Sexism in Jane Eyre - 1870 Words

The social system of the Victorian era was one that was heavily influenced by the patriarchal right of men. This social construct favored men while forcing women into submission. Sigmund Freud, in his essay entitled â€Å"The Relation of the Poet to Day-Dreaming,† articulated that women were considered capable only of having erotic wishes that dominated their â€Å"phantasies† and that even their ambitious â€Å"phantasies† were rooted in erotic wishes (177). The prevailing thought concerning women during the Victorian era was that—due to their nature—only desired marriage. Those women who were not fortunate enough to marry (due to appearance or social status) had only one remaining position, to become a governess. Charlotte Brontà «, through her†¦show more content†¦The prevailing thought during the Victorian era was that women were incapable of making their own decisions, and that should a woman, or girl, attempt to demonstrate any measu re of ambition, they should be ridiculed until their will is demolished. Though most men took pride in their superiority, not all men were convinced of their dominance. Rochester, Jane’s employer while she was a governess at Thornfield, demonstrates this internal conflict when he orders Jane to â€Å"‘go into the library – I mean, if you please. (Excuse my tone of command; I am used to say â€Å"Do this,† and it is done. I cannot alter my customary habits for one new inmate.)’† (106). Rochester’s clarification clearly demonstrates that the methods used by men, which have been taught throughout a man’s life, are not necessarily reflective of the man’s character. Moreover, while Rochester inspects Jane’s paintings he comments on how she had the artistic skill to give her paintings â€Å"‘full being’† yet at the same time questions how she could â€Å"‘make them look so clear, and yet not at all brilliant’† (109). Rochester appears to be conflicted in his patriarchal superiority and an internal voice questions the validity of the current social construct. This conflict may be rooted in the fact that Rochester was not the eldest son and thus he never developed the true nature of a patriarch.Show MoreRelatedJane Eyre: Sexism1879 Words   |  8 PagesIn the cases of Jane Austens novel Pride and Prejudice and Emily Brontes Jane Eyre, the ideals of romantic love are very much the same. In both 19th century novels, womens wants and needs are rather simplified. However, this could also be said for the roles and ideals of the male characters. While it was obvious that this era was responsible for a large amount of anti-female sexism in society and the economy, can it also be said that male-female partnerships were simplified from the male perspectiveRead More Sexism Exposed in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre Essay1457 Words   |  6 PagesSexism Exposed in Brontà « s Jane Eyre       The Victorian era in England marked a period of unprecedented technological, scientific, political, and economic advancement.   By the 1840s, the English had witnessed remarkable industrial achievements including the advent of the railways and the photographic negative.   They had witnessed the expansion of the Empire, and, as a result, were living in a time of great economic stability.   Yet they had also seen thousands of people starving-and dying-dueRead MoreEssay about Jane Eyre: The Effect of a Patriarchal Society 1721 Words   |  7 PagesCharlotte Brontà « composed her novel Jane Eyre during the Victorian era; a period of history where Patriarchy set the expectations of men and women. The effect of this social system resulted in women suffering discrimination simply because of their gender. Sigmund Freud, in his essay entitled, â€Å"The Relation of the Poet to Day-Dreaming,† articulated that women were only capable of having erotic wishes dominate their â €Å"phantasies,† and even their ambitious â€Å"phantasies† were rooted in erotic wishes (177)Read MoreEssay on Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice1903 Words   |  8 PagesWuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice Wuthering Heights presents the theme of love within and outside of marriage. This book has a major female character whose marriage conflicts in some way with her ideal of love. Catherines first love is Heathcliff. She falls in love with him as both grow up together. Yet she finds a different kind of love with Edgar Linton. Catherine decides to marry Edgar, who can satisfy her civilized side. When Heathcliff returnsRead MoreJane Eyre : A True Love Story1875 Words   |  8 Pagesset these two women apart, their use of symbolism can be closely compared to one another. Wide Sargasso Sea, the prelude to Jane Eyre, paints a picture of how accounts and understandings differ from each novel, creating a sense of characters pasts being unavoidable. The Wide Sargasso Sea is an imaginative and innovative rejoinder to Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre is a true love story in many aspects, yet it would not be a true love story if there weren’t complications and disadvantagesRead MoreRelationship Between Men and Women: Jane Eyre and The Handmaids Tale1775 Words   |  8 Pages Charlotte Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Jane Eyre entails a social criticism of the oppressive social ideas and practices of nineteenth-century Victorian society. The presentation of male and female relationships emphases men’s domination and perceived superiority over women. Jane Eyre is a reflection of Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s own observation on gender roles of the Victorian era, from the vantage point of her position as governess much like Jane’s. Margaret Atwood’s novel was written during a period of conservative revival in theRead MoreEssay on Analysis From Feminist/Gender Critic Of Book Wicked1926 Words   |  8 Pagesthe other hand, gender/feminist critics have been able to analyze the Wizard of Oz as well as Wicked, in order to find a more elaborate meaning behind the story itself. They have discussed what lies behind the story when it comes to the issue of sexism and masculinity towards the book itself as well as the characters. There are many concepts as well that he lp to further explain feminism and gender criticism. The four concepts that will be discussed later on are gender, feminist writings, patriarchalRead MoreEssay about The Introduction of Feminist Criticism1815 Words   |  8 Pagesview, emphasizing the textual analysis approach and revealing the sexual discrimination in creation and criticism area, the American criticism aims at constructing their own critical criteria, and can be divided into three phases: criticism of male sexism in the androtexts, discovery of the women writers in history or spade work gynotexts; and feminist discourse for female identity (Leitch 1988:307). 2.1.1 The first phase The first phase lasted from the late 1960s to the early 1970s, with