Governess Relationships in Brontes Jane Eyre Essay -- Jane Eyre essay

Governess Relationships in Brontes Jane Eyre The prudish governess suffered friendlyly because of her position. The relationship between her and others that were in her class was strained because of her financial particular. She often suffered from status incongruity. The relationship between a governess and a gentleman was difficult because she was not his financial equal (Peterson 13). While the relationship was strained in her refreshing Jane Eyre, Bronte leads us to believe that it is not alto bindher impossible. When speaking of the governess and relationships we must first deal with status incongruity in the novel. There are several instances in Jane Eyre where the social strain is clearly displayed. The scene that takes place just before the charades give us a clear depiction of status incongruity leave alone you play? he Rochester asked. I shook my head. He did not insist, which I rather feared he would have done he allowed me to return quietly to my public seat. He an d his aids now withdrew behind the curtain the other party which was headed by Colonel Dent, sat down on the crescent of chairs. One of the gentlemen, Mr. Eshton, observing me, seemed to shoot for that I should be asked to join them but Lady Ingram instantly negatived the notion. NO I heard her say she looks too stupid for any game of the sort. (185 ch. 18) emplacement incongruity is well displayed here. Rochester (not willing to exclude her) invites Jane to play charades, but offers no protests when she rejects his offer. Jane does not want to participate because she feels uncomfortable. Avoiding the game of charades was Janes way of escaping a situation which might have made both parties uncomfortable. She does not want to be placed in a si... ...ndependency (437 ch. 38). It is only when Jane has money of her own and is re-established in the social class to which she belonged that her marriage is able to take place without objections, or further complications. Bronte takes the i mpossible relationship, and makes it a reality. She does this, however, without losing the realism of the relationship. Jane Eyre is not a story of Cinderella and Prince Charming, Jane does not get rescued. In fact Jane works her way up the social ladder, accomplishing marriage without the social strain it would have had if she were still a governess. Works Cited Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Ed. Beth Newman. Boston Bedford, 1996. Hughes, Kathryn. The Victorian Governess. London Hambledon, 1993. Peterson, Jeanne. The Victorian Governess. Suffer and Be Still. Ed. Martha Vicinus. London Indiana UP, 1972.