Archetype.
Bertha Mason's example, as an archetype in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, emphasizes patriarchal society determining the oppression and descriptions of “unconventional” women.
The description of Bertha's character as an ethnic, promiscuous and alcoholic beauty turned mad, solidifies her isolation from Victorian society from the beginning. Readers know the whispers of a deranged voice and surprise violent attacks on the men living in the house. But all of her descriptions are made by her dominating male counterparts: Rochester and Mason, not Bertha herself; setting a precedent for Bertha as an archetype, to be spoken about but not to. Mr. Rochester explains to Jane how he came to marry Bertha; in a business deal facilitated by his father. He …show more content…
Jane berates Mr. Rochester for his antipathy of Mrs. Rochester, “you speak of her with hate… It is cruel - she cannot help being mad” (347). However, Mr. Rochester’s response to Jane, “it is not because she is mad I hate her. If you were mad, do you think I should hate you?” (347), leads readers to the understanding that Rochester ostracizes and labeled Bertha based on her race. Think; if Bertha was Caucasian, would society have shunned her as a lunatic? Admittedly, insanity in the Victorian era had little research, understanding or sympathy. Assuming that Bertha’s actions do fit the criteria for mental illness, how is one to know the legitimacy of that criteria. An article from Kate Tyte Writes states, “With criteria like these, it looks the Victorians thought everyone was mad! It was therefore absurdly easy for wealthy families to have a relative labeled a lunatic all you had to do was pay your doctor enough money to write a certificate of lunacy." Bronte leaves many questions surrounding Bertha’s character unanswered, leading readers to struggle with the question of her
Bertha Mason's example, as an archetype in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, emphasizes patriarchal society determining the oppression and descriptions of “unconventional” women.
The description of Bertha's character as an ethnic, promiscuous and alcoholic beauty turned mad, solidifies her isolation from Victorian society from the beginning. Readers know the whispers of a deranged voice and surprise violent attacks on the men living in the house. But all of her descriptions are made by her dominating male counterparts: Rochester and Mason, not Bertha herself; setting a precedent for Bertha as an archetype, to be spoken about but not to. Mr. Rochester explains to Jane how he came to marry Bertha; in a business deal facilitated by his father. He …show more content…
Jane berates Mr. Rochester for his antipathy of Mrs. Rochester, “you speak of her with hate… It is cruel - she cannot help being mad” (347). However, Mr. Rochester’s response to Jane, “it is not because she is mad I hate her. If you were mad, do you think I should hate you?” (347), leads readers to the understanding that Rochester ostracizes and labeled Bertha based on her race. Think; if Bertha was Caucasian, would society have shunned her as a lunatic? Admittedly, insanity in the Victorian era had little research, understanding or sympathy. Assuming that Bertha’s actions do fit the criteria for mental illness, how is one to know the legitimacy of that criteria. An article from Kate Tyte Writes states, “With criteria like these, it looks the Victorians thought everyone was mad! It was therefore absurdly easy for wealthy families to have a relative labeled a lunatic all you had to do was pay your doctor enough money to write a certificate of lunacy." Bronte leaves many questions surrounding Bertha’s character unanswered, leading readers to struggle with the question of her