A Marxist Approach to Jane Eyre - 1034 Words

A Marxist Approach to Jane Eyre Based on the ideas of Karl Marx, this theoretical approach asks us to consider how a literary work reflects the socioeconomic conditions of the time in which it was written. What does the text tell us about contemporary social classes and how does it reflect classism? Jane Eyre depicts the strict, hierarchical class system in England that required everyone to maintain carefully circumscribed class positions. Primarily through the character of Jane, it also accents the cracks in this system, the places where class differences were melding in Victorian England. For example, the novel questions the role of the governess: Should she be considered upper class, based on her superior education, or lower class,†¦show more content†¦Jane confirms her secondary status by referring to Rochester as master, and believing wealth, caste, custom, separate her from him. She fears he will treat her like an automaton because she is poor, obscure, plain and little, mistakenly believing the lowe r classes to be heartless and soulless. Claiming the aristocratic privilege of creating his own rules, Rochester redefines Jane s class status, by defining her as his equal and likeness. Before she can become Rochester s wife, Jane must prove her acceptability based on class. Does she have an upper-class sensibility, despite her inferior position at Thornfield? For example, when Bessie sees Jane at Lowood, she is impressed because Jane has become quite a lady; in fact, her accomplishments surpass that of her cousins, yet they are still considered her social superiors based solely on wealth. The conversation emphasizes the ambiguities of Jane s family s class status and of the class system in general: Should a lady be judged based on academic accomplishments, money, or family name? The novel critiques the behavior of most of the upper-class characters Jane meets: Blanche Ingram is haughty and superficial, John Reed is debauched, and Eliza Reed is inhumanely cold. Rochester is a primary example of upper-class debauchery, with his series of mistresses and his attempt to make Jane a member of the harem. In her final view of Thornfield, after Bertha has burned it down, Ja neShow MoreRelatedThe Binary Opposition Of Master And Servant In Jane Eyre1208 Words   |  5 Pagesin the relationship between John Reed and Jane. Although Jane is an apparent member of John’s foster family, she is often treated of a lower class because of her orphaned status and low wealth. John Reed shows a strong inferiority as he claims himself ‘master’ when he is yet a child of the household. This is best portrayed by a scene in chapter 1 when Jane asks John, â€Å"’What do you want?’†, whereupon John replies, â€Å"’Say, ‘What do you want master Reed?’’† Jane evidently shows a rejection to the claimRead MoreJane Eyre Essay3572 Words   |  15 PagesGleaden Word Count: 3238 Compare and contrast the ways in which Bronte and Rhys construct the adult selves of Jane and Antoinette and consider how this shapes their relationship with Rochester. Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea present the childhoods and later lives of two women, who similarly marry the complex character, Mr. Rochester. Both begin their lives as outsiders, Jane because of economic differences to the rest of her family and Antoinette because of racial distinctions to the restRead MoreEssay about The Introduction of Feminist Criticism1815 Words   |  8 PagesIt consists of two parts: the Anglo-American which is believed to be more practically minded, and the French which is more theoretical. Feminist approaches draw from at least four areas of contemporary critical thoughts: historical (including Marxist), psychoanalytic, reader-response, and deconstructive theory. Feminist criticism therefore gains much of its validity from a variety of other critical approaches. The main concern of feminist literary criticism is the feminist language. Elaine ShowalterRead MoreStatement of Purpose23848 Words   |  96 Pagesyour research interests, and ask them about the importance of the statement of purpose relative to other application materials. ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · II. Content Compared to personal statements, statements of purpose require a more programmatic approach that includes, to a greater or lesser degree, the topics numbered below. Always follow, of course, the prompt provided by the school. Some schools may ask you to devote more or less space to one or more of these topics. For example, the prompt for