I am, the more I will respect myself” (Bronte 365). This is a powerful statement Jane chooses to make given her social class and gender yet she tells Mr. Rochester very clearly that she does not need him. She is and independent woman that can support herself and she proves it later on when she becomes a governess after reaching Moor House. Along with being very independent, she is very outspoken and she’s not afraid to speak her mind. While a normal “virtuous” Victorian woman would keep her opinion to herself, she chooses to voice her opinions because she knows it’s important. While discussing her love with Rochester, she does not lie to him about how she feels instead she fully expresses her feelings. “Do you think I am an automaton? — a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! — I have as much soul as you — and full as much heart!” (Bronte 292). She is crystal clear with her opinion and how she feels, in no way does she try to conceal it even though society categorized her as inferior to him. In like manner, Jane is very passionate and animated. Unlike the Victorian woman who was set up for courtship and marriage, Jane admired being free and able to do and say what she wanted. She wasn’t the typical Victorian woman and everyone around her knew it, that is why Rochester wanted to marry her, he confesses to Jane that she is different. “To women who please me only by their faces, I am the very devil when I find out they have neither souls nor hearts — when they open to me a perspective of flatness, triviality, and perhaps imbecility, coarseness, and ill-temper: but to the clear eye and eloquent tongue, to the soul made of fire, and the character that bends but does not break — at once supple and stable, tractable and consistent — I am ever tender and true” (Bronte 500). Mr. Rochester definitely is right when describing Jane. He says that her intriguing character is more important than a materialistic woman who only cares about superficial parts of life. Jane is not like this, she values her passion, individuality, education, loved ones, and herself. She has this fire and rage within her and Bronte chooses to show this through Bertha Mason Mr. Rochester’s other wife in the novel. Bertha represents Jane’s emotions, when Jane feels something inside it is Bertha who acts it out. Once Bertha dies in the fire which could symbolize Jane’s fire of passion, she is able to marry Mr. Rochester and give in to somewhat being similar to the Victorian woman. Nonetheless, she’s very passionate in everything she does and she’s full of life and fire that burns for more than the ideal Victorian woman’s ambitions.
Jane Eyre is very independent, outspoken, and passionate throughout the novel, qualities that would have seemed unacceptable in the Victorian age because women were dependent. ignorant, and dedicated to a domestic role. Bronte chose to create Jane differently because she wanted to prove to society that everything they didn’t want to accept and believe. Everyone was close minded while Jane was a match ready to be lit with the passion she gained based on her struggles and experiences. Bronte’s masterpiece, Jane Eyre, expressed the inequalities women faced and used Jane to show that a diverse, intelligent woman is capable of the ambitions she sets her mind to. Women and anyone for that matter should be whatever their heart, mind, and soul aspire to be and there should be no fear to deviate from society’s norms, but an eagerness to light the fire within them.