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Charlotte Brontë

Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre was published under her pen name Currer Bell in 1847, which was a period when women were still oppressed, had no rights nor were respected among men. The publication caused both high acclaim and harsh criticism because of how the author dealt with the topic of sexuality. In the infamous Elizabeth Rigby’s review of Jane Eyre is even suggested that if the book was written by a woman “she would forfeited the society of her own sex.” The puritan Victorian readership criticized the author’s sex, suggesting that such behaviour is not appropriate for a woman, female character of even a female writer. The harsh critiques advocated that Jane’s description as a strong, self-sufficient woman with no obligations to men is a quality only belonging to men, thus is unnatural for women. Jane’s passionate rebellion was perceived by some as absolutely unacceptable suggesting that women are supposed to be subordinate to men. Bulwer Lytton in her letter on Jane Eyre even complains that “British females are intense men worshippers – and in their disgusting books the young ladies make all the advances – and do all the love-making – and this flatters the hoggish vanity of English men.” In spite of the criticism the novel was still a success.
Brontë developed a type of heroine who was fearless, firm, independent and did not need to depend on a man, yet who calls for true love and for equality. Brontë created a character that is unlike any other, Jane Eyre seeks dignity and respect, and throughout the book the reader see the evolution of the protagonist. Jane describes herself as: “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” Even though Jane was always strong, her maturation throughout the novel gives her the ability to cope with unfortunate events in her life more readily. When she found out that the man she loved was already married, she was able to control herself, and even though leaving Mr. Rochester made her feel miserable, betrayed, and her sorrow was overwhelming, she was still able to break free. Jane did not perceived her life to be fulfilled only if she got married, that is also reason why she left Mr. Rochester, and despite loving him she was strong and independent enough to continue working as a governess and teacher although this occupation was no better than being a servant.
Due to the fact that this masterpiece is inspired by the life of the author herself, the book is considered to be very influential during the time it was published, and it also represented the modern view of women’s position in society. Though many agree that Charlotte Brontë was a feminist and Jane Eyre is a feminist novel, there are some who claim that Brontë’s only intention was to point out the social structure of that
time. However, this following quote from the book suggest that Jane was truly a woman fighting for her own values, and in this excerpt Brontë also addresses the issue of sexual equality. The quote shows Jane’s fighting for her individuality and her emphasising on the fact that she will not behave upon conventions but rather upon her free will, pointing out that she is not a ‘machine’. This is a female’s attempt to break free of the conventionalities and customs that society has attempted to set her in. Even though Jane fell in love and she embraced the notion of being loved, Brontë projected the protagonist as an independent woman who will not sacrifice her morals and dignity for any man. Nothing can change Jane’s values, not even love, money or status.
“Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you
think I am an automation?–a machine without feelings? and can you bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soul and heartless? You think wrong! – I have as much soul as you, – and full as much heart … I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh; — it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God’s feet, equal, – as we are!”
Brontë put a strong voice into her protagonist when she was expressing the inequality and limitations of women’s roles in society, and especially the following quotation from the novel brought a great deal of criticism.
“Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags.”
This particular passage was considered scandalous to the conservative puritan readers, as Elizabeth Rigby addressed her indignation in her scathing review of Jane Eyre. In her review she took a strong dislike to the sexual ambition of Jane who ends up marrying into the household where she is employed. The figure of the governess was disturbing, especially in literature, and according to Katryn Hudges, “it drew attention to the fact that not all Victorian women were as sexless as suggested.”
The novel depicts Jane as a firm, independent heroine who is also described with strong desires. In the scene when Jane is courted by St. John Rivers, she fears that if they marry, he would “scrupulously observe all the forms of love” while the spirit of love would be absent, in other words he would offer sex without romantic love, and Jane feels this would force her to “burn inwardly and never utter a cry,” as Sally Shuttleworth remarked in her essay Jane Eyre and the 19^th Century Woman. Even though the author herself probably did not even have much knowledge about men, the relationship between Jane and Mr. Rochester is depicted as very passionate and the sexual tension is apparent. They wittily test each other and every time Jane speaks with Mr. Rochester he tries to read her expression and she usually leaves him baffled.
The fervour between them is palpable in almost every conversation they have; “‘what, are you quitting me already, and in that way?’ He paused; gazed at Jane: words almost visible trembled on his lips—but his voice was checked” this scene hardly fits the puritan Victorian stereotypes as it continues with Mr. Rochester asking Jane to stay with him alone at night in his bedroom, in their bedclothes. The relationship between them is a taboo because of Jane’s status, she is a governess, while Mr. Rochester is her employer. As Mr. Rochester keeps Jane unsure of telling her his feelings; “He would sometimes pass me haughtily and coldly, just acknowledging my presence by a distant nod or cool glance, and sometimes bow and smile with gentle - man-like affability,” he keeps being very engaged and flirtatious in their conversations.
Brontë created not only a new type of heroine but also a male character who represents a Byronic hero, he is dark and mysterious but also loving and tender. It was his love for Jane that made this novel so sensual and intense, at the end of the novel when he declares his love for her; “every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear,” he states that he will love her even if she went mad because he loves her for who she is, which makes him irresistible.
In general, Charlotte Brontë focused on female characters that were simple, yet they were aiming to provide fulfilment in their lives and who concentrated on living a life by their own rules focusing on respecting themselves, rather than on what society dictates. Charlotte Brontë created a woman, in all respects plain, modest, morally strong and intelligent. Like the author, Jane does not need a man to make her feel worthy; instead, she carries her self-worth in her mind and determination. Ellen Moers in her book Literary Women states that through Jane Brontë exhibits “resentment toward a society that has scorned her while maintaining a detachment toward humanity as a whole.” In this novel Brontë contradicted the Victorian society, speaking for oppressed and disrespected women, therefore, the author can also be considered to be one of the first modern writers of her time. As Lucile Dooley remarked in her essay Psychoanalysis of Charlotte Brontë, as a Type of the Woman of
Genius, it was through her words that Charlotte Brontë “created a woman of intellect and a strong moral character; the same traits Brontë herself possessed.”

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