Victorian Novel Jane Eyre Including Societal Rules,

¶ … Victorian novel Jane Eyre including societal rules, social position of Jane, writing style of Bronte, use of dark language and metaphors.

JANE EYRE

Jane Eyre is one of the most interesting heroines of the Victorian age and her unique position in the novel has sparked many debates regarding the role of women in old English societies. The fact that Jane was a governess and not a rich person suitable for Rochester adds to her miseries. It appears that the beautiful emotion of love was missing from that society because though Jane understands the feeling, she knows that Rochester wouldn't be able to reciprocate due to society strictures. In that age, it was believed that one must marry a person equal in social standing and thus love rarely was accepted as a reason to tie the knot. Jane's low social position adds to her wretched circumstances as Rochester, though he loves her, still feels he couldn't take her as a wife. He instead asks her to be his mistress, an option completely ruled out by Jane.

Though the character of Jane in her early years is quite rebellious and bold. We notice a sudden transformation in her nature when she reaches adulthood. This shows that realization of one's social standing can often make a person behave in a manner quite opposite to his/her true inner character. There are many instances when she forces herself to behave in conformity with societal norms. Especially in her relationship with Rochester, we notice that Jane refuses to develop an illicit relationship with her master. This shows that even when Jane had been a rebel all her life, there were some occasions when she obediently observed religious restrictions. At this particular occasion, she measures the pros and cons of the offer made by Rochester, "[who in the world cares for you? Or who will be injured by what you do?'," but then silenced such thoughts with intelligent and logical reasoning and decided not to give up religion for the sake of love, "I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. I will keep the law given by God...'" (XXVII: 279).

This is quite a transformation from her early days when she would boldly speak against anyone who did not treat her well. We must not forget that Jane was turned into rather meek figure because of the realization that that she was a poor girl who was unfortunately in love with a rich married man. Due to her poor social position, she finds herself very plain and unattractive and thus unworthy of Rochester's attention. "I should have known instinctively that they neither had nor could have sympathy with anything in me, and should have shunned them as one would fire, lightning, or anything else that is bright but antipathetic" (p. 116).

This was quite an acceptance of rejection by high society for someone who once believed love was everything. In her adulthood, Jane knows life is not exactly a 'bed of roses' where one could everything one desired and thus is more willing to accept the fact that she has no place in the gathering of the rich. This affects her psyche and turns her into timid, conforming person who once had a visible rebellious streak in her and who could kill for love and acceptance. As she once told her friend Helen, "No; I know I should think well of myself; but that is not enough: if others don't love me, I would rather die than live -- I cannot bear to be solitary and hated, Helen. Look here; to gain some real affection from you, or Miss Temple, or any other whom I truly love, I would willingly submit to have the bone of my arm broken, or to let a bull toss me, or to stand behind a kicking horse, and let it dash its hoof at my chest. (pp. 69-70)

The language of the entire novel is rather dark and bleak. Even the romantic scenes at the end do not really lift the spirits of the readers. There appears to be thick cloud of darkness hovering over every scene especially the ones at Rochester's house. Her days at Rochester's are given a strange, dark and rather unnerving touch with 'strange laughs' and the presence of a queer figure. These laughs contribute heavily to the dark impact of the language, as Jane once observes, "This was a demoniac laugh -- low, suppressed, and deep -- uttered, as it seemed, at the very keyhole of my chamber door. The head of my bed was near the door, and I thought at first the goblin-laugher stood at my bedside -- or rather, crouched by my pillow: but I rose, looked round, and could see nothing; while, as I still gazed, the unnatural sound was reiterated: and I knew it came from behind the panels." (15: 33)

As we mentioned above, love was important to Jane and so was acceptance, but equally significant was the role of religion in her life. It is clear from her refusal to accept Rochester's offer that she truly respected her faith and felt God was the only one who could take her out of her miserable state. Religion appears dominantly near the end when Jane decides to leave Rochester and the troubles of the material world. Faith, Christ and God are few words that regularly appear in the novel. First there is Helen who feels that man could find solace only in religion, "I rely implicitly on his power and confide wholly in his goodness; I count the hours till that eventful one arrives which shall restore me to him, reveal him to me" (p. 82). These are the views and values that have a strong impact on Jane and help her during the most unfortunate and miserable period of her life.

This strict adherence to religious principles is precisely the one thing that separates this novel from modern novels of today. We hardly ever find any religious connotations in modern literary work and this contrast is what keeps the readers in the Victorian society and age while reading Jane Eyre. Even though there are moments when one can detect a prominent feminist streak in Jane, still the novel doesn't totally escape the restrictions that Victorian age had placed on the society. Though she believes in complete emotional and sexual freedom for women, she cannot practice it in reality unlike a modern woman of 21st century.