Every day, there are numerous protests against a civilization built on discrimination and patriarchy. But when it was difficult for women to have a voice, Charlotte Brontë came forward with her novel Jane Eyre, a criticism of the anatomy of Victorian British society. This accomplishment can be represented by a few simple words: “Reader, I married him” ( Brontë, 613 ). The sentence is an obvious declaration of matrimony, but the true significance lies in the order of the words. The woman is the subject, and the man is the object. The woman marries the man. A few words different from “Reader, he married me”, and yet, it makes all the difference. A clever and subtle rebellion against the social norms of the Victorian era. 

Charlotte Brontë challenges class structure through the exploration of the complexity of Jane as a woman, and the choosing and use of Jane’s circumstances. By depicting Jane as a flawed character, with personal conflict and character arcs, Brontë denounces the stereotypes infecting women and their capability as seen in society. As well as the application of Jane being a governess, gives Brontë space to address multiple problems concerning wealth in the Victorian era.

During the Victorian era, women were generally seen as inferior. Their role revolved around their husbands and they were not given much opportunity  beyond that. Brontë challenges this with the resolution of Jane and Edward Rochester’s relationship, where they ended up in interdependency. Through this, Brontë expresses the possibility of a woman whose role in society does not limit her to an association with a man.. Jane, as a person, is decisive and stubborn. She is respectable, and knows it. The way Jane navigates her relationship with Rochester is an obvious defiance to social norms; she has intellectual discussions with him as equals ( Brontë, 183-189 ), and is not afraid to deny him his wishes, should it mean she must compromise herself ( “I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad — as I am now.” Brontë, 432 ). At the end of the novel, Jane achieves love without needing to compromise her own strength and independence. When she comes back to Rochester in the end, it is on equal footing, if not a sense of superiority on Jane’s part. 

Brontë understood the role a governess plays in society, as they need to perform in between the lines of nobility and peasantry. The choice of using a character with each foot on opposite sides of the hierarchy allows the novel to look at and criticise the functionality of society more flexibly. As the governess of Thornfield, Jane —who had the fortune of education and more or less grew up in a privileged household— holds a respectable title, however she is in no position to be called equals to the nobles she serves and surrounds herself with. In fact, during the party brought by Rochester to Thornfield Hall, Jane is subjected to alienation, insults and mockery. “I noticed her; I am a judge of physiognomy, and in hers I see all the faults of her class.” ( Brontë, 241 ), a statement spoken quietly enough that the speaker’s self-righteousness would not be threatened yet loudly enough that Jane would hear.

This demonstrates the entitlement and discrimination of the British rich and wealthy. The manner in which they approached their cruel treatment of individual governesses/tutors ( Brontë, 241-243 ) shows the lack of empathy for those who are less privileged than theyNever once did anybody point out the perversions committed by their peers as wrong, in consequence of it being a normal occurrence within the wealthy circle. This type of ignorance, bordering on arrogance, sanctions the prerogative of the rich to continue its operations. 

Brontë also criticises the frequent unconventional use of wealth and religion in British society to oppress by characters during Jane’s earlier years. One such character is Mr. Brocklehurst, who is known for his hypocrisy in both his religion and spending. “Humility is a Christian grace, and one peculiarly appropriate to the pupils of Lowood.” ( Brontë, 44 ). A statement made by Mr. Brocklehurst during his conversation with Mrs. Reed on the topic of Jane’s enrollment. It is made clear in this conversation that Brocklehurst is very strict and inflexible in his beliefs. But he goes back on those words soon after uttering them, boasting of the way his daughter is surprised at the plainness of the Lowood girls ( Brontë, 44-45 ), having been raised around wealth and luxury. Here, Brocklehurst represents the hypocrisy surrounding religion and riches. His portrayal brings light to the corrupt side of British society, the abuse of power to hold disadvantages over less fortunate people and using religion to oppress and scare others ( “That proves you have a wicked heart; and you must pray to God to change it: to give you a new and clean one…” Brontë, 43 and “...that you repent of ever having been the occasion of discomfort to your excellent benefactress.” Brontë, 42 ). By having a character like this, Brontë denounces the normality with how society regards the use of power by the powerful, and the expected submission by the impoverished. 

Mrs. Reed depicts this acceptance of inequality from society. Not only does she see no wrong in the way Brocklehurst conducts his business, of which concerns children, but also compliments his “system” ( Brontë, 45 ). In such a manner, Brontë —in a singular conversation— brings awareness to the execution and enabling of the misuse of wealth and religion in the class structure. 

Jane Eyre was a direct attack on Victorian society. The realistic and accurate representation of the ugliness of nobility, religion and gender of that era enraged many during the time it came out. By exacting women's position in society, shining a light on the entitled, blatant misconduct of the wealthy and then denunciating the absolute purity of religion —all through the use of Jane Eyre— Charlotte Brontë challenges the primary building blocks of Victorian British society’s structure as a whole.

Despite this novel being written long before modern society, it ( unfortunately ) remains relevant. Charlotte Brontë’s ideas on Victorian British society of wealth, religion and equality can still hold a candle against many progressive literary works of today. The privileged abuse of wealth, the underlying everyday discrimination in the name of a god, and the constant abuse many women continue to take on daily showcases how society —and not just the British— still is a long way away from being rid of these issues.

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