Plain Jane. Sane Jane. Never-Ever Vain Jane. How is She Constrained Jane?

Jane and Mr. Rochester’s relationship disintegrates at the end of book two. However, thinking back to before Rochester’s secret was exposed, I’d like to consider what his and Jane’s attraction and relationship truly built on, particularly in consideration of the gender expectations that are demonstrated in Mary Poovey’s Uneven Developments. Jane and Rochester are often said to be equals at several points throughout the book, but by looking at the way that Jane does and does not comply with gender roles, bigger questions about the power dynamics between Jane and Rochester are exposed.

As a child, Jane was stubborn and outspoken. As an adult, shit is still at time these things, or at least is told she is these things. Rochester often makes note of her unusual behavior, at one point admonishing her when she complains about the ideas of a man for his wife expressed in a song, stating “any other woman would have been melted into marrow at hearing such stanzas crooned in her praise” (Brontë, 270). However, in many instances, while she is headstrong, she is often headstrong with a determination to comply to her gendered and classed roles as a governess.

Poovey describes how women in the 19^th century begin to be constructed as having a sort of ultimate maternal lover, which in scientific understandings is attributed to their reproductive nature. She describes how during the 19^th century, the understanding of women’s roles is shifted from being sexual to needing to comply to a “domestic ideal” (10). Although she describes how the existence of governesses and other unmarried women complicates the roles of women in the domestic sphere. While governesses mother without being mothers, their unbridled sexuality poses a threat.

Jane, however, in many ways, despite the limbo role in which she exists as a governess is very adamant about sticking within the gendered role that a governess has. She acts as a mother to Adele, who adores her in return. For example, Jane insists upon Adele coming into town with her and Rochester, despite Rochester forbidding it. In a moment where gender roles and the power dynamics associated with them seem to be strongly in play, Jane describes, “I half lost the sense of power over him. I was about mechanically to obey him” (Brontë, 263). This demonstrates a moment in which Jane wants to defy her master, and seems to be refusing to adhere to gender roles. But, instead of doing anything to use her wit and intelligence to defy Rochester, she gets Rochester to give in by becoming pale and otherwise looking upset.

This example demonstrates the complex relationships of gender roles to power that exist in Jane Eyre. Jane later goes further to insist even after becoming engaged to maintain her position as governess. Although she is in many ways dismantling some of the ideology of gender at the time, particularly in considerations of the odd class positioning that governesses exist in, she also very strictly wants to adhere to roles of gender relating to maternity. And while she has power over Rochester because of her wit, she also has power over Rochester because of her need for protection and overall demure-ness. And still, even these observations seem to be a little reductive of all the variables of Jane’s and Rochester’s identities with consideration of the time period. But, still, that would still only further demonstrate the complexity of the construction of gender in Jane Eyre.