Fighting the Fire Women in the Victorian Era - 922 Words

One may come too close to the fire and let her demons consume her, leaving all but the ashes and dust. Others can overcome these obstacles and can wash away the burning flames of sadness. Antoinette is unable to control this fire, while Jane is able to wash away these restraints. According to Spivak, the concepts of â€Å"Self and Other† refers to how people are defined by who they are in relation to others; the â€Å"other† allows the Self to exist as empowered (Spivak cited in Rodenburg). In this essay, I will discuss how Antoinette, from Wide Sargasso Sea, and Jane, from Jane Eyre, both face similar challenges throughout their lives, but deal with their pains in different manners. I will argue that both Jane and Antoinette experience social†¦show more content†¦She waits until Rochester is able to see her true beauty before she accepts his proposal. She does not allow men to take her for granted, signifying her strength and independence as a woman. Just like Jane, Antoinette becomes seduced by Rochester and she is controlled by his social powers. He deliberately makes her depend on him financially. Rochester can be seen as an oppressor in this relationship, and this marriage shows the dominance that the men have over the women during the Victorian times. Antoinette has to deal with a world of fear and hatred. As a reader, it is hard not to feel sympathy for her because she was never truly loved and she was often left rejected. Antoinette feels as if there is nothing she can do about this unfavourable situation because of the lack of power women have during this time in history. She has to live with the changes made by others, and this ultimately leads to her downfall. When Rochester and Antoinette arrive back to Rochester’s home, he locks her in the attic and has Grace Poole, guard her. There is no mirror in the attic, and without her reflection, she begins to lose her identity. Rochester changes her name to â€Å"Berth a Mason† to complete Antoinette’s transformation into a madwoman. This novel ends tragically as Antoinette decides to take her own life, saying: â€Å"I was outside holding my candle. Now at last I know why I was brought here and what I have to do. There must have been a draught for the flame flickeredShow MoreRelatedThe Exposure of Feminist Critique in 19th Century Literature: a Look at Charlotte Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Jane Eyre1749 Words   |  7 PagesResistance is the action of fighting back against an unwanted force that may be deemed oppressive in ones life. It is created for different causes and comes in many forms; it may be made verbal, explicit, implicit, physical, and even made humorous or satirical. Charlotte Brontà «, a 19th century Victorian feminist wrote her novel Jane Eyre as a means of exposing the confining environments, shameful lack of education, and pitiful dependence upon male relatives for survival (Brackett, 2000). 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