People who benefit from social hierarchy embrace it because it allows them to manipulate their privilege; however, these people can choose to disregard the hierarchy to embrace a sense of commonality with others. This is highly exemplified in Jane Eyre, most clearly in the power dynamics at Lowood and Thornfield. Thornfield specifically, because of the wealth associated with it, shows people who are put in positions of power tend to stay there, as well as constantly justify their positions. After Mr. Rochester calls Jane to the drawing room to be his confidant, he eventually asks her to talk about herself— something Jane refuses. At this point, Mr. Rochester reminds her that holds a position of intellectual power over her because of his age.
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The age gap between him and Jane gives him the higher ground— what he says holds more validity than what she says because he is older and has more experience than her. Mr. Rochester is using and exploiting his age to have Jane talk to him. This gap is bridged when Mr. Rochester puts aside his superiority in favor of a relationship, and Jane points it out: “‘Very few masters would trouble themselves to inquire whether or not their paid subordinates were piqued and hurt by their orders’” (Bronte 161). The fact that she refers to herself as a “paid subordinate” re-emphasizes her inferiority as employee; however, he chooses to disregard this fact because he wants someone to talk to. His need for a confidant causes him to make sure Jane is not “piqued and hurt” by what he says, because that may cause him to lose his companion. Apart from Mr. Rochester, Thornfield also shows Mrs. Fairfax as a source of inequality. Since she is the housekeeper— and as such, the head of the household when Mr. Rochester is away— she feels she needs to constantly maintain her
The age gap between him and Jane gives him the higher ground— what he says holds more validity than what she says because he is older and has more experience than her. Mr. Rochester is using and exploiting his age to have Jane talk to him. This gap is bridged when Mr. Rochester puts aside his superiority in favor of a relationship, and Jane points it out: “‘Very few masters would trouble themselves to inquire whether or not their paid subordinates were piqued and hurt by their orders’” (Bronte 161). The fact that she refers to herself as a “paid subordinate” re-emphasizes her inferiority as employee; however, he chooses to disregard this fact because he wants someone to talk to. His need for a confidant causes him to make sure Jane is not “piqued and hurt” by what he says, because that may cause him to lose his companion. Apart from Mr. Rochester, Thornfield also shows Mrs. Fairfax as a source of inequality. Since she is the housekeeper— and as such, the head of the household when Mr. Rochester is away— she feels she needs to constantly maintain her