“Jane Eyre” written by Charlotte Brontë was published during the 1840s. “In many societies, women have long been viewed as less than fully human” (Nicodemo 11 October 2015). Gender inequality and isolation are two major themes in the book “Jane Eyre”. Throughout the book, Jane faces problems that are caused from gender inequality and isolation. At the young age of ten, plain Jane Eyre was already oppressed for her gender, status in society, and the fact that she was an orphan. When Jane Eyre’s parents died, her uncle took her in. Her uncle loved Jane more than his own children. When he died, his dying wish was that Jane would be left to live with his wife, Mrs. Reed, who despised Jane, and isolated her from the rest of the Reed family. The Reed family treated Jane as if she was
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John Reed, the only male son of Mrs. Reed, insisted on Jane calling him “Master Reed”. John incessantly bullies her however, whenever he would abuse Jane, she would be punished. “Mrs. Reed was blind and deaf on the subject: she never saw him strike or heard him abuse [Jane], though he did both now and then in her very presence, more frequently, however, behind her back (Brontë 4). Jane hid from John because she was afraid that he would abuse her emotionally and physically. “[John] bullied and punished [Jane]; not two or three times in the week, nor once or twice in the day, but continually: every nerve [she] had feared him, and every morsel of flesh in [her] bones shrank when he came near” (Brontë 4). During the 1800’s women were treated subordinate to men. Women’s rights during this time period were restricted. The 19th century is rooted in male dominance. “The patriarchal system is characterized by power, dominance, hierarchy, and competition. So patriarchy is a system of social structures and practices in which men dominate, oppress, and exploit women” (Sultana
John Reed, the only male son of Mrs. Reed, insisted on Jane calling him “Master Reed”. John incessantly bullies her however, whenever he would abuse Jane, she would be punished. “Mrs. Reed was blind and deaf on the subject: she never saw him strike or heard him abuse [Jane], though he did both now and then in her very presence, more frequently, however, behind her back (Brontë 4). Jane hid from John because she was afraid that he would abuse her emotionally and physically. “[John] bullied and punished [Jane]; not two or three times in the week, nor once or twice in the day, but continually: every nerve [she] had feared him, and every morsel of flesh in [her] bones shrank when he came near” (Brontë 4). During the 1800’s women were treated subordinate to men. Women’s rights during this time period were restricted. The 19th century is rooted in male dominance. “The patriarchal system is characterized by power, dominance, hierarchy, and competition. So patriarchy is a system of social structures and practices in which men dominate, oppress, and exploit women” (Sultana