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Jane Rye Through the Ages: Postcolonial and Other Rewritings of a Victorian Novel Jane Rye: a feminist tract 1. Fearfulness- a definition : – Oxford English Dictionary Online: 1. The qualities of females 2. Advocacy of the rights of women (based on the theory of equality of the sexes – Dictionary of Feminist Theory: 1 . Belief that women suffer injustice because of the sex 2. Social movement that seeks equal rights for women existing inequality between the sexes in Jane Rye 2. Women in the Victorian era – depended upon men physically, financially, spiritually carried the burden of ћstaying in her place” they accepted their standards – love, honor and obey her husband – poem presenting the role of a wife: “An angel In the House” by Coventry Pattern (1854) “Man must be pleased; but him to please Is woman’s pleasure” 3.
Reception In the Plutocrat Readership Victorian readers had problems with: – sexuality – coarseness (Greenbelt) ћantichrist’s” values: refusal to accept forms, customs, standards of society rebellious feminism ћ She has inherited in fullest measure the worst sin of our fallen nature- the sin of pride” (Elizabeth Rugby) 4. Charlotte Bronze or Curer Bell? – synonym, women writers were not taken seriously in Victorian England and weren’t supposed to write * ” … Summing Christian names positively masculine, while we did not like to declare ourselves women, because we had a vague impression that authoresses are liable to be looked on with prejudice; we had noticed how critics sometimes use for their chastisement the weapon of personality, and for their reward, a flattery, which Is not true praise. ( Oral, Harold: The Bronzes: Interviews and Recollections. University of Iowa Press, 1997; p. 135) 5. Jane story is enclosed and escapes – overcomes and deals with: 3. Deadness (at Threefold) struggles from imprisonment 1. Oppression (at Sheathed) 2. Starvation (Elwood) 4. Coldness (at marsh End) 5. Confrontation (Bertha) 6. Jane Rye- a feminist tract? 6. 1. 1 . Oppression by men: John Reed – hits her as a young girl: orphan + out of league: “you are a dependent, [… ], you have no money, [… ], and not live here with gentleman’s children like us” ; social differences determination to fight against him and unfair world : Fight leads to Elwood 6. 1. 2. Oppression by men: Mr..
Brochures – women= Inferior, girls should lead simple life: to learn subordination and dependence 6. 1. 3. Oppression by men: Mr.. Rochester – he tricks people: source of power -has special sexual knowledge: superior to Jane – as soon as conquered Cane’s love: treats her as an inferior way, a plaything, a virginal possession ; calls her now: ћlittle sunny-faced girl bride” – married Bertha for everything but love and equality (sex, money, status ‘Oh, I have no respect for myself when I think of that act! ” he confesses. “An agony of inward contempt masters me” (p. 264).