Jane Eyre was written during the Victorian Period, a time when many historical changes were made that motivated discussion and argument about the nature and role of woman (The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Victorian Age: Topic 2: Overview). This idea is what we now know as The Woman Question. Womens place in society was called into question, and one of the major issues was their role in marriage. Along with the Woman Question, many feminist ideals about marriage were established such as "equal contract and property rights" and "ownership of married women (and their children) by their husbands" (Topics in Feminism). At the end of Jane Eyre, the marriage between Jane and Rochester is unquestionably one of equals, but only after several events that changed both character's roles.
It is obvious that Jane and Rochesters marriage wasnt the norm during their time. During the Victorian Era, marriages were based primarily on ones financial status and social class and were often done as a convenience for each individual's family. It wasnt intended to be a relationship of equals, but rather one in which the husband was the dominant figure and the wife was submissive. Since many marriages were fundamentally based on economic gain, love wasnt a priority in marriage. Jane and Rochester's marriage, however, rebels against this idea; both parties reciprocate their love. But even after Rochester proposes to Jane, she has doubts about his love for her: "I suppose your love will effervesce in six months or less I have observed in books written by men, that period assigned as the furthest to which a husband's ardour extends" (Bronte 262). Her doubts are justified because by her knowledge of what most marriages in her culture were like. Jane feels that marrying Rochester would reinforce a marriage of inequality. She knows that not only would marriage make her Rochester's mistress, but that Rochester is still above her in both class and wealth. These thoughts force her to reevaluate her relationship with him by running away. Although Jane is against the idea of the stereotypical quiet and consenting wife, she fears that she herself may become a victim.
While Jane parted from Rochester, much of her reservations about marriage have been resolved. The inheritance that she obtains from her uncle redefines their relationship and allows Janes reunion with Rochester. The idea of a woman gaining wealth and independence was radical in their time, since that was traditionally the role of the man. Jane was in control of her own money, even splitting it amongst her relatives, which shows that she has gained power in her life.
To add to the irony of this twist, Rochester has become blind and lost a hand. He is the dependent one in their marriage now, a complete reversal in roles. Because Thornfield Manor was burned down, he lost a great part of his wealth and his previous wife, Bertha. The whole premise for their marriage has, since all other factors have been dismissed, become a very touching one as it is based completely on their love for each other. During their reunion, Rochester asks Jane [will you marry] a poor blind man, whom you will have to lead about by the hand . . . a crippled man, twenty years older than you, whom you will have to wait on." Jane accepts saying: To be your wife is, for me, to be as happy as I can on earth (Bronte 448). The both of them have become emotionally dependent on one another, which helps equalize their marriage. They have both broken away from societys norms to find their own reason for marriage, one that doesn't take class or wealth into account.
It is obvious that Jane and Rochesters marriage is hardly what one would call Victorian. Indeed, it is not. Bronte wrote this novel while being aware of the traditions during her time and rebelled against those ideas. Jane Eyre was used as an apparatus to promote the uprising feminist values of Bronte's time and the idea of an equal marriage during a time when it was thought nigh impossible due to societys values. Janes acceptance of Rochesters proposal reveals a beautiful and genuine marriage based on pure love and is truly one of equals.
Works Cited
Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Penguin Books USA, 1960.
The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Victorian Age: Topic 2: Overview. 6 April 2009 .
Topics in Feminism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). 19 April 2009 .
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