Jane Eyre is a classic romance novel by Charlotte Brontë which was published in 1847 by Smith, Elder & Company, London, and is one of the most famous British novels.

Charlotte Brontë first published the book as Jane Eyre: An Autobiography under the pseudonym Currer Bell, and it was an instant success, earning the praise of many reviewers, including William Makepeace Thackeray, to whom Charlotte Brontë dedicated her second edition.

Introduction: Jane Eyre Vs. Victorian Women

After reading the classic novel, Jane Eyre, I found myself interested in the lives of Victorian women. They lived during a time when women were thought to be inferior to men. They usually did not attend school, almost always married, and rarely worked. The novel of course follows the life of Jane Eyre, who is a living contrast of what Victorian society thought a woman should be. Jane is of lower class, is well educated, and working as a governess. Not to mention she is passionate, outspoken, and opinionated. These qualities deem her unfeminine, and a social outcast. The novel description perfectly calls it “…a passionate search for a wider, and richer life than that traditionally accorded to her sex in Victorian society”

Victorian Women and Education

In the novel Jane is sent to an all girls’ school for orphaned children. Typically in the Victorian era, most females did not attend school. This is because women were only expected to marry, have children, and maintain their household. They were taught of domestic duties only to ensure that they would make appealing wives in the future. (Elizabeth Horany, Women in Education) Usually only the lower class women attended school because they were more likely going to have to earn their own livings by working in the future. This is why the heroine in the novel, Jane Eyre, is sent to school to learn (aside from the fact that her Aunt no longer wanted to be burdened with her of course). After being orphaned at a young age and left in the care of her evil Aunt Reed, Jane had nobody to take care of her in the world, which was hard considering most Victorian women relied heavily on their families, and or husbands for support. She put all her time, and effort into her school work because ultimately she had nothing else. While most of her fellow Victorian females were being readied for suitors, Jane studied subjects such as French, English, and Art. The fact that Jane can read, and write separates her from most of the other ladies of her time.

Victorian Women and Marriage

Almost all women in Victorian society married at some point in their lives. This is because from the time they were born, they were raised to become wives. Parents would force their daughters into marrying wealthy men who were titled when possible in order to bring their family higher status. If they refused to marry, they would usually be shunned from their family, and forced to live on the streets. (Melissa Moore, Why Victorian Women Married) As I stated before, most females did not attend school, and therefore could not work. They needed husbands for financial support and protection. When Jane Eyre is confronted with the idea of marriage she is hesitant. This is because Victorian husbands had absolute power over their wives. By law husbands controlled all of their money, owned all of their possessions, and had complete custody over their children. Jane did not want to marry until she knew that she would be an equal with her 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. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal 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!”(Jane Eyre, PG 284) Here Jane exclaims to Mr. Rochester that they are equals. Unlike most Victorian women, equality was an issue that weighed heavy on Jane’s heart. Ultimately by the end of the novel, she marries because she no longer fears inequality between herself and Mr. Rochester.

Women’s Roles in Society

A Victorian Woman’s role in society was very clear - they married and took care of their families. They were responsible for looking after their household, which included instructing her servants and throwing dinner parties that would bring her family status and reputation. (Oscar Trejo, Domesticity). They were responsible for seeing to their children’s welfare. Her sons would need to be well educated, and her daughters brought up to the social standards of the era. She would need to make sure that her husband was always pleased with her by satisfying all of his many needs. Women were not recognized in politics or world affairs. Their lives were dedicated to their families, and that alone. This is why Victorian women were often described as bored and unsatisfied. Jane Eyre was different though. She did not have a family to look after or a household to maintain. She lived as an independent, and saw to her own needs only. She lived her life differently than most women and was looked down upon for it.

Social Conventions in Victorian Society

During the Victorian Era, social conventions curved the lives of many women. These conventions perceived the way women should look, sound, and act. Society believed that women were the property of their husbands. Women were supposed to give their husbands their love, bodies, and obedience. In return husbands offered their wives protection. Women were to dress conservatively, always appear clean, and have an air of innocence about them. “ In Victorian times, it was considered unfeminine and often “outrageous” for a woman to speak in public.” (Dr. Ilya Sandra Perlingieri, Women in Society) Women were not supposed to be over opinionated or well educated. Jane Eyre did not live in a way that was socially acceptable. She was educated, worked as a governess, and was not interested in living under the restraints of a husband. She was a young opinionated female who was often out spoken and realistic. “ I am glad you are no relation of mine: I will never call you aunt again as long as I live. I will never come to visit you when I am grown up; and if any one asks me how I liked you, and how you treated me, I will say the very thought of you makes me sick, and that you treated me with miserable cruelty . . .”(Jane Eyre, PG 45) In this quotation Jane is passionately telling her aunt exactly how she feels. Passion like this was looked down upon by Victorian society.

Working Victorian Women

In the Victorian era only lower class women worked. This is because higher-class women were not educated and could not perform any jobs other than household related ones. Besides their husbands would never want the reputation of having a working wife, it deemed them incapable of providing for their family and of lower status. There weren’t many jobs available for females either, which made it harder for poor women to succeed in the working world. Jane Eyre found a job teaching as a governess in Mr. Rochester’s house. Many looked down upon her, but it was still a respectful way to earn a living. In Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester’s female houseguests discuss governesses and label them “detestable” and “ridiculous”. (Jane Eyre PG 199-200) One of the characters, Lady Ingram shares her opinion on governesses by saying “My dearest, don’t mention governesses; the word makes me nervous. I have suffered martyrdom from their incompetence and caprice; I thank Heaven I have now done with them!” (Jane Eyre PG 200) As you can imagine there were many other men and women who felt this way about governesses. Mostly because governesses were of lower class, and had to spend their lives teaching instead of fulfilling what every woman considered appropriate, having a family.

Conclusion: Jane Vs. Victorian Women

When reading Jane Eyre, I had the chance to see through the eyes of young a Victorian woman. I learned about her hardships and the ways in which she survived a life so heavily judged by society. Jane is not a typical Victorian female. She lives her life independently and as a governess under the restraints of no one, but herself. She is educated and very opinionated, which is why Mr. Rochester falls deeply in love with her. In many ways Jane’s rebellious nature could be considered an act of feminism. Here I have found a quotation to give you an idea of how Queen Victoria herself felt about feminism " I am most anxious to enlist everyone who can speak or write to join in checking this mad, wicked folly of 'Women's Rights', with all its attendant horrors, on which her poor feeble sex is bent, forgetting every sense of womanly feelings and propriety. Feminists ought to get a good whipping. Were woman to 'unsex' themselves by claiming equality with men, they would become the most hateful, heathen, and disgusting of beings, and would surely perish without male protection." (Elizabeth Horany, Women in Education) Women who lived like Jane Eyre did not even have the support of their queen. This is why Victorian women, and their battle to supply women with the rights we have today have fascinated me. During my research I read through a book called Eminent Victorian Women, by Elizabeth Longford. If you are interested in the lives of Victorian women, I recommend this book.

Works Cited

Elizabeth Horany.Woman in Education. May 18th, 2002.April 6th, 2007.http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~ulrich/femhist/education.shtml

Melissa Moore. Why Victorian Women Married. May 3rd, 2002. April 6th, 2007. http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~ulrich/femhist/marriage.shtml

Oscar Trejo. Domesticity. May 18th, 2002. April 6th, 2007. http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~ulrich/femhist/domesticity.shtml

Dr. Ilya Sandra Perlingieri. Women in Society. March 2006. April 6th, 2007. http://www.antiquesjournal.com/Pages04/Monthly_pages/march07/paintresses.html

Arthur Munby. Work and Victorian Women. April 6th, 2007. http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~ulrich/RHE309/work/

Elizabeth Longford. Eminent Victorian Women. 91 Clapham High Street London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1981.

Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre. London England: Penguin, 1847.