Critics Flashcards
“Un-Christian-composition”
Elizabeth rigby
Religion, contemporary reader, Victorian opinions
“Bertha breaks all the conventions women were supposed to conform to”
Gilbert and Gubar
Bertha, feminism, role of women, gender inequality
“Inheritance allows Jane independence and power over Rochester”
Victorian social attitudes and criticisms
Role of women
Wealth And fortune
As much as Jane claims not to be materialistic she relies upon wealth and ultimately money is what allows her freedom. It boosts her status allowing her to be with Rochester
To Jane the moon is a mother figure
Anne Crowe
Supernatural, gothic, Jane yearning for a family, nature
Byronic heroine
Gilbert and Gubar
Jane is a suitable match for Rochester- perfect for each other. She mirrors him, physically and mentally.
Explains why Jane is not always interpreted as likeable.
Bertha is a political symbol of female rage against patriarchy…
She is Jane’s “ truest and darkest double”
Gilbert and Gubar
She was a wasn’t a member of the family, was and wasn’t a servant
Jeanne Peterson
Victorian social structure and criticisms
Jane doesn’t belong in any specific sector of society.
In one sense Jane and Rochester begin their relationship as master and servant… In another they begin as spiritual equals
Gilbert and Gubar
Disagree their first meeting they meet as two travellers, share the same status, equal. In fact Jane is actually in more control as Rochester is the damsel in distress. It is only within the walls of Thornfield that Rochester becomes Jane’s master.
Spiritual equals, both alone and lonely, equal intelligence etc both superstitious
Jane refused to subscribe to the Victorian mantra
Rob Worrall
Gothic undercut by realism
Lisa Arsenieva
The red Room conveys Jane’s transition from childhood to adulthood
Elaine Schawalter
The intimacy of the story because it is told from Jane’s perspective
John Mullen
The reader cannot see anything loveable in Mr Rochester
The spectator
Byronic hero
The idea of marriage of convenience with St John is, for Jane a kind of sacrifice
Brontes own views on marriage at the time
Victorian social structures and criticisms
Highly literary and rhetorical…
Doreen Roberts
Jane is always engaging with the reader. 1st person narrative- more personal and intimate. Bronte manipulates this, so that the reader is challenged by Jane and compelled to see from her perspective.
