In this term paper I am going to examine and compare how societal structures and social status are depicted in the fictional autobiography Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and the social satire Emma by Jane Austen. The decision for this topic and why I limited the survey to these two novels is based on several reasons. Concerning the topic I was influenced by my first reading impressions in which I was astonished at the depicted variety and importance of societal structure which thus simply inspired me to learn more about it. In respect to the selected novels my choice was more differentiated. When I started working on this paper I wanted to include Dickens´ ”Great Expectations” but soon I decided that this might lead – due to the limited length of 20 pages – to a quite superficial examination of the topic. Moreover, excluding Dickens appeared rational to me due to the fact that the novels by Austen and Brontë seemed to provide, with their similar themes and their female protagonists, a greater basis for comparison. Knowing that the Brontës did not like what and how Jane Austen wrote confirmed my speculations in regard of these novels providing an interesting basis for comparison. Furthermore, the thirty years which lay in between the publications of Emma (1816) and Jane Eyre (1847) make it possible to examine in how far society had changed in the meantime. Starting off with a comparative structural analysis of the novels in the backdrop of the question how social status influences the heroine´s progresses, I want to show how much social status mattered and which consequences were connected to it. In the following sections, Emma and Jane Eyre shall be examined and compared with regard to the parts of society that play a role in them, concerning the restrictions and social mores connected with their marriage plots and in respect of the special rank governesses seem to have occupied in it. This shall be done to get an impression of the distinctions that characterised the different groups in nineteenth-century class society as well as to get an insight into the social mores that laid the foundations for it and finally to explain and understand the socially ambiguous rank of governesses. In the last section I am going to prove with the help of nineteenth-century reviews if the way and the conditions which were taken into consideration in the previous sections corresponded to or contradicted the ideas of class society of Brontë´s and Austen´s contemporaries.
Table of Contents
- I. Introduction
- II. How does social status influence the progress of the novel's heroines?
- III. Prominent features of social class covering both novels
- III.1. Which parts of society are Austen and Brontë actually dealing with?
- III.2. Marriage as an indicator of social mores and an affirmation of class society.
- III.3. The role and social rank of governesses in class society.
- IV. Nineteenth-century reception in the background of class-society.
- V. Conclusions
Objectives and Key Themes
This term paper aims to compare how societal structures and social status are depicted in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and Emma by Jane Austen. The analysis focuses on the impact of social status on the heroines' development and explores key aspects of 19th-century class society as reflected in the novels. The paper also examines the reception of these novels within their contemporary social context.
- Influence of social status on the heroines' development
- Social class structures in 19th-century England
- Marriage and social mores
- The role of governesses in society
- Contemporary reception and critique of the novels
Chapter Summaries
I. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the paper's central focus: a comparative analysis of how social structures and status are portrayed in Jane Austen's *Emma* and Charlotte Brontë's *Jane Eyre*. The author explains the selection of these two novels, highlighting their shared themes of female protagonists and societal structures, while acknowledging the significant time gap between their publications (1816 and 1847, respectively). The chapter outlines the paper's structure, promising a comparative analysis of social status's influence on the heroines' development, an examination of the social strata represented in each novel, an exploration of marriage as a class marker, and a discussion of the unique social position of governesses. Finally, the chapter previews an analysis of 19th-century reviews to contextualize the novels' depictions of class within their contemporary social understanding.
II. How does social status influence the progress of the novel's heroines?: This chapter contrasts the vastly different experiences of Emma Woodhouse and Jane Eyre, highlighting how their social standing dramatically shapes their individual journeys. Emma, born into wealth and privilege, enjoys significant autonomy, using her social standing to manipulate and judge those around her, particularly Harriet Smith. Her actions, though sometimes misguided and insensitive, ultimately have limited negative consequences because of her elevated position. In stark contrast, Jane Eyre's impoverished background exposes her to hardship, abuse, and the limitations imposed by her social inferiority. Her trajectory is one of constant struggle to improve her position, showcasing how social standing directly influences her opportunities and choices. The chapter sets up a clear contrast between the consequences of actions based on social standing.
Keywords
Social status, class society, 19th-century England, Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, *Emma*, *Jane Eyre*, Bildungsroman, marriage, governesses, social mobility, societal structures, literary analysis, comparative study.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Study of Social Status in Jane Austen's *Emma* and Charlotte Brontë's *Jane Eyre*
What is the main focus of this term paper?
This term paper compares how societal structures and social status are depicted in Jane Austen's Emma and Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. It analyzes the impact of social status on the heroines' development and explores key aspects of 19th-century class society as reflected in the novels. The paper also examines the contemporary reception of these novels.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the influence of social status on the heroines' development; social class structures in 19th-century England; marriage and social mores; the role of governesses in society; and the contemporary reception and critique of the novels.
Which novels are compared in this study?
The study compares Jane Austen's Emma (published in 1816) and Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre (published in 1847).
How does social status influence the heroines' development?
The paper contrasts the experiences of Emma Woodhouse and Jane Eyre. Emma's privileged background allows her autonomy, while Jane's impoverished background leads to hardship and limitations. Their social standing directly impacts their opportunities and choices, illustrating the consequences of actions based on social standing.
What aspects of 19th-century class society are examined?
The paper examines the social strata represented in each novel, focusing on marriage as a class marker and the unique social position of governesses in 19th-century England.
What role does the 19th-century reception of the novels play in the analysis?
The paper analyzes 19th-century reviews and critiques of the novels to contextualize their depictions of class within their contemporary social understanding.
What is the structure of the term paper?
The paper is structured into five chapters: an introduction, a chapter focusing on how social status impacts the heroines, a chapter on prominent features of social class in both novels (including sub-sections on societal representation, marriage, and governesses), a chapter on nineteenth-century reception, and a concluding chapter.
What are the keywords associated with this study?
Keywords include: Social status, class society, 19th-century England, Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, Emma, Jane Eyre, Bildungsroman, marriage, governesses, social mobility, societal structures, literary analysis, comparative study.
- Quote paper
- Stefanie Däne (Author), 2005, Survey on social status and societal structures in the novels "Jane Eyre" and "Emma" , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/154187
