Women and the Poor in Victorian England in Jane Eyre

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How does Bronte explore the position of women and the poor in

Victorian England throughout her novel Jane Eyre?

Jane Eyre was Charlotte Bronte’s first successful novel. Published in

1847, Bronte presents us with critique of Victorian assumptions

regarding social class and gender. Way ahead of its time, Charlotte

Bronte (or publicly none as Currer Bell), caused much commotion

critically. In her novel Bronte explores many issues of Victorian

society such as women’s stature both generally and amongst poor in the

19th century. She also explores patriarchal male domination, and the

segregation and unspoken restrictions between the different classes

and stations.

Society in Britain in the 19th century was very different to today’s

women had a very different role back then as education was limited,

there were certain ‘requirements’ of being a ‘lady’ such as playing

the piano, sewing, drawing and speaking French. Also at this time

there was allot of poverty in great Britain and although Bronte

doesn’t delve into it she does keep a constant fear over Jane’s mind

of slipping in to it, which could easily have had been done with out

her determination, “if she were to turn you off you would have to go

to the poorhouse”.

Bronte opens ‘Jane Eyre’ with the setting of a “cold winter” and uses

pathetic fallacy in the first opening paragraph to deposit a mood,

“clouds so somber, and a rain so penetrating” , portraying the

loneliness and bitterness Jane may be feeling as she goes on to

describe her current position. Bronte’s first hint of discrimination

between the social classes is in the second paragraph as she talks of

the nurse, Bessie “humbled by the consciousness of my [Jane] physical

inferiority to Eliza, John ...

... middle of paper ...

...ne Eyre was frustrated and felt

helpless but as she self-develops and takes opportunities as they

come. She wants to try and make a difference, to prove to herself and

others that she doesn’t have to be what society dictates. Bronte’s

attitude to the position of women was confrontational as shown by

Jane’s unique character and challenging thinking. Bronte explores the

various factors which influence women’s position in society; class is

the dominating one whilst beauty or lack of it can make a difference,

“if she were a nice, pretty child, one might compassionate her

forlornness”. A good education is also an influencing aspect on

women’s position as this is their only weapon against the patriarchal

society of Victorian England. Bronte’s views on women’s equality with

men is accepted in western society now, but at the time these thoughts

were very radical.

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