Introduction
The Victorian era, where Jane Eyre takes place, was known for it's high standards and the need to be presentable and proper. Jane has a lot of conflicts with these standards. She conforms, but only to be successful in life, she still disagrees with the road that has been pre-set for her. Jane only conforms so that she is acceptable enough for her voice to be heard.
Fashion was a big part of a Victorian life and most of it was directed towards women. The image to the left illustrates the high demand fashion trends in the Victorian era, including: tight corsets, large cumbersome hats, over exaggerated shoulder pads, an overall demanding style. These social norms where unnecessary and put unneeded stress on Victorian era women. Tight corsets among other clothing practices also misshaped and harmed the woman's body or health by adding large amounts of extra pressure to their torso.
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In the Victorian era, men and women based their relations on the
demanding society that was present at the time. Qualities that were not desired
by society would be disregarded and dismissed as unsuitable, making behavior in
this era very strict and gender stereotypical. Women had a particularly strict
way of life during the Victorian era. The main role in a woman's life is to
marry and take part of their husbands' life, to take on their husband's
interests and business. They live false lives and have false interests to
satisfy the Victorian way of living. Women were looked at as innocent and were
expected to keep this image and live very subtle lives, making little change in
the workforce and society. Jane disagrees with many of these gender roles and
believes that she needs to be who she is and not who society wants her to
be.
demanding society that was present at the time. Qualities that were not desired
by society would be disregarded and dismissed as unsuitable, making behavior in
this era very strict and gender stereotypical. Women had a particularly strict
way of life during the Victorian era. The main role in a woman's life is to
marry and take part of their husbands' life, to take on their husband's
interests and business. They live false lives and have false interests to
satisfy the Victorian way of living. Women were looked at as innocent and were
expected to keep this image and live very subtle lives, making little change in
the workforce and society. Jane disagrees with many of these gender roles and
believes that she needs to be who she is and not who society wants her to
be.
The traditional Victorian woman would do things because it was what she
should do or because it was encouraged. They didn't express their own opinion if
it didn't follow the social norm. Most women, when it came to marriage, would
mainly marry for money. They didn't marry their husband because of love, but
rather, for wealth. The traditional Victorian women, when it came to how they
acted, was very proper, spoke to please, and didn't say what they thought. Most
Victorian women highly valued fashion and if they had the money, would create
an extravagant wardrobe with fancy clothes and glamorous jewels. The education
that a typical woman had was based on being the perfect woman and the perfect
wife. They had a minimal education unless they were going to be a governess and
work for a man of high power. It was unacceptable for a governess to marry
their master because it was frowned upon by society. Traditional Victorian
women would work in the house, clean, cook, and be a mother, it was uncommon
for a woman to travel. Her duties were at the home, while her husband was
usually the one working and making money for the
family.
should do or because it was encouraged. They didn't express their own opinion if
it didn't follow the social norm. Most women, when it came to marriage, would
mainly marry for money. They didn't marry their husband because of love, but
rather, for wealth. The traditional Victorian women, when it came to how they
acted, was very proper, spoke to please, and didn't say what they thought. Most
Victorian women highly valued fashion and if they had the money, would create
an extravagant wardrobe with fancy clothes and glamorous jewels. The education
that a typical woman had was based on being the perfect woman and the perfect
wife. They had a minimal education unless they were going to be a governess and
work for a man of high power. It was unacceptable for a governess to marry
their master because it was frowned upon by society. Traditional Victorian
women would work in the house, clean, cook, and be a mother, it was uncommon
for a woman to travel. Her duties were at the home, while her husband was
usually the one working and making money for the
family.
Jane's distaste for the lavish material objects that were so very present in her time may have sprung from the fact that she never had a taste of it, so she never cared for more. With the Reed's she was shut away, and at Lowood nothing was extravagant, so by the time she was out on her own, she knew of nothing more that the simple materials of life. Blanche Ingram is Brontë's way of expressing a polar opposite of Jane. Miss Ingram has money, she is attractive, she has fancy clothes, and men love her. Jane, however, does not have any of these things, and while she is slightly jealous of Miss Ingram because she has the attention of Mr. Rochester, it never gets the better of her. Jane Eyre had simple upbringing, so therefore she carried on with a simple life. This is what makes her appealing to St. John who, although he loves Rosamond, refuses to marry her because she is not fitting for a man who is destined for a life of doing God's work. Jane is not frivolous or demanding of a higher lifestyle, she lives with what she can get, and is grateful for that.
Throughout the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, the protagonist (Jane Eyre) is
a woman fighting for her rights in a time where they believed that she, as a
woman and a governess, did not deserve any. Jane has to disregard societies
ideas of a perfect woman to gain respect as a human. Jane's idea of equality is
not too extreme by today's society but by the standards of the Victorian era she
was viewed as very liberal which caused more discrimination. Throughout the
novel Jane faces multiple challenges caused by the opposition of her opinions
and the Victorian era's ideas of feminine behavior. This starts at a young age
when Jane is sent to a behavioral school and later on in life when she is
expected to be submissive and conform to male figures in her life. Jane is not
free from these struggles for most of the story and only finds acceptance from
Mr. Rochester during the later moments of there relations. Jane is an example
of someone having an idea that was before her time, her thought were not wrong
but they did not fit the social norms set on the society of the Victorian era. She believes
is Equality that in some ways are not present in today's society
a woman fighting for her rights in a time where they believed that she, as a
woman and a governess, did not deserve any. Jane has to disregard societies
ideas of a perfect woman to gain respect as a human. Jane's idea of equality is
not too extreme by today's society but by the standards of the Victorian era she
was viewed as very liberal which caused more discrimination. Throughout the
novel Jane faces multiple challenges caused by the opposition of her opinions
and the Victorian era's ideas of feminine behavior. This starts at a young age
when Jane is sent to a behavioral school and later on in life when she is
expected to be submissive and conform to male figures in her life. Jane is not
free from these struggles for most of the story and only finds acceptance from
Mr. Rochester during the later moments of there relations. Jane is an example
of someone having an idea that was before her time, her thought were not wrong
but they did not fit the social norms set on the society of the Victorian era. She believes
is Equality that in some ways are not present in today's society
The idea of pushing aside her personal opinions
for a man is not suitable for Jane Eyre. Jane, being independent and headstrong
like she is, hates to be controlled. People argue that in the end of Jane Eyre
she does conform to the expected roles and stereotypes, but why would Jane spend
her entire life trying to be her own person just to give in at the end. Jane saw
Mr. Rochester as her equal when she came upon her inheritance and when he needed
her to take care of him instead of the other way around. Jane goes through a lot
being her own person, especially at Lowood. Women in the Victorian era weren't
meant to express their own opinions, but to hold the thoughts of their husbands
instead. Mr. Rochester encourages Jane to share her thoughts with him, but only
when they’re alone. Jane marries Rochester because now they are of equal social rank. In the Victorian era it was not a social norm for men to marry women that were not of their class, frowned upon even. The rich became richer, and the poor stayed where they are.
for a man is not suitable for Jane Eyre. Jane, being independent and headstrong
like she is, hates to be controlled. People argue that in the end of Jane Eyre
she does conform to the expected roles and stereotypes, but why would Jane spend
her entire life trying to be her own person just to give in at the end. Jane saw
Mr. Rochester as her equal when she came upon her inheritance and when he needed
her to take care of him instead of the other way around. Jane goes through a lot
being her own person, especially at Lowood. Women in the Victorian era weren't
meant to express their own opinions, but to hold the thoughts of their husbands
instead. Mr. Rochester encourages Jane to share her thoughts with him, but only
when they’re alone. Jane marries Rochester because now they are of equal social rank. In the Victorian era it was not a social norm for men to marry women that were not of their class, frowned upon even. The rich became richer, and the poor stayed where they are.
“Strength, and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth
her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh
well to the ways of her household; and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her
children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth
her.”— Proverbs,
xxxi. 25–28.
her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh
well to the ways of her household; and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her
children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth
her.”— Proverbs,
xxxi. 25–28.
Brontë's ending for Jane Eyre seems ideal for every Victorian woman, and even Diana and Mary Rivers find their happily ever after once they marry, but one cannot ignore the entire story before she marries Rochester. Jane did everything for herself, she was dependant on no man. Once she was gone from the care of Mrs. Reed, she was in charge of herself. Jane Eyre is an independant woman, and only once she is comfortable with herself and her status that she worked hard for does she settle down. Jane Eyre, in a sense, does conform to the ways of the social norm for Victorian women, but not in the ways one might think. Jane does not have Rochester lavish her with expensive clothes and jewellery, she has no taste for such things. She is educated and opinionated, and she refuses to be silenced by men who feel they have more power over her simply because they are men.
Links
http://www.fashion-era.com/a_womans_place.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/victorian_britain/women_home/ideals_womanhood_01.shtml
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130726015901AArHRid
http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/bronte/cbronte/ripple16.html
https://wiki.uiowa.edu/display/vicwik/Charlotte+Bronte%2c+Jane+Eyre
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070816124832AA134Dq
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/janeeyre/characters.html#2
http://www.literary-liaisons.com/article009.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/victorian_britain/women_home/ideals_womanhood_01.shtml
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130726015901AArHRid
http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/bronte/cbronte/ripple16.html
https://wiki.uiowa.edu/display/vicwik/Charlotte+Bronte%2c+Jane+Eyre
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070816124832AA134Dq
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/janeeyre/characters.html#2
http://www.literary-liaisons.com/article009.html