Gender Roles in Jane Eyre In the novel “Jane Eyre” written by Charlotte Bronte the author illustrates gender roles in the Victorian era. Throughout the novel the main character, Jane, struggles with her role as an independent women, which hinders her ability to decisions. Jane is also conflicted with the choice of conforming to society by either marrying or working or to be a nonconformist by marrying for love. Meanwhile Mr. Rochester, Jane’s employer, also struggles with resisting the ways of society or being an independant. During the Victorian Era men and society had high standards of women and their responsibilities. The novel “Jane Eyre” proves this through the gender roles of money, social status, education and relationships. Jane herself proves this to be wrong by being a nonconformist and trying to be …show more content…
One way Jane conforms to society is by choosing to be a governess. Another way the main character complies with society's expectations is by higher a man of higher status than her. On the other hand Jane also resists society’s expectations is by marrying for love rather than to St. John who insisted she marry him and go to India with him. Bronte writes, “Again the surprised expression crossed his face. He had not imagined that a woman would dare to speak so to a man. For me, I felt at home in this sort of discourse. I could never rest in communication with strong, discreet, and refined minds, whether male or female, till I had passed the outworks of conventional reserve, and crossed the threshold of confidence, and won a place by their heart's very hearthstone.( chapter 32). Here Jane is speaking up for herself instead of restraining her feelings. When Rochester wants to buy expensive gifts for Jane she insists that he does not. Her resisting attributes to Jane’s nonconformist ways. All in all Jane both conforms and resists the ways of