Women, Work and Worthiness in Jane Eyre - Essay Example

Women, Work and Worthiness in Jane Eyre Introduction In the early nineteenth century women were very much confined to the domestic sphere of work, even as scientific advancements and industrialization were slowly forcing women to supplement the family income. The dilemma and difficulties faced by women during this period of change and turmoil have been the subject of many a classic. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is one such story that elucidates the travails of a woman who craves social emancipation and gender, economic, and intellectual equality in the male dominated Victorian era. Charlotte Bronte has lauded the concept of working women and their worthiness in many places in afore stated work and Jane Eyre the protagonist, in many ways, is an illustration of this. This essay shall argue that the character of the aristocratic Blanche Ingram has been portrayed despicably to contrast sharply with the honest, self-reliant, and fiercely independent though poor Jane Eyre, revealing the author's belief in work's potential to elevate the worthiness of women beyond class prejudices. The essay shall also cite the positive portrayal of Diana and Mary Rivers whose attitude to work and economic independence were similar to Jane Eyre's as further evidence to support the argument. Jane Eyre and Blanche Ingram The author has carefully chosen the vocation of the protagonist as a governess. It implies imperatively, the high intellectual capacity - as one who has knowledge of the three R's. Far from being respectable, however, it was looked down upon, because it equated the governess to any other paid servant. The poor economic condition and social status served to worsen their plight as pointed to by Wells (in www. Victorianweb.org), "Bront, by choosing the profession of governess for Jane, allowed her audience to see life from both the servant's point of view and the aristocracy's point of view by means of a critical, cultured, and articulate character." Contrast this with the character of Blanche Ingram; rich aristocrat, dark and majestic-looking (p.442-3) lady equestrian (p. 431), who could ride well by the side of Mr. Rochester. But, she is haughty and "will suffer no competitor near the throne" (p.460); she was used to leisure and playing "charades" (466-8); and furthermore, she was not "good and noble" or endowed with "force, fervor, kindness and sense" (p. 477). Furthermore, she is illustrated as being after Rochester's wealth; she flirted with Rochester even though she had no love for him and cold-shouldered him the moment he was rumored to be not-so-wealthy (p. 457). Women and Work Bronte considers work as a tool to elevate womanhood, to improve their worthiness. To convey her message, Jane Eyre is made her mouthpiece. Throughout the story, Jane Eyre accepts her impoverished state, but refuses to be intimidated by it. In the twelfth chapter, there is unmistakable evidence as to what the author has to say about women's emancipation and gendered division of labor; "women" according to her, "need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex." (Jane Eyre, p. 279-80) She believes that the class, gender, and social prejudices against women can be shattered by the power of her economic, intellectual, and moral integrity, and independence. As is evident in her outburst to Edward Rochester, her beloved master, and future husband: "Do you think because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless You think wrong!-I have as much soul as you, -and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you" (Jane Eyre p.653). The River Sisters- A Positive Picture That Bronte believed and supported women working and earning their economic independence can again be understood in the latter part of the story too. She conveys to St. John that she is prepared to take up for earning "anything honest that she can do;" She further states that she as willing to be a "dressmaker," "a plain-workwoman," "a servant" or "a nurse-girl", so that she could "seek work" and escape the clutches of "homeless destitution" (p.902-4), and gain independence. Thus, work is seen as a key to emancipation, by Bronte as conveyed by Jane Eyre. In the characterization of the Rivers sisters too, who she later discovers to be her cousins, the same message is conveyed. Both Diana and Mary Rivers are described to be like her, hit by poverty by the hands of fate they too have become governesses like her (p. 887-911). She appreciates and admires their scholarship, and like their instruction. Her rapport and admiration for them, as much as her sense of fairness, and kinship, ultimately prompts her to share her good fortune with her newly-found cousins. Economic independence, especially the one gained from her unexpected fortune helped Jane overcome the barriers of class and social status, in the end. However, even if luck had not bestowed the fortune upon her, Jane Eyre still supported and believed in taking up any 'honest' work to gain that independence. Conclusion Charlotte Bronte has portrayed the plight of women in the early nineteenth century through the character of Jane Eyre, who is depicted as an orphaned, middle-class governess. In contrast to Ms. Eyre, Blanche Ingram is illustrated as a high-class lady, who though good-looking and majestic, is despicable and lacks the common sense of Jane. By such illustration, also supported by secondary characters as the Rivers sisters, the author has made it clear that she supports the economic independence of women. Work is one way to elevate and make women worth their living, according to Bronte. The study of Jane Eyre has enabled a very good understanding of the difficulties faced by women in the Victorian era. List of Work Cited Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Online Edition Published By Plain Label Books. Accessed on December 2, 2007. http://books.google.co.in/booksid=cTtRYLsdAAC&pg=PA9&dq=Jane+Eyre%2Bbooks &psp=1&sig=frV4lKC7-5LPxLBmyCpk71_jl6Q#PPP1,M1 Wells, Erin. "The Governess and Class Prejudice" in victorianweb.org online article Created October 1992; last modified: 19 February 2001, retrieved on December 2, 2007. http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/gaskell/61n_s7.html Read More