In the excerpt from Nancy Armstrong’s Desire and Domestic Fiction,” Armstrong argues that the reasons that literature “for, about, and by women” became more popular are still up for debate, with seemingly no definitive answer. However, Armstrong produces three ideas through which she argues are a part of the reason for this cultural transformation: one, “sexuality is a social construct;” two, the “modern individual” became “an economic and psychological reality;” and finally, that this first modern individual was a woman (8). She argues that it is through the rising middle class, which introduced a new way of understanding what it means to be female. These new ideas found in “conduct books and educational treatises for women, as well as
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Like Armstrong says, Charlotte is able to reconstruct what it means to be female through the reactions of Jane in various situations, while still maintaining – at least in this first part of the novel – a semblance of the standard expectations that the modern population would still expect. Therefore, while Charlotte attempts to reach the expansive list Armstrong provides, the first part of the novel fails to meet all of Armstrong’s expectations. Rather, the first part of the novel focuses more on one feature of Armstrong’s argument, that there is a new way to identify what it means to be female. Jane’s actions are quiet rebellions often done out of instinct rather than careful calculations, like fighting back against her abusive cousin, John, and Mrs. Reed’s indifference towards Jane, but rebellions none-the less. However, by giving Jane these moments, Charlotte is showing a female can be “passionate” without the stigma that the woman is crazy, or unmanageable (Bronte 31). Jane’s passion shows the audience that this young lady has qualities and characteristics often categorized as manly; she has courage, integrity, and can reason. Even more impressive, these characteristics are innate; by showing her childhood Charlotte proves that these are things that can be possessed by both males and females from the earliest stages of
Like Armstrong says, Charlotte is able to reconstruct what it means to be female through the reactions of Jane in various situations, while still maintaining – at least in this first part of the novel – a semblance of the standard expectations that the modern population would still expect. Therefore, while Charlotte attempts to reach the expansive list Armstrong provides, the first part of the novel fails to meet all of Armstrong’s expectations. Rather, the first part of the novel focuses more on one feature of Armstrong’s argument, that there is a new way to identify what it means to be female. Jane’s actions are quiet rebellions often done out of instinct rather than careful calculations, like fighting back against her abusive cousin, John, and Mrs. Reed’s indifference towards Jane, but rebellions none-the less. However, by giving Jane these moments, Charlotte is showing a female can be “passionate” without the stigma that the woman is crazy, or unmanageable (Bronte 31). Jane’s passion shows the audience that this young lady has qualities and characteristics often categorized as manly; she has courage, integrity, and can reason. Even more impressive, these characteristics are innate; by showing her childhood Charlotte proves that these are things that can be possessed by both males and females from the earliest stages of