St. Joseph Hill Academy
Jane Eyre: The Most Controversial Novel of the Victorian Era
Alex Caches
British Literature
Ms. Mojica
14 October 2016
Jane Eyre: The Most Controversial Novel of the Victorian Era Even at its publication in 1847, critics of the novel and the public could both agree that Jane Eyre was not only an immediate literary sensation, but it also emerged as the most controversial novel of Gothic literature to be published during the Victorian period. In many different criticisms of the novel, critics argue that the novel is both feminist and antifeminist, radical and conservative, Romantic and Victorian (Weisser xiv). However, Jane Eyre clearly expresses Charlotte Bronte’s criticisms of Victorian society. Bronte …show more content…
Brocklehurst and St. John Rivers. A strong religious motif is presented early in the novel, starting with Mr. Brocklehurst, the landlord and headmaster of Lowood School, where Jane is sent to receive an education at boarding school. Brocklehurst is the first character that Jane meets with religious authority, or with any clear religious faith or devotion at all. The religious beliefs of Mr. Brocklehurst generally reflect upon the principles of the Christian faith during the nineteenth century, even though his actions do not indicate the genuine, and good-natured aspects of Christian piety and selflessness. The girls at Lowood often suffer from an inadequate amount of food and clothing to keep them warm during the bitter winter months, which Jane describes in the novel. In addition, Brocklehurst firmly expresses his belief that the girls at Lowood should not indulge in any luxuries, and he limits them to necessities that will barely keep them alive. In the novel, Mr. Brocklehurst comes into the classroom at Lowood and demands that a little girl should have her hair cut off, simply because it was naturally curly and was seen as overindulgent. Brocklehurst
Jane Eyre: The Most Controversial Novel of the Victorian Era
Alex Caches
British Literature
Ms. Mojica
14 October 2016
Jane Eyre: The Most Controversial Novel of the Victorian Era Even at its publication in 1847, critics of the novel and the public could both agree that Jane Eyre was not only an immediate literary sensation, but it also emerged as the most controversial novel of Gothic literature to be published during the Victorian period. In many different criticisms of the novel, critics argue that the novel is both feminist and antifeminist, radical and conservative, Romantic and Victorian (Weisser xiv). However, Jane Eyre clearly expresses Charlotte Bronte’s criticisms of Victorian society. Bronte …show more content…
Brocklehurst and St. John Rivers. A strong religious motif is presented early in the novel, starting with Mr. Brocklehurst, the landlord and headmaster of Lowood School, where Jane is sent to receive an education at boarding school. Brocklehurst is the first character that Jane meets with religious authority, or with any clear religious faith or devotion at all. The religious beliefs of Mr. Brocklehurst generally reflect upon the principles of the Christian faith during the nineteenth century, even though his actions do not indicate the genuine, and good-natured aspects of Christian piety and selflessness. The girls at Lowood often suffer from an inadequate amount of food and clothing to keep them warm during the bitter winter months, which Jane describes in the novel. In addition, Brocklehurst firmly expresses his belief that the girls at Lowood should not indulge in any luxuries, and he limits them to necessities that will barely keep them alive. In the novel, Mr. Brocklehurst comes into the classroom at Lowood and demands that a little girl should have her hair cut off, simply because it was naturally curly and was seen as overindulgent. Brocklehurst