Jane Eyre – Jane as a Proto-feminist Heroine

A comprehensive and professionally structured resource exploring the extent to which Jane can be interpreted as a proto-feminist heroine in Jane Eyre.

This resource examines Jane’s insistence upon intellectual equality, moral agency, meaningful work and personal independence within the restrictive social structures of Victorian England. It also considers the limitations of this interpretation, including the novel’s reliance on inheritance and marriage and its treatment of Bertha Mason.

Key features:

• Clear introduction to the term proto-feminist and its application to Jane’s character and narrative voice
• Focus on Jane’s resistance to unjust authority at Gateshead, Lowood, Thornfield and Moor House
• Exploration of education, paid employment, financial independence, conscience and female self-determination
• Examination of Jane’s relationships with Rochester and St John, alongside the significance of Bertha Mason and the novel’s conclusion
• A varied selection of activities supported by a complete answer key