How Does Bronte Present Gender In Jane Eyre

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The novel Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Brontë, follows the emotions and experiences of its Jane Eyre, including her growth to adulthood and her love for Mr. Rochester. In its internalisation of the action the focus is on the gradual unfolding of Jane's moral and spiritual sensibility, and all the events are coloured by a heightened intensity. Throughout the novel characters are portrayed in many different ways one of them being their genders and what roles they carry.

Brontë portrays female characters as women who are not equal to men, work at home, are either a governess, are gorgeous (all but Jane) and are completely submissive towards their husbands. This type of behaviour can be most seen in Bertha Manson. Even though …show more content…

This type of behaviour can be most seen in St. John, a parish minister with lofty ambitions. He hopes to become a missionary in the most unforgiving regions of the British Empire, spread the light of Christianity in the globe's darkest corners and make Jane his missionary wife. He is a devoted christian in search of a wife who is ready to control and provide a life for her. St. John is speaking to Jane when he explains to her that “ God and nature intended you for a missionary's wife. It is not personal, but mental endowments they have given you: you are formed for labour, not for love. A missionary's wife you must - shall be. You shall be mine: I claim you - not for my pleasure, but for my Sovereign's service” ( Brontë page number). St. John makes this statement as he attempts to convince Jane to marry him and become a missionary in India. St. John's declaration that Jane is formed for "labour, not for love" emphasizes his belief that love and passion have no place in a moral life. St. John's argument of ownership also highlights his view of Jane as a subservient companion, not a woman with independent thoughts. Although Jane approves of St. John's morality, she is unwilling to sacrifice love to become the kind of woman that St. John wants her to be. St. John believes just because he's a man he can force Jane into something like marriage. As the reader has previously learned Jane goes against the norm of this era and chooses to not marry to be content in love but wants to marry to be

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