Jane Eyre: The Effect of a Patriarchal Society

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Recommended: Social norms and their consequences on society

Charlotte Brontë composed her novel Jane Eyre during the Victorian era; a period of history where Patriarchy set the expectations of men and women. The effect of this social system resulted in women suffering discrimination simply because of their gender. Sigmund Freud, in his essay entitled, “The Relation of the Poet to Day-Dreaming,” articulated that women were only capable of having erotic wishes dominate their “phantasies,” and even their ambitious “phantasies” were rooted in erotic wishes (177). The predominating thought concerning women during this era was that, due to their nature, longed to marry—tending to the needs of her household. Those who were not fortunate enough to marry (due to appearance or social status) were to become governesses. Ms. Brontë, through her protagonist Jane Eyre, clearly depicts the struggles of an indigent young woman who is forced into near slavery. This tale is articulated well by Adrienne Rich in her essay entitled, “Jane Eyre: The Temptations of a Motherless Woman,” when she states that Jane wants to “choose her life with dignity, integrity, and pride” (471). Even though Charlotte Brontë depicts a woman who will not be bound by the mores of her society, she is not so exuberant as to have her protagonist proclaim “I am woman, hear me roar.” The toning down of Jane’s demeanor can be attributed to satisfaction of the critics, but Brontë also expresses that the societal expectations, or the patriarchal rights of men, produced a similar negative effect on men. From John Reed and his self-righteous attitude, to Rochester’s internal battle in regards to the treatment of women, Charlotte Brontë demonstrates that sexism—inherent in a patriarchal society—has an adverse affect on both men and women.

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...iarchal right, he ended up squandering his inheritance and then committing suicide. The end result is simple. The effect of a patriarchal society, and sexism that is inherent, is that there is a negative result on both men and women. Patriarchal societies that discriminate against women simply because of their perceived weakness, is no more empowering of men as it is disenfranchises women.

Works Cited

Brontë, Charlotte. Jane Eyre, An Authoritative Text, Contexts, Criticism. Ed. Richard J. Dunn. W

W Norton & Co Inc., 2001. Print

Freud, Sigmund. “The Relation of the Poet to Day-Dreaming.” Collected Papers Vol IV. New

York: Basics Books, 1959. 173-183. Print.

Rich, Adrienne. “Jane Eyre: The Temptations of a Motherless Woman.” Jane Eyre, An

Authoritative Text, Contexts, Criticism. Ed. Richard J. Dunn. New York: W W Norton &

Co Inc., 2001. 469-83. Print.

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