This paper will summarize the fifth article ‘Charlotte Brontë’s Circumvention of Patriarchy: Gender, Labour and Financial Agency in Jane Eyre’, by Owsley Lauren. The main argument is whether Jane Eyre functions as a primarily feminist text in the modern literary and gender discourse (Owsley). She does this by examining the role of Jane and her journey towards attaining her position in society. The article uses feminism as the main theoretical framework by Lauren in gender and societal station to examine the efforts of Jane Eyre towards achieving freedom and gaining equitable romantic involvement.
Lauren’s first sub-argument is the importance of financial freedom as a critical boost to social and political liberation. The only way for Jane is by becoming independent and able to fulfill her needs. Jane depends on Rochester for financial success, which does not accord her the freedom she desires (Owsley). Lauren places Jane in a society where men are powerful, and their financial stability depicts their masculinity. Rochester is seen as decisive for what he has earned and the financial capability to cater to his needs. It is hard to achieve financial autonomy through the labor systems because of societal constructs.
Another significant sub-argument by Lauren is that Jane’s concessions of her prized self-sufficiency are not sacrifices of her earned agency but cognitive choices that she can afford to make because of her purchased societal station (Owsley). Jane has triumphed against societal bids to achieve equitable status and earn her freedom. She fights the rigid hierarchy of the organized religion and pursues spirituality towards feminism and justice. Jane reminded restless and dissatisfied with her lifestyle both at home and in her economic position giving room for adequate fiscal comfort. Jane raises to a governess from being an orphan and physically struggles to set her status. Lauren shows these as the difficulties every woman must battle against to overcome societal oppressions and a significant mental autonomy to achieve success.
The third sub-argument of the article is Jane’s inheritance, a necessary rhetorical implementation on Charlotte Brontë’s part that provides her with the luxury to negotiate her interpretation of the social conventions of marriage and motherhood (Owsley). Financial independence gives Jane the view that romantic relationships as a potentially equitable partnership rather than an opportunity for social or monetary security; to grant Jane a genuinely egalitarian relationship with Rochester. According to the article, labor opportunities for educated women like Jane and those who want to expand their intellectual integrity are subjected to societal practices that oppress women while dignifying men. Jane gains equality in a romantic relationship through financial autonomy and earning the luxury to negotiate her interpretations of social life. Lauren relieves Rochester of his masculinity and elevates Jane as the head of their home, expressing her freedom.
Lauren is looking to participate in the debate about Jane Eyre and whether the work functions as a primarily feminist text. She states that “Jane’s ultimate marriage and pregnancy seemingly diminish her desire for independence and her resistance to socially constructed norms of appropriate femininity” (Owsley). She implies that an argument has been made that Jane Eyre is not only a feminist text because ultimately, she also gets married and becomes pregnant. This is the author’s position concerning other scholars and the socially constructed norms women must battle to achieve financial and personal freedom.
Work Cited
Owsley, Lauren. “Charlotte Brontë’s Circumvention of Patriarchy: Gender, Labour and Financial Agency Injane Eyre.” Brontë Studies, vol. 38, no. 1, 2013, pp. 54–65. Web.