A Critique Of The Social Hierarchies Of Victorian England In Jane Eyre

Social landscapes in 19th century Victorian England were shaped by rigid class hierarchies, social mores and rigid class structures. The wealthy and the poor were separated by a wide, unfeeling gap. Long-standing customs also solidified the prosperity of the generations and the destitution. Jane Eyre explores the strict and complex social hierarchies in Victorian England. Jane Eyre’s unclassifiable character is stuck between high class and low. She’s an orphaned estranged but is raised by a family of high class. She is an estranged orphan, but she’s raised in a high class household. Jane is a governess, but she works for the rich and attends social gatherings with aristocrats. Bronte’s societal inequalities are highlighted through the eyes of this young, savvy woman. Jane’s ambiguous standing in terms of class generates great tension in Janes personal life and gives her insight into how society works. Jane is constantly in conflict and tension because of her changing social status. Jane’s family history shows the struggle she faced because of deeply rooted social norms. Jane’s family disowned her parents because they had married into different social classes. Jane’s grandfather refused to give her any money because of the class difference between her father and her. To make matters worse, the parents died of typhoid within two months of their marriage. Jane’s feelings are still a source of pain later on in the story, as she continues to feel the superficiality and tradition surrounding marriage. She is eager to be united with Mr. Rochester but struggles to accept the social implications of such a marriage. She is afraid of being ‘bound’ by Rochester’s ‘condescending’ marriage to her. Rochester chose Miss Ingram despite her “ranking and connections”. Jane’s frugality and obscurity of origins are in stark contrast with Ingram’s prestige and outward beauty. Rochester doesn’t like Ingram at all, but the experience still makes Jane feel bad. Bronte warns of the strife that will follow a violation of English traditions. Her preconceptions are ironic but understandable, as she begins to learn about class. Jane is a young woman who refuses to move in with her poor family because, according to her, “poverty equals degradation”. Jane will later learn in the novel how the wealthy can experience the same degradation as the poor. Poverty isn’t degrading; it’s humbling. Jane, while studying at Lowood Institution learns about the sins of those who are wealthy. Brocklehurst, who resides in a “large room,” teaches the girls that modesty is a virtue. But his strict, resolute words are quickly undermined by his rich, immodest children. They appear “splendidly clad in velvets, silks and furs” while he is reprimanding his schoolchildren over their top-knot. Orphaned kids must lead simple, plain lives. He believes that orphans should live extravagant lives. This scene shows the hypocrisy, double standards, and egotism of the rich. They are unable to see beyond their own power and believe that they do not have to follow the same guidelines or expectations as others. Jane Eyre’s unique perception of the English class hierarchy grows throughout the novel. Her moral courage and sense of justice are a significant part of her personality. Jane Eyre is formed by her constant class changes and personal conflict. On her journey from poverty to aristocratic wealth, she learns the dangers of both. Jane is happy with her path, and when she returns to Rochester she tells him she’s “independent and rich” (Bronte 416). Jane’s ability to navigate through the social and moral spheres is a result of the painful experience of firsthand learning and gradually accumulating wisdom. So, despite the negative prospects of Victorian England’s harsh and unwieldy society, she was able find stability, satisfaction, and a sense of self-reliance.