2.3 The Theme of Jane Eyre
In Charlotte Bronte’s famous novel Jane Eyre, there were many feminist views which opposed the feminine ideal of Victorian. In the literature history, Charlotte Bronte was the first feminist women writer in that time. In her novel, she gave some feminist information to the women who live in the Victorian-Age. At that time women were usually looked down upon. In Jane Eyre, there is a theory of equality between men and women in love and marriage. As a feminist women writer, Charlotte Bronte wrote this novel to encourage the women to become a woman of independent, self-respect, self-judgment and self- control. Women in that period had little human right and their social status was low, so they were also looked upon by the society, by the social system even by themselves. In that period, as for many women, they just lived to marry. They had no right to decide whom they would marry. Also in that period if a woman married a man who didn’t live in the same status as her, people would feel surprised. If a woman did not marry all through her life and she also wanted to make a living by herself, the only way is to become a servant, prostitute or a governess. Women in that period had no right to receive education whether they lived in the high or the low social status. They were not seen as a person but as an object. In the novel, the writer gave the heroine an independent opinion, she had her own opinion towards everything, and she can make her dream come true through her hard work. This could prove that Jane Eyre is a feminist woman. At the beginning of 19th century, little opportunities were given to the women, many of whom felt uncomfortable when they entered many parts of the world. They had very little knowledge, so the job they could do is just a housewife and a governess. 《简爱》的女性主义视角解读(3):http://www.751com.cn/yingyu/lunwen_17141.html