Throughout The entire story, Jane is victimized by gender roles imposed on her by society and those around her. Is the language used towards Jane, and women in general, meant to show how women were treated during those times?
“Where the dickens is she!” he continued. “Lizzy! Georgy! (calling to his sisters) Joan is not here: tell mama she is run out into the rain—bad animal!”
Chapter 1 Jane Eyre
In this quote from the very first chapter, John Reed is already referring to Joan as an animal, which is pretty demeaning if you ask me. Women are expected to do as they are told just as a domesticated animal might be.
“To women who please me only by their faces, I am the very devil when I find out they have neither souls nor hearts—when they open to me a perspective of flatness, triviality, and, perhaps, imbecility, coarseness, and ill-temper; but to the clear eye and eloquent tongue, to the soul made of fire, and the character that bends but does not break…I am every tender and true…I never met your likeness, Jane; you please me, and you master me—you seem to submit, and I like the sense of pliancy you impart…I am influenced—conquered; and the influence is sweeter than I can express; and the conquest I undergo has a witchery beyond any triumph I can win.”
In this quote Mr.Rochester describes all of the things he admires about Jane. This represents the contrast of male gender role expectations. Men are supposed to admire women that stay in their place, and rely on them for everything. Jane is independent, intelligent, and knows exactly what she wants; women like Jane scare most men, and Mr.Rochester admires this about her.
All in all, ideals of gender roles placed upon women by society are evident throughout this entire novel. Jane Eyre was ahead of it’s time, and so was the main character. She did not simply accept marriage when she found out Mr.Rochester had another wife, and this was extremely rare. Jane Eyre exemplifies the 19th century feminist, and the fact that a woman can be desirable as well as independent.
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I think the language towards Jane (and other woman within the novel) is indeed meant to show how women were treated during those times. Also, I agree, this book was ahead of its time. Though sensitive and rather unsettling subjects lie within this story, it is worth to read through just because of how much perspective it holds about how woman were treated back than.
I agree, definitely worth the read!
One thing that stood out to me about the first quote you chose is that John Reed doesn’t just refer to Joan as an animal, but calls her “bad animal.” Calling anyone an animal is incredibly disrespectful and dehumanizing. However, putting “bad” before it makes it sound like he is scolding her the same way someone would say “bad dog.” That is remarkably disrespectful, not only calling her an animal, but putting himself over her as if he was her master.
I totally agree with you, that was kinda disturbing.
Gender roles play a very big part in this text, women are often forced to deal with the will of men. I like how you picked out the quote from chapter 1 that highlights a time where Jane was treated like an animal, you connect this to the obedience she is expected to enact as animalistic too. Bertha is also compared to an animal in the text. The differences in Janes dehumanization and Bertha’s is vastly different but in other sense the same. That could be an interesting piece to compare and contrast.
This is fantastic! A true look into how women were treated during this time… quite disturbing indeed. I think throughout the entirety of this book, I have been imagining a “red room” for every woman who feels trapped by their society. It seems that every woman in Jane Eyre has a “red room” dangling over their heads, quite possibly a result of the gender roles during this time.
I think that Jane Eyre shows courage and strength as a woman throughout the novel, and the way men like Mr. Brocklehurst, and John Reed treat her in the beginning chapters of the book give Jane a negative outlook on what all men might be like. The way women were treated during this time is sad, and I do not blame Jane for feeling trapped in this time as a woman it was very hard to live this life with few opportunities. Nice work.
I like the quotes you chose to use for this blog! Nice ideas! Good Job.
This was a really good post overall. I enjoyed how organized it was and it brought up some really solid points. One of the big thinks that I like about the novel is the feminist aspect of it. It truly makes the novel feel ahead of its time.