Jane Eyre Paper - Feminism Through Financials and Equality

Matthew Beauzile

Jane Eyre Paper

John Wang

Feminism through Financials and Equality

        In both the novel Jane Eyre and in the mostly true-to-form film adaptation, Charlotte Bronte's Jane is a flexible character who is able to judge fellow characters fairly due to her varied background. I believe the lens Bronte uses to portray Jane is strongly feminist. I would go one step further to say that it is feminist particularly through the financial aspect and the strife for equality in Jane's life. The same rings true in the book for the most part but there are some stark differences. 

        In the book, Bronte makes it clear that Jane has no fixed social class. At the beginning of the novel, even though she is living at a quite nice estate, Gateshead with the Reeds, she is reminded by John Reed, "... You have no money, your father left you none, you ought to beg" (chapter 1) which is both foreshadowing and ironic by the time the book is finished. I genuinely believe that living between the social classes is what actually turns Jane into the feminist icon that she is. Her parents were also ambiguous in status due to the disowning of her mother because she married Jane's father, a poor clergyman. "…my mother married him against the wishes of her friends... My grandfather Reed was so irritated… He cut her off without a shilling" (chapter 3). I believe that when Jane learns this about her past, mixed with the ill-treatment by Mrs. Reed, it puts a will in her to forge her own path. 

        Within the first scenes of the movie, there are stark differences, mainly being that the movie is constructed around the idea of flashbacks. During a particular flashback, the scene after Mrs. Reed convinces Mr. Brocklehurst to take Jane, Jane takes a stand for what she believes to be a slight. As Haiyan Gao points out in his essay "Reflection on Feminism in Jane Eyre", Jane refuses to be treated as some sort of doll by Mrs. Reed when she says "I should say I loved you, but I declare, I don't love you. I dislike you the worst of everybody in the world except John Reed" (Chapter 4), a scene which is beautifully translated in the movie (Dir. Cary Fukunaga 8:05-10:15). This is Jane striving for equality. This proves to be true again later in the movie when she speaks to Rochester about feelings in regards to their relationship. "Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am... A machine without feelings?" Jane is tired of having her feelings being ignored due to her plain looks. Without a doubt these are the Sparks of feminism I speak of. Jane is demanding her share of attention due to the fact that she indubitably brings so much value to the table. 

        Another scene that was accurately depicted in the movie was the scene in which Jane leaves Thornfield to head to Gateshead to visit her dying aunt, Mrs. Reed. According to Stephen Morley's historical inflation chart (inflation.stephenmorley.org), the reign of King George (1780-1820) had an average inflation multiplier of about 112.0, which means that 1£ then is the equivalent of 112£ now. Using that multiplier, when Rochester owes Jane 30£, this is the equivalent of approximately 3400£ today. Jane’s principled approach to life allows her to dismiss the 50£ (approx. 5600£ today), which personally is not something I believe I would be strong-willed enough to refuse. I believe this is once again Jane essentially showing off her value, whilst showing her values. Jane is showing her value because in comparison to her, Blanche Ingram is into Rochester for his money and social class, not for love or passion. Rochester makes Jane feel things she has never felt before; however, Jane is not easily swayed by the amount of money Rochester is willing to throw around, this does not impress her in the slightest. She is more than happy to take the amount of money that is owed to her and not a cent more. In a time where women were rarely allowed to control money and seldom owned estates, this is a major deal. This alone should illustrate to Rochester the value of having Jane in his life, she is not there for the vanity, only for the substance.