How Does Bronte Present Gender In Jane Eyre

The novel Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Brontë, follows the emotions and experiences of its Jane Eyre, including her growth to adulthood and her love for Mr. Rochester. In its internalisation of the action the focus is on the gradual unfolding of Jane's moral and spiritual sensibility, and all the events are coloured by a heightened intensity. Throughout the novel characters are portrayed in many different ways one of them being their genders and what roles they carry.

Brontë portrays female characters as women who are not equal to men, work at home, are either a governess, are gorgeous (all but Jane) and are completely submissive towards their husbands. This type of behaviour can be most seen in Bertha Manson. Even though

Bertha Mason is insane, she is a provocative symbol of how married women can be repressed and controlled. Before this mental illness took over Bertha was a beautiful, rich creole woman which prompted Mr.Rochester's brother to think of the marriage plan. Bertha is a perfect example of how submissive a woman was intended to be in the victorian age. Mr. Rochester locks Bertha in the attic with a nurse to care for her, taking away her own ability to think on her own.

Jane Eyre goes against these norms by being a strong independent women. Bronte makes Jane this strong, passionate and rebellious character that isn't conventionally pretty to challenge Victorian society's view on women and she succeeds. When Jane is speaking to Mr. Rochester she states ““I do not think, sir, you have any right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience” (Brontë 196). This is a perfect example of Jane rebelling against what society has decided is the norm. Mr.Rochester believes because he has seen more of the world than Jane, is in a higher class than Jane, and is a man that he will be able to have higher authority over her just like his other mistresses, but Jane proves that his social equity means everything to her and she cannot respect a man who can not respect her.

Brontë portrays male characters as men who control their wives and children and are faithful christians.

This type of behaviour can be most seen in St. John, a parish minister with lofty ambitions. He hopes to become a missionary in the most unforgiving regions of the British Empire, spread the light of Christianity in the globe's darkest corners and make Jane his missionary wife. He is a devoted christian in search of a wife who is ready to control and provide a life for her. St. John is speaking to Jane when he explains to her that “ God and nature intended you for a missionary's wife. It is not personal, but mental endowments they have given you: you are formed for labour, not for love. A missionary's wife you must - shall be. You shall be mine: I claim you - not for my pleasure, but for my Sovereign's service” ( Brontë page number). St. John makes this statement as he attempts to convince Jane to marry him and become a missionary in India. St. John's declaration that Jane is formed for "labour, not for love" emphasizes his belief that love and passion have no place in a moral life. St. John's argument of ownership also highlights his view of Jane as a subservient companion, not a woman with independent thoughts. Although Jane approves of St. John's morality, she is unwilling to sacrifice love to become the kind of woman that St. John wants her to be. St. John believes just because he's a man he can force Jane into something like marriage. As the reader has previously learned Jane goes against the norm of this era and chooses to not marry to be content in love but wants to marry to be

loved.

Jane Eyre portrays the roles of men and women in society as women having to marry a man to sustain her. It was hard for a woman to find work back then so they either stayed at home caring for their children or the house. If lucky, the lower class women could be; servants, domestic help, factory workers, prostitutes etc. Middle/upper class women could help in family business, the society/economy. They could not own property, or work in the fields. They could most certainly not work. They were basically completely “useless “ in the eyes of society and had to be cared for by their husbands or suitors. Men's roles in society was to provide for their family and work. Men were expected to do far less and were not judged for it either. It was very common for men to be sleeping with multiple women in addition to their wives.