"Jane Eyre"

Book Review # 115228

English > Analysis
Literature > English

"Jane Eyre"

An analysis of the themes of gender and autonomy in Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre".

1,990 words () | 1 source | APA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines Charlotte Bronte 's "Jane Eyre" and argues that despite the fact that Jane Eyre is a woman living in a patriarchal society, she actually attains a more meaningful sense of freedom than either Rochester or St. John, as well as several of the minor male characters in the novel. The paper also discusses how this suggests that perhaps Bront 's text, while not political in nature, is an example of early feminist ideals.

From the Paper:

" Perhaps the most striking evidence of Rochester's lack of autonomy lies in the fact that while he eventually falls in love with Jane and plans to marry her, he is unable to follow through with his plans because of his secret wife, Bertha. Though she has gone mad and is prone to bouts of violence, Rochester still keeps her in his home at Thornfield, locked away in a secret room. He plans to marry Jane despite the fact that this will make him a bigamist, but when Bertha's existence is revealed at his wedding to Jane, Rochester realizes that he cannot go through with it. He loves Jane but his prior to commitment to an insane wife leaves him without the freedom to pursue the woman he truly cares for. "