Jane Eyre: Feminist Hero

Jane Eyre Feminist Hero Submissive, domestic, good-tempered, quiet, agreeable and soft these ar all words that could be used to describe the ideal Victorian woman. Sexism and discrimination put up roadblocks and didnt allow ofttimes room for educational growth for women. Education and job opportunities were contain and left most women with marriage, particularly to a wealthy man, as their best option for security. Jane Eyre broke the find out of the common Victorian woman she was determined, stubborn, and would not be swayed from doing what she believed to be right and just.She worked her way up from orphan, to governess, to wife of a wealthy man all without compromising her integrity, her moral standards or her pride. In a conviction where women had little to no say over how they lived their lives, Jane was doing just the opposite and taking control over her avow destiny. It all begun when Jane left Gateshead as a young girl. She escaped her cruel aunt and cousins and vent ured out on her own, leaving a semi- cheerable living situation and the familiar in pursuit of bettering herself with an education.As a declaration of Jane receiving an education, she was able to further her independence by taking a job as a governess at Thornfield. Though the profession of governess was considered low folk and seen as little more than a servant, Jane took the opportunity. Again, Jane left the comfort of familiarity and moved on to do what she believed best. As a governess, Jane was able to make her own wages and, though she was living in someone elses home and worked for Mr. Rochester, she wasnt taking charity from anyone she was working for her lapse (Bronte 140).Jane was a very passionate person and, despite the social norm being that women held their tongues in calculate of men, Jane spoke her opinions boldly, especially to Mr. Rochester. Jane didnt determine that stifling her voice was fair, and she refused to do it. Jane explained her views on the women of the day in the following passage Women are supposed to be very calm generally but women feel just as men feel they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as overmuch as their brothers do they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, on the button as en would suffer and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to fashioning puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they want to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex (Bronte 130). When Mr. Rochester told Jane that he was going to be marrying Miss Ingram, Janes true feelings for Rochester came to the surface and she insisted on leaving Thornfield. Do you have in mind I can keep on to become nothing to you?Do you specify I am an automation? -a machine without feelings? and can you bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips and my drop of living water belt along from my cup? Do you think because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soul and heartless? You think wrong I have as much soul as you, and full as much heart I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of pernicious flesh it is my spirit that addresses your spirit just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at Gods feet, equal, as we are (Bronte 296)Jane couldnt stay at Thornfield as anything other than his significant other. She couldnt stand the idea of watching him with someone other than her. On the day of Rochester and Janes wedding, the truth about Rochesters marital placement was discovered and subsequently learning about Bertha, Jane left Thornfield and fled from temptation (Bronte 372). If she had stayed at Thornfield with Rochester, she would have become his mistress, and despite loving Rochester with all of her hear t and lacking(p) to be with him, she ran, knowing that being his mistress would be virtuously wrong.Jane couldnt be Rochesters mistress, even though most women would have accepted the opportunity to be with Mr. Rochester, even if only as his mistress, because it meant security, wealth, comfort, and love. Rochester put Janes strength and determination to the test when he begged her to stay (Bronte 371). As much as he pleaded with her, she couldnt and wouldnt lower herself to living a brio of sin, so instead, she bravely and independently ventured out on her own with no money, no job, and no plan.Jane was eer fighting to overcome the obstacles that stood in her way a repressive family, a low social class standing, no wealth, and sexism. She overcame Mr. Brocklehursts oppression, refused St. Johns proposal, knowing that it was wrong to marry him, and only married Mr. Rochester after she received her uncles inheritance. As a result of inheriting the money, Jane became Rochesters fina ncial and social equal. Mr. Rochester was overly blind at the time of their marriage, which meant that the typical roles had been reversed the male was dependent on the female person, rather than the female being dependent on the male.Rochester looked to Jane to be his eyes and to take care of him (Bronte 515). Jane didnt do what was short she did what was right, moral, and what she knew to be best not only for her, but for everyone. Despite the ways of the era and the way that women were perceived, Jane cute to be independent and strong. She spoke her mind and gave her opinion despite most people not wanting to hear it. Jane Eyre has brought inspiration to many women throughout history with her strength and independence and will continue to do so for many generations to come.