Society’s view of mental illness has never been a good one, at one point if someone had schizophrenia people believed that they were possessed by demons. For hundreds of years women who did not conform to societal norms were considered to be mad. Bertha Mason, one of the main antagonists of Jane Eyre. When her true identify is finally revealed she is said to be mad just like her mother. Bertha Mason was most likely not originally mad, the actions of both her brother, Mr. Mason, and husband Mr. Rochester helped to produce the mentally “unstable” character that is seen in Jane Eyre, who acts with malevolence to those who have wronged her..
The Victorian era was marked by conformity. Men and women were expected to fit into clear cut social roles …show more content…
At the end of the novel, she burns Thornfield to the ground, putting Mr. Rochester in the position to finally be able to marry the novels protagonist, Jane Eyre. The author of the novel, Charlotte Bronte, describes her as. “[Bertha is] mad; and she came of a mad family; idiots and maniacs through three generations. (Bronte 26). Her husband, Mr. Rochester keeps her locked in the attic due to her “instability.” However, due to the Victorian way of thinking, readers cannot be one hundred percent sure exactly how crazy and unstable Bertha Mason is. Although almost all her actions are done out of anger towards Mr. Rochester and Mr. Mason, her husband and brother, and jailers.
The novel describes Bertha as promiscuous and women who showed sexual desire were considered crazy during this time period. It also says that her mother was “mad.” Children often copy their parents’ behaviors. In chapter twenty-six of Jane Eyre, Bertha’s mother is said to be a madwoman and a drunk. (Bronte). Addictions tend to run in families and Bertha was most likely just copying her mother’s actions, which unfortunately for her were not standard at the time.
The Victorian era was marked by conformity. Men and women were expected to fit into clear cut social roles …show more content…
At the end of the novel, she burns Thornfield to the ground, putting Mr. Rochester in the position to finally be able to marry the novels protagonist, Jane Eyre. The author of the novel, Charlotte Bronte, describes her as. “[Bertha is] mad; and she came of a mad family; idiots and maniacs through three generations. (Bronte 26). Her husband, Mr. Rochester keeps her locked in the attic due to her “instability.” However, due to the Victorian way of thinking, readers cannot be one hundred percent sure exactly how crazy and unstable Bertha Mason is. Although almost all her actions are done out of anger towards Mr. Rochester and Mr. Mason, her husband and brother, and jailers.
The novel describes Bertha as promiscuous and women who showed sexual desire were considered crazy during this time period. It also says that her mother was “mad.” Children often copy their parents’ behaviors. In chapter twenty-six of Jane Eyre, Bertha’s mother is said to be a madwoman and a drunk. (Bronte). Addictions tend to run in families and Bertha was most likely just copying her mother’s actions, which unfortunately for her were not standard at the time.