A Marxist Reading of Brontë’s Jane Eyre

A Marxist Reading of Brontë’s Jane Eyre

Introduction

Published in 1847, Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre paints a picture of the Victorian society and the trends of that time. Brontë criticizes the various practices of her society through the characters in this novel.

Tyson (2006) writes: “For  some  Marxists,  realism  is  the  best  form  for  Marxist  purposes  because  it clearly and accurately represents the real world, with all its socioeconomic inequities and ideological contradictions, and encourages readers to see the unhappy truths about material/historical reality” (p. 66). Thus, Jane Eyre, which portrays the Victorian upper class, attempts to dismantle the capitalist, religious and sexist or patriarchal ideologies prevalent in that time period.

Analysis of Jane Eyre

The novel revolves around a female protagonist named Jane Eyre who is an orphan living in mother’s brother, Mr. Reed’s home. The deceased Mr. Reed made his wife promise to take care of Jane. From the very start, there is a clear hierarchy of the upper and lower class. Where Mrs. Reed and her three children, John Reed, Georgiana and Eliza belong to the rich, upper class, Jane Eyre, being an orphan and dependant, belongs to the lower class. Mrs. Reed’s cold behavior towards Jane leads her to believe that “[…] she really must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy, little children.” (Brontë, 1847, p. 7). It is this hierarchy of socioeconomic standards that determines how the Reed family behaves towards Jane and this idea seeps through the generations, thus establishing itself as a cultural norm of the society. John Reed orders Jane to address him as ‘Master Reed’, and in accordance with the classist ideology that his family and society has imparted in him, tells her

You  have  no  business  to  take  our  books;  you  are  a  dependent, mama says; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemen’s children like us, and eat the same meals we do, and wear clothes at our mama’s expense. Now, I’ll teach you to rummage my bookshelves: for they ARE mine; all the house belongs to me, or will do in a few years. Go and stand by the door, out of the way of the mirror and the windows (Brontë , 1847, p. 11-12).

Being a rebellious protagonist, Jane calls him a tyrant and a slave-driver like the Roman emperors of the past. It is clear that Mrs. Reed’s children are aware of the class difference and even the servants of the household attempt to teach Jane this hierarchy of haves and have-nots.

And you ought not to think yourself on an equality with the Misses Reed and Master Reed, because Missis kindly allows you to be brought up with them. They will have a great deal of money, and you will have none: it is your place to be humble, and to try to make yourself agreeable to them (p. 15-16).

The housemaids tell Jane that if she does not act humble with the Reeds, God will punish her. Clearly, everyone in the Reed household except for Jane has fully indulged in the ideology that those who are rich may do as they please, while the poor need to be taught severely of their limitations and boundaries. Thus, Jane wonders “Why was I always suffering, always browbeaten, always accused, for ever condemned?” (p. 18). Her lack of money and status earns her everyone’s cruelty. Although Jane rebels against this kind of treatment on basis of her poverty, since she is a child, the effects of the capitalist ideology rub off on her as well. “I could not see how poor people had the means of being kind” (p. 33).

Jane is made to believe that since she is an orphan, she is a useless thing who is incapable of benefiting anyone. The nurse, Bessie’s song further highlights the idea that the poor and destitute have no one to turn to but God and Heaven. “Men are hard-hearted, and kind angels only/ Watch o’er the steps of a poor orphan child” (p. 29). This is a religious interpellation through which the proletariat class is injected with the ideology that they must rely on the help of the divine and it keeps them from rising against the cruelties of the bourgeois class.

The discrimination between the treatment of upper and lower class by the characters of the novel is displayed when Jane arrives at Thornfield to work as a governess for Mr. Rochester. Unaware of the fact that Mrs. Fairfax is not her employer, Jane imagines the old lady to be “a model of elderly English respectability” (p. 134-135), however, her arrival at the Rochester mansion reveals that Mrs. Fairfax is in fact, the housekeeper and manager. This shows that even in Jane’s mind, being a member of the Victorian upper class is synonymous to elegance and respect. Even Mrs. Fairfax fully buys into the class division, and believes herself to be a station above the other servants of the Rochester household. Mrs. Fairfax prides herself on being distantly related to the Rochesters.

Leah is a nice girl to be sure, and John and his wife are very decent people;  but  then  you  see  they are only servants, and one can’t converse with them on  terms  of equality: one must keep them at due distance, for fear of losing one’s authority (p. 147-148).

The way she sees Edward Rochester, the master of the house, is also determined by his status: “Mr. Rochester was Mr. Rochester in her eyes; a gentleman, a landed proprietor—nothing more” (p. 160).

The capitalist division of class is more clearly defined when Brontë attacks the upper class lords and ladies for having inadequate moral standards. Brontë criticizes the ideology that being rich is synonymous to being a better human being and deserving of respect. She shows the ugliness of the upper class, their brutish behavior and establishes that good manners have nothing to do with being rich. Brontë evaluates her characters based on their actions and personality, not on their class or social status. In this way, the novel can be called a ‘resistant literature’ which challenges the repressive ideologies present in the society and refuses to adhere to them. When some of the upper class, aristocracy arrives at Thornfield, Brontë shows their hollow personalities through the eyes of Jane. Ms. Blanche Ingram, the epitome of an aristocratic lady, is shown to be a selfish, rude and proud girl. Jane notices that “there was an expression of almost insupportable haughtiness in her bearing and countenance” (p. 261). She had the same pride in her as her mother and she was remarkably self-conscious.

She  was  very  showy,  but  she  was not  genuine:  she  had  a  fine  person,  many  brilliant  attainments; but her mind was poor, her heart barren by nature: nothing bloomed spontaneously on that soil; no unforced natural fruit delighted by its freshness. She was not good; she  was  not  original:  she  used  to  repeat  sounding  phrases  from  books:  she  never  offered,  nor  had,  an  opinion  of her own… (Brontë , 1847, p. 282).

Thus, Jane looks at the personality and behavior of a person to judge their character.

The ideology that those who are rich are morally correct while the poor are illiterate and untrustworthy is upheld by all the lords and ladies that stay as guests at Thornfield. Mr. Ingram, while talking about Jane Eyre, remarks: “I noticed her; I am a judge of physiognomy, and in hers I see all the faults of her class.” (p. 268). Her daughter Blanche shows an aversion towards Jane and remarks that she looks stupid to be allowed to play games with them. The idea of physical ugliness is associated with the poor while beauty is linked with the bourgeoisie. The discrimination on basis of outer appearance stems from the historical/material conditions of the society. Blanche further says that there are a thousand reasons why governesses and tutors of a well-regulated house should not be allowed to have a relationship. She says that their “mutual alliance” (p. 270), reliance and confidence will result in insolence which will be followed by mutiny and a general blow-up. Thus, the upper class fears rebellion of the proletariat class and tries to inject them with ideologies which will prevent such a rebellion.

Brontë’s biggest criticism is made on the capitalist ideology that rich men should only marry rich women, and marriages should be arranged for the sake of preserving or increasing one’s estate (capital). Most conflicts in Jane Eyre arise due to a steadfast belief and nurturing of this ideology. Mr. Edward Rochester is a rich bachelor, who, although not handsome, is deemed a worthy match for Blanche Ingram due to his status. As Jane observes: “I suppose his acquirements and abilities, perhaps his wealth and good blood, make amends for any little fault of look” (p. 240).

Once Jane realizes that she has fallen in love with her employer and master, Mr. Rochester, she attempts to admonish herself and keep in mind that she is not of his station to think of falling in love with him. While addressing herself, she calls herself a dependent and a novice, and says that “It does good to no woman to be flattered by her superior, who cannot possibly intend to marry her” (p. 244). In order to keep in mind the class difference between herself and Blanche, she draws a portrait of herself, labeling it as “Portrait of a Governess, disconnected, poor, and plain” and gives the title “Blanche, an accomplished lady of rank” (p. 245) to the portrait of Blanche.

The belief that rank and wealth sever her and Mr. Rochester widely is what prevents her from believing that she is worthy of marrying him. “Mr. Rochester might probably win that noble lady’s love, if he chose to strive for it; is it likely he would waste a serious thought on this indigent and insignificant plebeian?” (p. 245).

Keeping to her own caste and order is something that Jane has observed in her society and therefore, she forces herself to adhere to this ideology. She realizes that due to the concerns of family, rank, connections and political reasons, Mr. Rochester may want to marry Blanche, however, she is not qualified to win his love because she has a rotten personality.

I had thought him a man unlikely to be influenced by motives so commonplace in his choice of a wife; but the longer I considered the position, education, &c., of the parties, the less I felt justified in judging and blaming either him or Miss Ingram for acting in conformity to ideas and principles instilled into them, doubtless, from their childhood. All their class held these principles: I supposed, then, they had reasons for holding them such as I could not fathom. (p. 285).

The idea of marrying within your own class is what causes Jane’s mother to develop a discord among her family. Jane learns that her mother was of a respectable family and when she chose to marry a poor clergyman, her friends disapproved of the match. “[…] my grandfather Reed was so irritated at her disobedience, he cut her off without a shilling; that after my mother and father had been married a year” (p. 35).

However, both Jane and Mr. Rochester refuse to bow down to this ideology. Edward Rochester is fully aware of the fact that Blanche may not be impressed by his personality, but his purse, and that she considers his estate eligible for marriage.  “I caused a rumour to reach her that my fortune was not a third of what was supposed, and after that I presented myself to see the result; it was coldness both from her and her mother” (p. 388). More than a decade ago, Edward had been deceived into marrying a raving mad woman due to the greed of his father. His father did not want to divide his property among his two sons and diminish it, therefore, he planned to marry Edward into riches, and this brought nothing but disaster and pain to Edward. He then attempts to find his ideal woman who has an agreeable personality; however, the aristocratic class fails him terribly.

 Provided with plenty of money and the passport of an old name, I could choose my own society: no circles were closed against me. I sought my ideal of a woman amongst English ladies, French countesses, Italian signoras, and German grafinnen. I could not find her (p. 474).

In this way, Brontë exposes the ugly underbelly of an aristocratic society, maintaining that wealth and status do not guarantee moral qualities such as honesty and sincerity in a relationship.

In the end Mr. Rochester chooses to marry Jane because he has fallen in love with her, and refuses to conform to the society’s ideology about marrying in a rich family. Jane too, denounces her interest in Mr. Rochester’s property, thereby breaking away from the long-held traditions of her times molded by capitalism. “What do I want with half your estate? Do you think I am a Jew-usurer, seeking good investment in land? I would much rather have all your confidence. You will not exclude me from your confidence if you admit me to your heart?” (p. 398-399).

Brontë also attacks the religious ideologies that prevail in the Victorian society. The ideology that you must be good and kind to even those who wish to do you harm is what Brontë criticizes. The kind of religious ideologies promoted to keep the poor from rebelling against the rich, to keep maintaining the current class structure are displayed in Jane Eyre. The masses are being conditioned by the customs of the society, those of the upper class. The character of Mr. Brocklehurst, a clergyman who owns the Lowood School of charity for orphan girls is used by Brontë to mock the idea that religious institutions are fair and just.

Mr. Brocklehurst upholds the concept that the orphan girls of the Lowood Institute should be taught self-denial and simplicity, and punished severely when they do not follow instructions. His ideals are exaggerated to a ridiculous degree, demonstrated when he demands a Lowood student’s hair be cut off because it curls naturally and looks rather lavish. Brontë contrasts this by presenting Brocklehurt’s own family which does not follow his own grossly exaggerated religious doctrines.

Mr. Brocklehurst was here interrupted: three other visitors, ladies, now entered the room. They ought to have come a little sooner to have heard his lecture on dress, for they were splendidly attired in velvet, silk, and furs. The two younger of the trio (fine girls of sixteen and seventeen) had grey beaver hats, then in fashion, shaded with ostrich plumes, and from under the brim of this graceful headdress fell a profusion of light tresses, elaborately curled; the elder lady was enveloped in a costly velvet shawl, trimmed with ermine, and she wore a false front of French curls (p. 97).

In the name of religion, Mr. Brocklehurst attempted to keep the poor and orphan content in their deplorable condition, and as a result he managed to save money and exercise his authority on the basis of his superior station. He served them rotten, rancid food and justified his actions through religion: “Oh, madam, when you put bread and cheese, instead of burnt porridge, into these children’s mouths, you may indeed feed their vile bodies, but you little think how you starve their immortal souls!” (p. 94-95).  

Jane voices her rebellion against the kind of morals and religious doctrines which are being taught at Lowood.

If people were always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust, the wicked people would have it all their own way: they would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter, but would grow worse and worse. When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should—so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again (p. 85-86).

She believes that she must resist those who punish her unjustly. However, her friend Helen Burns at Lowood replies to Jane’s protest by saying that only Heathens believe in such things, Christians denounce violence. Through Jane, the readers are shown how Christian values and ideologies being fed to the lower class society are not in their favor, rather they are harmful and attempt to shackle the masses, not free them.

When Jane runs away from Thornfield and arrives at a rural setting, she meets her cousin St. John Rivers, who is steadfast in his goal of becoming a missionary and serving to convert people in India to Christianity. He believes that his greatest work will be to toil in the Indian soil for sake of Christ and be rewarded with a mansion in heaven. The ideology that St. John is adopting will lead him into a miserable life away from his homeland, where he will struggle to survive in poverty, believing that he will be admitted to heaven when he dies. However, Jane, by refusing to join him in such a life, presents a different perspective to the ideology and reveals its faults.

It is—that he asks me to be his wife, and has no more of a husband’s heart for me than that frowning giant of a rock, down which the stream is foaming in yonder gorge. He prizes me as a soldier would a good weapon; and that is all. [...] Can I receive from him the bridal ring, endure all the forms of love (which I doubt not he would scrupulously observe) and know that the spirit was quite absent? Can  I  bear  the  consciousness  that  every  endearment  he bestows  is  a  sacrifice  made  on  principle?  No:  such a martyrdom would be monstrous. I will never undergo it. (p. 617).

Jane tells him that she shall not be able to survive in the harsh climate of India and that God did not give her a life to throw it away and follow St. John’s orders as he pleases, she calls such an act a suicide and rejects it. Thus, Brontë not only criticizes the religious ideologies that were dominant in the Victorian times but also points out how they are at fault and do not promise a good life which is the right of every human being. While the poor clergymen and missionaries of rural areas wander all over the world in destitution spreading religion, the rich steal and deceive to become richer, and the class system of the society is maintained.

Brontë also criticizes the sexism in the patriarchal society. Through Jane’s words, Brontë attempts to reject the sexist ideology that women have certain assigned roles in the society that make them more feminine and they should stick to those roles. In the conversation between Bessie and Jane, Bessie calls Jane a fine lady because she has now learnt how to play the piano, speak French and work embroidery on the muslin and canvas (Brontë, 1847). Similarly, Blanche is believed to be an accomplished lady because she is beautiful, she sings and plays the piano. Blanche is an adherent of the patriarchal ideology and says that loveliness and beauty are solely traits of a woman, and the gentlemen should only possess strength and valour. They should shoot, hunt and fight, and forget about everything else. Through the character of Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë voices her opinion against this patriarchal ideology.

Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do; […] and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex. (p. 167).

In conclusion, Jane Eyre does not promote the capitalist, religious or patriarchal ideologies prevalent in that time but presents them in a different light, through the eyes of a female protagonist, and shows how these ideologies are unhealthy and attempt to mask the reality from the masses. In the name of customs and tradition, the masses follow certain ideologies which they believe to be correct in every aspect; however, in reality they have flaws that are hidden from the eyes of the people. Jane Eyre draws out those flaws and proves to be a critique of the capitalist Victorian society.

References

Brontë, C. (1847). Jane Eyre. Retrieved November 15, 2014. From http://www.planetebook.com/ebooks/Jane-Eyre.pdf

Tyson, L. (2006). Critical Theory Today. (2^nd Ed). USA: Routledge.  

TO CITE THIS POST: (APA 5th Ed) Rafiq, M. (2015, April 2). A Marxist Reading of Bronte's Jane Eyre. Message posted to http://benglishliteratureguide.blogspot.com/