Of Jane Eyre, Patriarchy and Ayesha Jalal

In the first few chapters of Jane Eyre what was particularly interesting to analyze was the role of upper or middle class women (or privileged women) in upholding the patriarchal structure of the society. The most evident example of this is Mrs Reed.  She is depicted as a woman completely oblivious to Jane’s subjection to domestic abuse by the mini patriarch (John Reed):

Mrs. Reed was blind and deaf on the subject: she never saw Reed was blind and deaf on the subject: she never saw him strike or heard him abuse me, though he did both now and then in her very presence; more frequently however, behind her back.

Not only that but she is also culpable of perpetuating violence against Jane;  for instance banishing her to the red room and scolding Bessie for answering Jane’s scream.

However Mrs Reed’s accomplices in this oppression of women are Mr. Brocklehurst’s family and Miss Temple.

Mr. Brocklehurst while trying to boast the type of discipline in Lowood narrates his daughter’s account who said:

“Oh, dear papa, how quiet and plain all the girls at Lowood look! With their hair combed behind their ears, and their pinafores, and those little Holland pockets outside their frocks, they are almost like poor people’s children! And” said she “they looked at my dress and mamma’s, as if they had never seen a silk gown before”

This statement has obvious hypocritical connotations but it also makes the indifference of the upper class or middle class women towards the lower class women.

Not only this but the scene where Brocklehurst’s family makes an entrance “splendidly attired in velvet, silk and furs” right after he stresses the importance of girls studying in Lowood must “cloth themselves with shamefacedness and sobriety”. This shows the apparent difference of standards which apply to upper class and lower class women.

Miss Temple is an axillary to the patriarchy as she quite literally “assisted Jane to Mr. Brocklehurst’s very feet” when he asks for the girl who broke the slate to come forward.  She is sympathetic and whispers, “Don’t be afraid, Jane, I saw it was an accident; you shall not be punished” these words went across Jane’s heart “like a dagger”.  Quite indeed so.

It was the moment of realization for Jane as she to some extent decides that she does not want to be like Miss Temple. She was most indeed a source of comfort for her but Miss Temple did not challenge the authority in any way. She silenced herself.  In fact, the women of the Brocklehurst’s household did not once bothered to raise their voice against the injustices these girls have to face.

These instances to some level echo Ayesha Jalal’s argument in Convenience of Subservience who argues, “middle and upper class women everywhere have a stake in preserving the existing structures of authority and with it the convenience of subservience that denies them equality in the public realm but also affords privileges not available to women lower down the rungs of the social hierarchy.”

In fact these patriarchal values are internalized by Mrs. Reed. She is indeed shocked when Jane explodes her feelings to her and responds by “how dare you affirm that, Jane Eyre?”  

Jane Eyre breaks the silence “expected” of her and finally says “People think you are a good woman, but you are a bad, hard-hearted. You are deceitful” to Mrs. Reed.

Not just Mrs. Reed but this is equally applicable to all the privileged women who serve to sustain this oppressive system and choose to turn a blind eye towards the suffering to those lower to them.