Social Discrimination in the novel of Jane Eyre

Abstract

In 19th century England, class stratification was a predominant societal force. The novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, describes the experiences of the orphan Jane as she grows from a ten-year-old girl into a young woman. As she matures Jane encounters several people who subscribe to the notion that the people who make up the lower class of society are wicked people who are deserving of their plight. However, in Jane's experience, these judgements are false. Throughout her development, Jane is forced to make her own decisions regarding caste. In the novel, the author uses Jane's interactions with other characters to expose several predispositions that were prevalent during the 19th century, and to show the difficulties that arose as a result of low social standing. This research paper intends to focus on the social discrimination portrayed in the novel Jane Eyre.