Women
Context
From the Victorian Era
Treated as second-class citizens in society
They had very few rights and little controls over their own lives
Were expected to marry, have children and look after the home
For a long time, they were dependent on men
Beauty
The book explores a woman's worth as being more than just her beauty
It is significant that Jane is repeatedly described as not being pretty - we are forced to focus on her other qualities
poor and obscure, small and plain
Marriage
The book does not completely discount the idea of marriage for women - she does still marry Rochester
However, she marries him on her own terms, not his - she refuses to be his mistress; reader I married him
Marriage is viewed as something that is not essential for a woman, but as something that should be the woman's choice - they don't need marriage to feel fulfilled
to be your wife, is, for me, to be as happy as I can be on Earth
Self-sufficient
The book makes a point about women being self-sufficient before they marry
It is seen as necessary that Jane goes off to find her own independence, having been dependent on Rochester for all of their relationship thus far
Bertha
She is shown to be a contrasting woman to Jane - foil but also parallel
She can be seen as representing the more passionate side to Jane
Rochester even compares them to each other; Compare these clear eyes with the red balls yonder - this face with that mask - this form with that bulk
She is deranged and mad
Descriptions of Bertha are almost masculine - *she showed virile force in the contest - shows violence and passion are not feminine qualities
Different women
Bronte presents many different women in the novel and is therefore able to explore their differing natures
Miss Temple
Mild, respectful, kind
Mrs Reed
Cruel, heartless
Blanche Ingram
Shallow, vain and arrogant
Bertha
Mad, passionate, violent
Jane wants equality
Women are supposed to very calm generally, but women feels just as men feel... 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