Comparing The Power Struggle In Fences And Jane Eyre

In Fences and Jane Eyre, the female characters within those works struggle to break away from men’s exertion of their power and the oppressed nature of their lives and gender due to the patriarchal society that the previous establishments have maintained. The male characters, fearful of losing their power, engender unnecessary strife, causing their respective potential or current counterparts to help repair the commotion the male characters have caused. In the end, the female characters do overcome the power struggle, but face a trade-off between continuing to satisfy (WHAT)? and sharing the struggle (WHAT?) The power struggle is not only permeated through scenes where the power struggle is directly addressed, but symbolized through the physical

Alberta, the girl involved in Troy’s extramarital affair, gives birth to a baby girl and dies during pregnancy. Having overcome with sympathy for the innocent infant, Rose becomes a surrogate mother for Alberta’s and Troy’s baby, Raynell. Such growth in responsibilities triggers Rose’s transformation “from a passive homemaker to an enraged woman” (Shannon 4). The “homemaker” that Rose embodied symbolizes submission and suppression. Rose sacrifices her power to comfort her family and above all, Troy. Troy, due to Rose’s submission, remains stagnant in his belief that he is infallible and allowed to hold his responsibilities off for ephemeral gratifications. Rose, initially, bears the most weight because she has to intake Troy’s attitude of superiority, originated from his inability to overcome his vocational shortcomings, and transform such negative synergy into motherhood to not only Cory, but Lyons, Raynell, and Gabe. Rose is simply consumed by her obligations, and she is simply not given the luxury and time to exercise her power. Rose’s passive nature toward her marriage and family cracks, and her withheld desire to exert power over Troy erupts because she could no longer hold the burdens of both her obligations as a submissive partner and a family caretaker. Like Troy, Rose remained stagnant. However, she now is enraged and welcomes change. By becoming a surrogate mother

Her position as a housekeeper and Adele’s private tutor places her at an inferior position in terms of the social caste implemented and continued by patriarchal society. Despite Jane’s lower social status and her gender, she resists of Rochester’s attempt to exert power over her, and such attempts of resistance intensify the power struggle even more. Rochester’s superiority eventually breaks through the consequences of his past beliefs. Rochester’s first effort to demonstrate his power is emphasized by Rochester’s implied claim that Jane is “not fond of presents” (Bronte, Chapter 13). His rather insulting claim toward Jane correctly hypothesizes her societal powerlessness and insecurity that go hand in hand with a position as housekeeper. However, Jane coolly accepts Rochester’s claim and counterclaims that she cannot give her definite opinion on “presents” due to fear that her answer is not yet “worthy” enough (Bronte, Chapter 13). By maintaining that Rochester’s superiority upon Jane, Jane adopts a sardonic tone and mocks Rochester’s haughty and condescending attitude, designed increase his power upon Jane. Retorting Rochester’s claim also gives Jane a medium of resistance, for she is not yet strong enough and restricted by her gender to physically resist Rochester.