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This month, Meghna looks at the fierce female writer, Charlotte Brontë, and how her character, Jane Eyre, pushed the boundaries of feminism at the time.

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Charlotte Brontë has always been one of my heroines of literature and her eponymous protagonist, Jane Eyre, is no different. Jane’s a governess, an independent young woman and, as such, she had incredible sway in questioning gender norms and making a statement about the few opportunities open to women in Victorian society. What’s not to love about a pioneering woman, right? As a governess, Jane holds a unique position in society. She’s neither servant nor a member of the family, and yet she is expected to raise and educate the children.

Jane supports herself independently – quite a challenge for someone of her social status at the time. As a professional woman, she challenges the stereotype that women should be financially and socially dependent on men. After all, who says that a woman’s main purpose is to marry and have children? Certainly not me! Jane shows us that there’s another route to happiness.

What’s really interesting, though, is that her position in society and Jane’s idea of herself are both influenced by her profession as a governess. She develops a deep awareness of the complexity of social class and the restrictions imposed on women by Victorian society via her interactions with the numerous families she serves. She gains the ability to negotiate her employers’ expectations and biases while upholding her own morals and convictions. Her interactions with the kids in her care give her a sense of fulfilment and purpose that goes beyond the conventional responsibilities that Victorian society ascribed to women. She finds significance and fulfilment in her profession as a governess because she can make a difference in the lives of the kids she educates.

Through Jane, Brontë gives us a snapshot of what life might have been like were it not for fierce female writers like her. She shows us the difficulties and restrictions that independent women faced in a time when they were expected to live in servitude to men. The job wasn’t easy for Jane. She faced discrimination and unfair treatment since, as a woman, she was not regarded as a complete employee. She frequently fell victim to the whims and biases of her bosses and had few possibilities for promotion. So while the position offered her a degree of independence and agency, it also draws our attention to class and social mobility. As a member of the middle class—and a woman at that—she is susceptible to abuse and exploitation.

The thing about Jane Eyre, though, is that she was an absolute badass – and one we can all take inspiration from today. Brontë explored the female psyche in her novels and in doing so, she rebelled against the narrative of the time. At one point, Jane says one “should never depend on a fellow-creature” for fulfilment. I suspect that’s something we could all learn a thing or two from. Likewise, she defies the role of a typical, Victorian, subordinate woman by refusing to be objectified and I don’t know about you, but objectification is something I actively avoid.

Photo by Hannah Smith on Unsplash