The Madwoman in the Attic. A Counterpart of Self Imprisonment and Freedom in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre

Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature grade: 20 University of Heidelberg (Anglistik) course: The Victorian Age language: English abstract: Every society has its norms and values a code of appropriate behavior that can differ not only from one culture to another but also from one period of time to the next. A norm according to the Oxford English Dictionary constitutes a pattern or standard of accepted and expected behavior of a group. These arbitrary conventions of societal rules force an individual to abide by such set standards if he or she wishes to be integrated and enjoy all the advantages community has to offer. Though these social norms bridle us having guidelines of how to interact in various circumstances impart a sense of security in that they tell us what to expect of other people and also facilitate day to day interaction. However when an individual's world view and pursuits strongly collide with that of society's prescriptions he or she can have difficulties to act upon them as the norms prevalent in a society are strongly shaping people's opinion and behavior and allow not much room for deviation. The power of a whole society can thus become so overwhelming to an individual that they feel disoriented as they cannot openly show their true emotions and feelings. Opposition to prescribed norms might only be uttered by a still small voice through a passive aggressive behavior. This can have devastating effects on the person nourishing anger to which one inevitably has to give vent in one way or another. In the course of history women were often restricted in their self-development. In 19th century Victorian society the time of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre marriage was depicted as the only fulfilling destiny for women. The angel of the house was supposed to have a quiet spirit and act in total submission to male authority. The following pages will analyze how Bertha R