Context and Themes Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre

Roles of Women in the Victorian Era The Laws Respecting Women of 1777 – “By marriage the very being or legal existence of a woman is suspended.” – “She can’t let, set, sell, give away, or alienate any thing without her husband’s consent.” Jean-Jaques Rousseau’s Emile (1762)

Historical Context Franco-phobia – Vanity (the wrong kind of power) Georgiana, Grand Duchess of Devonshire – Supported Whig Party leader James Fox – Westminster election 1784 – Move to suppress women from public view The death of chivalry – Public trial and beheading of Marie Antoinette – Leicestershire’s militia 1798 Mary Wollstonecraft: Queen of France’s trial as a public rape. – 1804 Napoleonic Code

Proto-Feminism Predates modern understanding of feminism Connected to tradition of male exceptionalism – “Man must necessarily fulfil the duties of a citizen, or be despised” – Mary Wolstonecraft Woman work serves to directly connect with male work. Female moral purity – Duty over desire – Rearing a new generation of patriots

The Victorian Era Was marked by the rise to power of power of Queen Victoria spanning Was a time of peace, prosperity, and marked a return to sensibilities. – The Reform Act of 1832 – Named “male” voters barring women from voting – Forwarded women’s suffrage movement – The Duke of Wellington

Contemporary Connections How does the chastisement of the Grand Duchess of Devonshire connect to contemporary distrust of women in power? In what way does Jane Eyre illustrate that sentiment?

Contemporary Connections Why would the end of chivalry spark a rise in female interest in suffrage? What causes Jane to exercise a sense of power?

The Brontes Charlotte Bronte Born 1816 Most famous for Jane Eyre Died at 37 in 1855 Emily Bronte Born 1818 Most famous for Wuthering Heights Died at 30 in 1848 Anne Bronte Born 1820 Most famous for The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Died at 29 in 1849

Context Considerations How does Charlotte’s connection with her sisters come through in her writing? What implications can the reader draw from the way in which the characters interact with each other? Considering that Jane is meant to be a representation of Bronte, what conclusions can you draw about the author’s intent?

Jane Eyre Proto-Feminism Classism Sexuality Romanticism – Sublime – Untamed nature Religion Coming of Age Byronic Hero

The Byronic Hero The Byronic hero is a variant of the Romantic hero as a type of character described by the historian and critic Lord Macaulay as: "a man proud, moody, cynical, with defiance on his brow, and misery in his heart, a scorner of his kind, implacable in revenge, yet capable of deep and strong affection."

Byronic Hero Characteristics A distaste for social institutions and norms An exile, an outcast, or an outlaw Arrogant Cunning and ability to adapt Cynical “Dark” attributes not generally associated with a traditional hero Disrespectful of rank and privilege Emotionally conflicted, bipolar tendencies, or moodiness High level of intelligence and perception Mysterious, magnetic, and charismatic Power of seduction and attraction Self-critical and introspective Self-destructive behavior Social and sexual dominance Sophisitcated and well educated Struggles with integrity Troubled past

“It’s better if we’re not friends. Trust me.” “From the moment I met you, all those years ago, not a day has gone by when I haven't thought of you. And now that I'm with you again... I'm in agony. The closer I get to you, the worse it gets. The thought of not being with you—I can't breathe. I'm haunted by the kiss that you should never have given me. My heart is beating, hoping that kiss will not become a scar. You are in my very soul, tormenting me..." Dumbledore: “Lily, after all this time?” Snape: “Always”

Text Dependant Prompt Throughout Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, the protagonist, Jane asserts that she “is no Helen Burns” (Bronte 66). How does the tone of this statement and the context surrounding it connect to a major theme in the novel?