Jane Eyre: Ambiguities of Equality, Servitude and Independence

Terry Eagleton states the "Jane's relationship with Rochester is marked by ambiguities of equality, servitude, and independence". By examining pertinent incidents in the text, the validity of this statement will be shown, and moreover, these ambiguities will be shown to be of Jane's own doing. It will be shown that she is the one who constantly thinks herself to be inferior, and even when she is said to be Rochester's equal, she thinks of some way in which she is inadequate, in order to sabotage her own happiness.

While there are ambiguities of servitude and independence, it is the issue of equality that is most important in the novel, because both Jane's fears of servitude, and a loss of independence, are linked to the fact that she does not feel herself to be Rochester's equal. It is therefore necessary to start by examining Jane's need for autonomy.

At the beginning of the novel, Jane is being rise by her Aunt, Mrs. Reed. As a child she is constantly ostracized and reminded of the fact that she is an orphan. John Reed torments her, calling her a "bad animal" (p.4) and a "rat" (p.6) and reminds her that "[she has] no money" (p.6) and "ought to beg, and not live [at Gateshead] with gentlemen's children" (p.6). It is this that drives her need to prove herself, and establish her independence and equality. With reference to her relationship with Rochester, one of the reasons that she does not marry him initially could be because she fears that in marrying him, she will be settling down, will lose her autonomy, and be giving up her ability to further establish herself as a free and independent woman. At this point, it is ironic to note that in leaving Thornfield to remain independent, Jane must once again rely on "cold charity" (p.456) and beg for food and lodging.

The question of servitude is closely related to that of equality. Jane is a governess at Thornfield, and thus she can be seen as a servant. When Jane meets Mrs. Fairfax for the first time, Jane thinks that Mrs. Fairfax is the owner of Thornfield. In their first conversation Mrs. Fairfax tells Jane that "one can't converse with [the servants] on terms of equality" (p. 131). The next day, however, Jane finds out that Mrs. Fairfax "consider[s herself] quite in the light of an ordinary housekeeper" (p.136). With this in mind, Mrs. Fairfax has basically told Jane that as a servant of Thornfield, she cannot relate to Rochester as an equal. This is problematic for Jane, because as a governess she is supposed to possess the qualities common to women of the aristocracy. So in her behavior, she should be equal to Rochester, but she must still take orders from him. When Jane and Rochester have there first real talk, in chapter 14, Rochester commands Jane as he would any other servant, telling her to "sit down exactly where [he] placed [the chair]" (p.179), and Jane notes that "Mr. Rochester [has] such a direct way of giving orders" (p. 180). Jane's position as lowly servant becomes ambiguous when Rochester tells her that "Adиle and Mrs. Fairfax are "not sufficient company for [him]" (p.183), but that "[Jane], [he is] persuaded, can suite [him] if [she] will" (p.183). This problematizes the servant-master relationship for Jane, as Rochester is trying to relate to her as an equal, but she can only see her position as a subservient one.

There are numerous other forms of inequality that are evident in Jane's relationship with Rochester. Probably the only place that Jane feels herself to be superior is in her Christian morality, when she refuses to marry Rochester. It is important to note, however, that she is the one who constantly feels herself to be inferior. Whenever Rochester tries to relate to her as an equal, she seems to sabotages his efforts, and herself, and neurotic thinks of ways in which Rochester is better than her. When she starts to develop feelings for Rochester, she convinces herself that there is no possibility of him returning her feelings and tells herself "[t]hat a greater fool than Jane Eyre had never breathed the breath of life: that a more fantastic idiot had never surfeited herself on sweet lies, and swallowed poison as if it were nectar" (p.222). She can only see Rochester as someone who is socially, and financially superior, and as because she lived in the Victorian period, she feels inferior because she is a woman.

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