Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
Historical and Cultural Context
Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, published in 1847 under the pseudonym Currer Bell, provides a revealing snapshot of the Victorian era. This period was characterised by strict social hierarchies and rigid gender roles, significantly shaping the novel's themes and characters.
The novel's backdrop of the early Victorian era coincides with the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. These societal changes subtly permeate the narrative, illustrating the shifting economic landscape's effects on society, particularly on the class structure.
Brontë, through her protagonist Jane, boldly challenges the era's conventions. Jane's desire for independence and her rebellion against conformity were considered revolutionary at the time. Informed by Brontë's own experiences in the harsh Clergy Daughters' School, Jane's character mirrors the limited opportunities and strict societal expectations women faced.
Religion, specifically Brontë's upbringing in the Church of England, plays a significant role in Jane Eyre. Jane's struggles with her faith reflect the religious tensions of the period, providing a critical examination of the prevailing religious attitudes.
Influence from the gothic tradition in English literature can be seen in the novel's darker elements, such as the eerie atmosphere of Thornfield Hall and the mysterious Mr. Rochester. Romantic literature also informs the narrative, particularly its focus on individual experience and emotional depth.
Class and gender inequalities are central to Jane Eyre. Jane, as a governess, blurs class boundaries, while her assertive nature contradicts the passive role assigned to women in Victorian society. Additionally, the character of Bertha Mason, the so-called "madwoman in the attic", serves as a potent symbol of suppressed female rage and sexuality.
Upon its release, Jane Eyre sparked controversy due to its portrayal of a defiant, independent female character and its critique of Victorian societal norms. Despite this, it has stood the test of time, largely due to Brontë's insightful exploration of gender, class, and morality within the historical and cultural context of the Victorian era.
In which year was Jane Eyre published?
a) 1851
b) 1845
c) 1837
d) 1847
Which societal development during the Victorian era influenced the narrative of Jane Eyre?
a) The Enlightenment
b) The Industrial Revolution
c) The Romantic period
d) The French Revolution
What literary tradition influenced the darker elements in Jane Eyre?
a) Romanticism
b) Realism
c) Gothic
d) Modernism
Why was Jane Eyre controversial upon its release?
a) It depicted a rebellious, independent female character
b) It criticised Victorian societal norms
c) It explored themes of morality, gender equality, and class disparity
d) All of the above
DISCUSSION: In what ways is Jane Eyre relevant to the struggles and expectations faced by women today?
Further reading
Gilbert, Sandra M., and Susan Gubar. "The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination." Yale University Press, 2000. Gilbert and Gubar's work is a seminal feminist reading of Victorian literature, including a substantial analysis of Jane Eyre.
Showalter, Elaine. "A Literature of Their Own: British Women Novelists from Brontë to Lessing." Princeton University Press, 1977. Showalter's book provides a comprehensive exploration of British women's literature, including a section devoted to Bronte's Jane Eyre.
Fraser, Rebecca. "The Brontës: Charlotte Brontë and Her Family." Crown, 1988. This biography of the Brontë family provides insight into the life and times of Charlotte Brontë, providing context for her work, including Jane Eyre.
Shuttleworth, Sally. "Charlotte Brontë and Victorian Psychology." Cambridge University Press, 1996. Shuttleworth’s book explores Brontë's work in the context of Victorian psychology, giving you a new angle from which to examine Jane Eyre.
Eagleton, Terry. "Myths of Power: A Marxist Study of the Brontës." Macmillan, 1975. Eagleton uses Marxist theory to investigate the works of the Brontës, including Jane Eyre, opening up an entirely different interpretation of the novel.