The Elements of Feminism in Jane Eyre

 

Bronte has highlighted gender inequality in the Victorian era throughout the story of Jane Eyre. The novel unveils social malpractice: the subordination of women. This thesis explores the status of women through the character of Jane Eyre in that oppressive age, especially for women. It exposes the inferior position of females compared to that of males, the absence of independency for Victorian women, in addition to inequality of education for women. Jane Eyre, based on the story, as the main character of the novel is described as an autonomous, intelligent, and plain woman. It supports her in establishing her notion and opinion towards the gender inequalities in the Victorian era and how they should behave and be in that time. In this case, most of Jane’s refusal of the gender inequalities in the Victorian era can be broadly divided into three categories: Firstly, her refusal against the subordination of women, secondly, the negative stereotyping of women and last but not least, her refusal against the violence on women. The point of significance here is that most of her rejections towards the gender inequalities in the Victorian era have various aspects i.e. Women must be independent, they should not be hypersensitive, extremely narcissistic and excessively self-indulgent, women must have an equal education, they should not be inferior to men and also they should not be treated as an object of property. They must be treated equally to men. These aspects sound like a manifesto of what is perceived as liberal feminism. Keeping these aspects in mind, the thesis presents a detailed account of Jane’s refusal of gender inequalities as under:

1. Jane’s Refusal of the Subordination of Women:
One of the ways Jane manifests her rejection of the gender inequalities found in the novel is her refusal of the subordination of women. This has been further elaborated in the following headings:
a. Women must Have Equal Education:
One of the most significant having the same perception towards liberal feminist thought by Marry Wollstonecraft is the depiction of Bronte that Jane refuses the subordination of women who have no equal education rights. In the Moor’s house, Jane does not mind at all when St. John offers her to open a school for girls. More, St. John says that there is no school for girls of the poor in Morton and that he has established one for boys and now he is going to open another for girls (Jane Eyre, 428). Thus, she takes the offer quite enthusiastically, though she has to be the only teacher to educate, and gets a little salary. Definitely, Jane feels happy and enjoys teaching the poor girls so that they may become equal in education to the rich and in doing so she continued her work with loyalty and enthusiasm as possible. In fact, it was not an easy job in the beginning but with the passage of time she becomes familiar with her task and her hard work and efforts bring its fruits and she gradually starts understanding the nature and temperament of the students. Some of the students seemed to be hopelessly dull. But there were some intelligent students among them and many of them were obliging and amiable too. Jane personally starts liking some of the outstanding girls among her students and they also begin to like her. Their parents especially showed great regard for Jane and she was happy to reciprocate their feelings. After some time Jane felt that she had become quite a favorite of the people of the neighborhood. Whenever she went out she received salutes and welcomes with smiles that were friendly and from the core of her heart.
Here is the passage from the novel that proves the above statements:
She says that she continued the labors of the village school as actively and faithfully as she could. It was truly hard work at first. Some time elapsed before, with all her efforts, she could comprehend her scholars and their nature. Wholly untaught, with faculties quite torpid, they seemed to her hopelessly dull; and, at first sight, all dull alike: but she soon found she was mistaken. There was a difference between them as amongst the educated; and when she got to know them, and they know her, this difference rapidly developed itself. Their amazement at her, her language, her rules, and ways, once subsided, she found some of these heavy-looking, gaping rustics wake up into sharp-witted girls enough. Many showed themselves obliging and amiable too, and she discovered amongst them not a few examples of natural politeness, and innate self-respect, as well as excellent capacity, that won both her goodwill and her admiration (Jane Eyre, 448).
Jane’s refusal against “women have no equal education” strongly and clearly implies her struggle to get equal education for women. It is just in accordance with liberal feminist thought brought by Mary that women can be equal to men when they have an equal education. It seems quite sensible and justified because education is the key tool to improve the position of women in society and the means to ultimately throw away male dominancy and to make their way towards equality and independence.
b. Women Must Be Independent:
In the novel Jane Eyre, Bronte portrays Jane as a woman who refuses to be dependent on others. Many such pieces of evidence in the concerned narrative are obvious either through her opinion stated or her attitudes acted. For instance, Jane’s autonomy is actually quite obvious from the very experiences of her childhood at Gateshead under the unkindness of Her Aunt Reed. She does not show affection and love for young Jane and wants to keep a sort of authority over her mind and soul. Jane’s punishment by her aunt by locking her in the Red Room makes obvious one of the central characteristics of her personality which is the desire to live with dignity. Jane considers her Aunt Reed treating her injustice and she declares to her Aunt that she cannot live in this unloving environment. Indeed, in delivering her opinion, Jane is described as a woman having the autonomy of conveying her own thoughts. Thus, she has the courage of criticizing her male cousin; St. John for expressing his feelings toward the girl he loves named Mrs. Oliver "You tremble and become flushed whenever Miss Oliver enters the schoolroom." This was very surprising for her cousin because it was something unimaginable for him that a woman can also speak like this to a man. She further says that for her it is a normal sort of discourse in which she used to feel quite at home. How she developed herself is quite cleared from her words as she puts it, “I could never rest in communication with strong, discreet, and refined minds, whether male or female, till I had passed the outworks of conventional reserve, and crossed the threshold of confidence, and won a place by their heart's very hearthstone” (Jane Eyre, 458-459).
This courage and the strength of mind Jane begins with Mr.Brocklehurst but is further developed as a result of her interpersonal interactions at Low wood school.  There she gets acquainted with a woman whose tendencies and feminist attitudes influence her thinking of Jane and who teaches the students with kindness and affection and the love that exists in her world. This influential figure for Jane is Miss Temple; a young girl with an independent soul and free spirit that has given her the ability to develop intellectual open-mindedness.  She is ambitious, advanced thinking, single, and more importantly a successful teacher as well. She has the courage to stand in front of Mr. Brocklehurst, a respectable male figure which was not an easily accomplishable task for a woman of her position. Miss Temple becomes Jane’s first role model as a female that inculcates in her positively the spirit of dignity and independence. It is an undeniable fact that Jane seeks not merely romantic love and affection, but she also desires a sense of being appreciated, valued, and a sense of belonging.
What Jane says to Helen Burns is quite illuminating in this regard:
"No; I know I should think well of myself, but that is not enough: if others don't love me I would rather die than life--I cannot bear to be solitary and hated, Helen. Look here; to gain some real affection from you, or Miss Temple, or any other whom I truly love, I would willingly submit to have the bone of my arm broken, or to let a bull toss me, or to stand behind a kicking horse, and let it dash its hoof at my chest-- (Jane Eyre, 78).”
However, over the passages of the novel, Bronte portrays that the protagonist has to learn how she can get love and affection without harming herself and giving sacrifice in doing or in the process. Thus, in searching for true love, she does not want to be driven by others she wants to have her identity and weapon of right to go through with it. In other words, she believes that though she is a woman, she has every right and autonomy to make her own choices and her own decisions. Here is what Jane says to herself in exploring her own opinion without being driven by others:
“Meantime, let me ask myself one question--Which is better?—To have surrendered to temptation; listened to passion; made no painful effort-- no struggle;--but to have sunk down in the silken snare; fallen asleep on the flowers covering it; wakened in a southern clime, amongst the luxuries of a pleasure villa: to have been now living in France, Mr. Rochester's mistress; or to be a village schoolmistress, free and honest, in a breezy mountain nook in the healthy heart of England? Yes; I feel now that I was right when I adhered to principle and law, and scorned and crushed the insane promptings of a frenzied moment. God directed me to a correct choice: I thank His providence for the guidance! (Jane Eyre, 441).”
Through the passage above, it is clear that she really has the autonomy to determine her own life for which she passed many obstacles. She prefers going out from the Thorn field away from her master, to become the mistress of Mr. Rochester. Indeed, the fear of not losing her freedom and autonomy prompts her to reject the proposal of marriage from Mr.Rochester. Jane thinks that to get married to Mr. Rochester while he already has Bertha as his legal wife would simply mean rendering herself to become a mistress to him and thus sacrificing his own integrity merely to get emotionally gratified. In contrast to this, her life at Moor House presents a very different picture of the protagonist. At this place, she is not only economically independent but also enjoys and engages herself in a useful and honorable responsibility and duty to teach the young poor girls of the village. The only undesirable aspect of her stay at Moor House is her lack of emotional fulfillment of her. Here to mention the fact that though St. John offers a marriage proposal to her that sounds and seems more like a purpose-based partnership which in Jane's view it would be a marriage devoid of any love or personal liking and thus a kind of loveless relationship. However, the stay Jane and the events that happen here are what put to test their autonomy of Jane. It can be seen in the novel that it is after being self-sufficient and independent that she does not mind marrying Rochester because she now no more remains inequitably dependent and relied upon him as her master. Marriage can be based on equality between two people.
The same point is made as such; Jane says that she knows what it is to live entirely for and also she knows what to love best on earth. In her words,
“I hold myself supremely blest-blest beyond what language can express; because I am my husband's life as fully as he is mine. No woman was ever nearer to her mate than I am: ever more absolutely bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. I know no weariness of my Edward's society: he knows none of mine, any more than we each do of the pulsation of the heart that beats in our separate bosoms; consequently, we are ever together.” She further adds, “To be together is for us to be at once as free as in solitude, as gay as in company. We talk, I believe, all day long: to talk to each other is, but more animated and audible thinking. All my confidence is bestowed on him, all his confidence is devoted to me; we are precisely suited in character--perfect concord is the result (Jane Eyre, 549)”
Through Jane’s act and attitude, the author tries to convey a significant point that what she did is a form of her refusal towards gender inequalities which have been rooted around. Through the character of Jane, the writer can read that she wants to have equality not become inferior to men.
c. Women should not be Inferior to Men
This third refusal which is in harmony with the liberal feminist’s thought is that the main character rejects the domination of the man, or in another word, she considers man equal to woman. In the Victorian era which is depicted in the novel, the patriarchal system was very strong. From their efforts of Jane, it becomes quite obvious that she declares and develops an identity of her own within a society that is dominated by men. There are three main male characters in the novel namely Mr.Rochester, St. John and Brocklehurst each of them tries to keep Jane subordinated and under their control and try to keep her from expressing her own feelings and thoughts. Among them, St. John is straight away rejected by Jane. She also successfully avoids Brocklehurst by escaping from him. Although Mr.Rochester is successful in marrying Jane towards the end of the novel it becomes possible only after she makes sure that now they are equal and consequently their marriage is one between equals.  Through the character of Jane, Charlotte Bronte has tried to refute women stereotypes during the Victorian age and this is how articulates her own philosophy of feminism:  Three of the main male characters, Brocklehurst, Mr. Rochester, and St. John, try to keep Jane in a subordinate position and prevent her from expressing her own thoughts and feelings. Jane escapes Brocklehurst and rejects St. John, and she only marries Mr. Rochester once she is sure that their marriage is one between equals. Through Jane, Bronte refutes Victorian stereotypes about women, articulating her own feminist philosophy:
“Women are supposed to be 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; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex (Jane Eyre, 128).”
Mr. Rochester projects himself as a dominant male figure at Thorn field where he demands full attention from servants that include Jane as well. He is the kind of person who wants and insists on being dominant in all aspects of life. In order to project make him superior he needs to be recognized for that.  Jane to some extent accepts his control and it can be acknowledged from the fact that she calls Mr.Rochester, “sir” even when they begin to get intimate with each other. She goes so far that she begs his permission and excuse in order to think for herself. She says, “I was thinking, sir (you will excuse the idea; it was involuntary), I was thinking of Hercules and Samson with their charmers-" (Jane Eyre, 312).
The irony in Jane's tone can be taken as a kind of displeasure at full dominance and complete superiority in their affairs and relationships. Furthermore, the rejection of inequality between men and women is clearly visible in her conversation with Edward Rochester. that Jane Eyre rejects the inequality between man and woman is clearly able to be seen through her conversation of hers with Mr. Rochester which is as under:
“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! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh;--it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal,--as we are! (Jane Eyre, 313).”
The above passage, it reveals the concept of liberal feminism that there must be equality between men and women instead of male dominancy or gender inequality.
2. Jane’s Refusal against Negative Stereotypes of Women:
One of Jane’s rejections against the manifestation of gender inequalities found in the novel is that her refusal of negative stereotypes of women. They are just in accordance with Mary's struggle, i.e. that women should not be perceived as weak and fragile, objects, or property.
a. Women Should Not Be Perceived as Weak and Fragile:
The last refusal of the main character exposed by Bronte through her novel is that she refuses to be considered weak and fragile.
Jane always comes across many troubles and hardships in life which very well put her integrity and spirit into scrutiny to test it. She severely dislikes and rejects a pre-determined life of her by someone else for her and stays strong to every difficulty that comes in her life. That truly tested her spirit and integrity. Through the character of Jane Eyre Bronte has attempted to give the readers a medium that provides them with the opportunity to experience the helplessness and suffering of situations similar to that of Jane. Moreover, the first-person narrative gives the reader the chance to closely relate and associate themselves with the character of Jane, her achievements, and her adversities which is an example of the struggle of women. 
Instead of being spoiled as a child in general there is shown a glimpse of her character and personality at the age of ten only. Facing much resentment and evil in the Reed house, Jane cannot be disgraced much longer, at least without saying something about it, and confronts Mrs.Reed and says that  is not deceitful if it was so she should say she loved Mrs. Reed; but Jane declares she does not love her instead she dislikes her the worst of anybody save John Reed and she says to her, “this book about the liar, you may give to your girl Georgiana, for it is she who tells lies, and not I (Jane Eyre, 49).”
In the same stance, the toughness and passion of Jane are portrayed in order to show what she thinks is right in standing for herself as she put it like this, “Further portraying Jane's passion and toughness is what she thought right before standing up for herself as she asserts, “Speak I must: I had been trodden on severely, and must turn: but how? What strength had I to dart retaliation at my antagonist? I gathered my energies and launched them in this blunt sentence (Jane Eyre, 36).”
This can be taken as a significant turning point in the life of Jane; which has long-lasting effects on her entire life to prove the point that she is not weak like ordinary women. Jane feels overpowered by constantly keep taking her revenge on Mrs. Reed. As she said that before she had completed this reply, her soul starts expanding, to exult, with the strangest sense of freedom, of triumph, that she ever felt (Jane Eyre, 37).
It fills Jane with a sense of courage and confidence in her own self to go out and do what she wishes to do. She stands up for her own self and directly deals with fear and in doing gets the fortitude and strength which is needed for her to face the hardships that are coming in her life. She raises herself with a natural habit to enquire about authority and develops a tough and freedom-loving mentality. She never surrenders to anyone and also knew the suffering and oppression that she was subjected to as well as the people that were doing so with her. When Helen requests her to keep down her impulsive attitude and make herself obedient to the rules of the school and obey god as well, without questioning, Jane thinks to herself that  she could not understand this notion of endurance; and still, less could she understand or sympathize with the forbearance she expressed for her chastiser (Jane Eyre, 61).”
            Along somehow similar lines when Helen continuously preaches to her to love her enemies and to avoid people who victimize her she replies in these words:  “But I feel this, Helen: I must dislike those who, whatever I do to please them, persist in disliking me; I must resist those who punish me unjustly. It is natural as that I should love those who show me affection, or submit to punishment when I feel it is deserved (Jane Eyre, 75).”
This is not only insightful but also shows a considerable amount of moral strength on the part of the protagonist, particularly at such a young age. Jane again faces hardship in her relationship with Rochester. When it is finally known that Rochester already had a wife, she insisted on going away than staying with him. She didn’t want to be considered fragile and weak by Rochester by remaining to stay with him and is considered a good friend. Still, she convinced him that she would be all fine though she lived away from her. Therefore, she finally left Thorn field with a little food and only twenty shillings with her. Here is the depiction of her escaping.
"My daughter, flee temptation." "Mother, I will." So I answered after I had waked from the trance-like dream. It was yet night, but July nights are short: soon after midnight, dawn comes. "It cannot be too early to commence the task I have to fulfill," thought I. I rose: I was dressed; for I had taken off nothing but my shoes. I knew where to find in my drawers some linen, a locket, a ring. In seeking these articles, I encountered the beads of a pearl necklace Mr. Rochester had forced me to accept a few days ago. I left that; it was not mine: it was the visionary bride who had melted in the air. The other articles I made up in a parcel; my purse, containing twenty shillings (it was all I had), I put in my pocket: I tied on my straw bonnet, pinned my shawl, took the parcel and my slippers, which I would not put on yet, and stole from my room. (Jane Eyre, 393-394)
          She prefers to live her life with many essential needs and leaving each and every thing and try to be an independent lady. Almost she was on the verge to be flown but never let her within with it to surrender.
b. Women Should Not Be Perceived as Object or Property
One of their actions Jane that most explicitly establishes her role as a liberal feminist is the refusal against the stereotypes of women being considered an object or property. For instance, it can be witnessed in her attitude toward Mr. Rochester who attempts to give her expensive jewels and garments at her wedding. In this connection she says that the more he bought for her, the more her cheeks burned with a sense of annoyance and degradation (Jane Eyre, 236). Her annoyance and unwillingness, if it is objectified strongly, indicates that Jane is never in favor of defining herself as either an object or property. Indeed, it has been common that being a lady of an upper class, in a view of Rochester that a woman will have very excellent dressed and full of jewels as the complexion of her beauty. Thus, Mr. Rochester is too enthusiastic about telling Jane, that he will get the jewel and fine clothes to replace the old ones. Still, Jane refuses of being given. As has been revealed in these passages: She says to Mr. Rochester that Oh, sir!--never rain jewels and that she does not like to hear them spoken of. Jewels for Jane Eyre sounds unnatural and strange and she would rather not have them.
Similarly, there are other extracts from the text that further make the point clear as follows:
When Mr. Rochester says that he himself will put the diamond chain round her neck, and the circlet on her forehead,--which it will become: for nature, at least, has stamped her patent of nobility on this brow, Jane; and he himself will clasp the bracelets on these fine wrists, and load these fairy-like fingers with rings. She responds in these words, she says, “No, no, sir! Think of other subjects, and speak of other things and in another strain (Jane Eyre, 320)”.
She reflects on what she felt inside her thus:
“The hour spent at Millcote was a somewhat harassing one to me. Mr. Rochester obliged me to go to a certain silk warehouse: there I was ordered to choose half-a-dozen dresses. I hated the business; I begged leave to defer it: no--it should be gone through with now. By dint of entreaties expressed in energetic whispers, I reduced the half-dozen to two: these, however, he vowed he would select himself. With anxiety I watched his eye rove over the gay stores. I told him in a new series of whispers, that he might as well buy me a gold gown and a silver bonnet at once: I should certainly never venture to wear his choice. The more he bought me, the more my cheek burned with a sense of annoyance and degradation. …if I had ever so small an independency; I never can bear being dressed like a doll by Mr. Rochester, or sitting like a second Danae with the golden shower falling daily round me (Jane Eyre, 331,332).”
Jane's rejection is quite obvious from the fact that when she is dressed in fine attire on the part of Rochester, she shows her revulsion and feels as if she was a toy doll to be played with at the hands of Rochester. She is frightened of being objectified by him and she is fearful that Rochester does not consider her as a human being having her own feelings and thoughts, instead, he sees her as simply a thing to be played with and designs her according to her dreams and fantasies, and impulses. In another sense, through the novel, it can be seen that Jane Eyre hated to be spoiled as well as a baby or thing that is valuable. Since she is the kind of girl who is independent and simple, very plain to be exactly, she even does not want to be called an angel by Rochester. Here are the passages to prove it.
"You shall sojourn at Paris, Rome, and Naples: at Florence, Venice, and Vienna: all the ground I have wandered over shall be re-trodden by you: wherever I stamped my hoof, your sylph's foot shall step also. Ten years since, I flew through Europe half mad; with disgust, hate, and rage as my companions: now I shall revisit it healed and cleansed, with a very angel as my comforter." I laughed at him as he said this. "I am not an angel," I asserted; "and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself. Mr. Rochester, you must neither expect nor exact anything celestial of me--for you will not get it, any more than I shall get it of you: which I do not at all anticipate(Jane Eyre, 321).”
c. Women Should Not Have Hypersensitivity, Extreme Narcissism, And Excessive Self-Indulgence:
The third refusal of Jane being in accordance with the concept of liberal feminism stated by Mary takes place when she rejects the hypersensitivity, extreme narcissism, and excessive self-indulgence stuck on women in general in the Victorian era. The attitude of Jane described by Bronte shows that she is very antipathetic toward the act of narcissism like most Victorian women do. Jane is a modest woman who always dresses in simple and un-excessive clothes. She hates to behave like a Victorian woman in general that tends to have glamour appearances to brag. It is proven when she is offered by her husband-to-be, Mr. Rochester, plenty of jewels but she rejects them overtly. Here is what her opinions about being a narcissist make her feel ill as such: she says that oh, sir!--never rain jewels! She does not like to hear them spoken of because Jewels for Jane Eyre sounds unnatural and strange and she would rather not have them (Jane Eyre, 320).
While spending her leisure time, Jane likes to make use of it with valuable activities. She likes to occupy herself with positive ones like drawing, and teaching, instead of having parties and idle time like Victorian women in general. Indeed, when once she has nothing to do, she becomes uncomfortable going through her days, as has been revealed as such when she says that she seeks and needs it so far, sir, that some true philanthropist will put her in the way of getting work which she can do, and the remuneration for which will keep her, if but in the barest necessaries of life (Jane Eyre, 426).  She further says, "I do: I have already said so. Show me how to work, or how to seek work: that is all I now ask; then let me go if it is but to the meanest cottage; but till then, allow me to stay here: I dread another essay of the horrors of homeless destitution (Jane Eyre, 428).”
Through the passages above, the writer thinks that Jane is a real model of an individual with a strong character and attitude. She always speaks with confidence and courage which indicates that she is not willing to be considered inferior or someone unimportant.
3. Jane’s Refusal against Women’s Violence:
Jane's denial of violence against women starts from an early age. When she lived with her aunt, Mrs. Reed, she used to be treated harshly. She experienced being abused by all the family members of her aunt, especially, her cousin named John. The following passages are evidence of Jane’s experience of being treated badly. John had not much affection for his mother and sisters, and antipathy for me.
“He bullied and punished me; not two or three times in the week, nor once or twice in the day, but continually: every nerve I had feared him, and every morsel of flesh in my bones shrank when he came near. There were moments when I was bewildered by the terror he inspired, because I had no appeal whatever against either his menaces or his inflictions; the servants did not like to offend their young master by taking my part against him, and Mrs. Reed was blind and deaf on the subject: she never saw him strike or heard him abuse me, though he did both now and then in her very presence, more frequently, however, behind her back (Jane Eyre, 17)”
Still, Jane was never afraid of opposing her cousin as the form of her refusal that she is also able to fight, to be strong as a man, while she is treated unwell. From an early age, Jane already has a strong character of becoming a girl with a tough attitude and principles. She always speaks with no fear to confront the rough treatment done by her aunt and cousins. Here is the evidence in these lines below:
I did so, not at first aware what was his intention; but when I saw him lift and poise the book and stand in act to hurl it, I instinctively started aside with a cry of alarm: not soon enough, however; the volume was flung, it hit me, and I fell, striking my head against the door and cutting it. The cut bled, and the pain was sharp: my terror had passed its climax; other feelings succeeded. "Wicked and cruel boy!" I said. "You are like a murderer--you are like a slave-driver--you are like the Roman emperors! (Jane Eyre, 18).
The refusal Jane’s towards gender inequalities manifesting in the violence on women is that she does not like at all to see how cruel Mr. Rochester due to putting her wife in an asylum. She expresses her aversion freely to her master, Mr. Rochester if she hates seeing him treat her wife like a wild animal by imprisoning her.