THEME OF INJUSTICE IN JANE ERYE
KEYWORDS; JANE ERYE, JANE, BRONTE, INJUSTICE, SOCIAL INJUSTICE
Injustice in Jane Eyre is a theme that runs throughout the novel. There are several forms of injustice i.e. social injustice and child abuse.
At Gateshead we are introduced to theme of injustice. Jane is mercilessly locked up in the red room. This is because she retaliates to the injustice inflicted on her by John Reed. When she is in the red room her conscience cries “unjust, unjust” she has done nothing but she has been looked up. This thus brings out the theme of injustice.
Jane Eyre is isolated. She does not play with her cousins because she is poor and an orphan. She does not celebrate New Year’s or Christmas with them. Such injustice to the poor and orphaned is brought out here in Gateshead hall.
Bessie’s song in the third chapter brings out the theme of social injustice and talks about the injustices to the poor orphan child. She is discriminated, faces prejudice and isolated. However this song brings hope to Jane that one day god will deliver her from such oppression and injustice. Thus the th eme of injustice.
The red room is a symbol of injustice. The poor and meek like Jane are locked up in the red room. The red room is believed to be haunted it had a “dreary consecration” it tortures Jane psychological. This shows injustice in the way that the oppressed are locked and are not allowed to express their views.
Lowood is another way Bronte brings out the theme of injustice. The girls are given poorly cooked food. Their clothing cannot keep them warm during the winter. This leads to the outbreak of typhus fever that kills many. It is such injustice to the poor that Bronte brings out in Jane Eyre.
Through Helen burns we are able to see injustice. She is mistreated by Ms. Scathed yet she is bright. Jane is overwhelmed with sadness when she sees this. Helen is forced to wear a banner to lower her dignity. Even with knowledge of her illness she is still treated poorly. Thus through Helen burns Bronte brings out the theme child abuse and social injustice.
There is social injustice at thornfield. Jane and Adele do not join in the company of the visitors because they are poor and the others are rich. Miss Ingram and the others despise them. They talk ill of the governesses trying to humiliate Jane but Jane stands strong. This goes to show the social injustice.
Bronte uses characters like Mrs. Reed to portray injustice. She is the epitome of injustice in Jane’s childhood life. She oppresses Jane in the red room as she shoves Jane into the dreary and solemn room. Ironically on her dying bed she refuses to forgive Jane yet she was the one who was the oppressor. Secondly she sends Jane to a very bad school Lowood. She prevents her children from playing with Jane.
Injustice is further seen in the relationship between Jane and Mr. Rochester. Jane cannot marry him because of the social limitations. Their live cannot prosper because Jane is poor and young and Rochester is rich and old. The young ones in Gateshead like Jane cannot interact with her cousins, the maids and is confined to the nursery with her ragged doll. This shows injustice.
