Interpreting Agnes Connotations Of Alienation

Yet, Kent also portrays how Agnes is alienated from society, thus exploring ideas about injustice and entrapment through male domination. Kent personifies Agnes as a farmyard animal; this is implied in the phrase “drinking with the same urgency as an animal at a trough.” The simile suggests that because Agnes isn’t acting like a conventional woman, the setting has driven her to become abhuman and to display ‘otherness’ which for the reader amplifies her entrapment, driving the character to madness through restraint and control. The metaphor “monstrous creature”, further implies that as she is expressing behaviour that society deems unacceptable, she is no longer the feminine version of herself, but a monster reflecting the social divisions

Consequently, the diction “wild” has connotations of untamed disorder; signifying that without restraint or control, rebellious females will ultimately become feral. With a desire to regain masculine control, the 19th century rejects these women’s power by portraying their marginalized position. Some readers may interpret this as both authors using control to condition the protagonists changing their bodies and mindsets, resulting in a loss of independence. This is demonstrated when Agnes observes: “I have stopped bleeding. I am no longer a woman.” This declarative presents the female as an empty shell with a loss of identity. The removal of her femininity through the loss of infertility denies Agnes the possibility of motherhood. Consequently it is evident that both writers’ portray the view that females should be trapped, otherwise they will become uncontrollable, intensifying the view that females have little choice but to accept their

Jane Eyre is described by one critic; Clarke “as the classic Cinderella: poor, despised and mistreated”. For Jane to achieve her dream of independence from patriarchy she must rebel, therefore her alienation can be seen as a deliberate decision to distance herself from the repression of the 19th century society. In contrast some locals see Agnes as a ‘witch’ reflecting the stereotypical and superstitious view of Agnes’s evil deed. Reinforcing how Bronte and Kent present their female protagonists as outsiders, refusing to abide by societies conventions. Therefore they’re choosing their own repressive fate; reinforcing the idea rebellious women are not accepted in society. On Jane’s first encounter with Mr. Brocklehurst, she metaphorically regards him as a representation of the big bad wolf from Little Red Riding Hood. This fairytale imagery is captured in the quotation “What a great nose! And what a mouth! And what large prominent teeth!” Indeed, Jane’s rebellious nature is reflected through the use of exclamatives creating a sense of sarcasm and immaturity. Moreover, the reader gets an insight into Jane’s thoughts through the repetition of “what a…” In doing so, this signifies her behaviour as often melodramatic, which is easily influenced by Bessie’s nighttime stories so the reader is never