Class Mobile vs.

Class Queer Class and Gender Interaction in Jane Eyre and Lady Audleys Secret Spencer Mewherter Women Writers I Professor Valerio 12/5/11 Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre and Elizabeth Braddons Lady Audleys Secret are two novels that depict class in very different ways. Janes life is one of a person trapped between class positions. Throughout the novel her class status is uncertain. Labeled as a dependent and a beggar her financial status is always uncertain and in flux. Also inconsistent is how she is viewed by those around her. She forms close relationships with both servants and their masters, but there always appears to be some level of distance between them. A contrast to her abstract and mysterious character is that of Lady Audley. While there is a great deal of mystery and deceit her class position is in a way less complex as viewed by other characters. She fits into the social setting fairly well in some regards, though her being out of place is constantly alluded to. The final conclusion for the two characters is also vastly different; Jane is liberated by her financial advancement while Lady Audley is imprisoned for her attempts to advance her class. Jane is a character who transcends class and may be viewed as class queer, while Lady Audleys attempts to move up through social class are met with strong resistance by men in her society. As a governess, Jane occupies a very particular space within her society. This leaves her interestingly between, or without, a class identity. She is also financially independent with places

her in a unique position as a women. These two elements are one of the underlying factors in the story, allowing Jane to follow her own moral code without the fear of being totally financially ruined or socially ostracized due to her class position. While this power exists in the novel there are few instances where it is brought to the forefront of attention. The Governess exists in the space between family and servant, which is the source for many of the conflicts and movements within the novel. Jane Eyre starts off with a clear picture of how Janes class affects how her character is treated. John Reed is a clear representation of the oppression of upper class society on anyone viewed as lower than them. At their first encounter Janes situation is explain in two senses; firstly what her exact circumstances are, and secondly, how she will be treated by many people in the upper class of society. John Reed is abuse is pointed to the issue of class You have no business to take our books; you are a dependent, mama says; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemens children like us, and eat the same meals we do, and wear clothes at our mamas expense (Bronte I).These comments show how she fits into the life at Gateshead, she owns nothing, and has no power to control her own space. Her position is based on finance, which is an important element in class mobility later in the novel. She is also given the label of a dependent, this label and concept is extremely important to Janes progression throughout the novel. One of these instances is Janes interaction with the other domestic servants with whom she works. From early in her life she bonds closely with the servants as in Gateshead, however her relationship with them is not quite one of class equals. She is comforted by Bessie, but her advice is not always followed by Jane. Bessie advises Jane kindly after she is taken to the red room, What we tell you is for your good, added Bessie, in no harsh voice, you should try to

be useful and pleasant, then, perhaps, you would have a home here; but if you become passionate and rude, Missis will send you away, I am sure (Bronte II). However, Jane does not follow her advice to be placid or not speak her mind. This is a defining element in how Jane relates with Bessie, kindly, but not as equals in opportunity. This response may also be viewed as Janes refusal to accept Bessies class as a servant subservient to people she views as morally less than her. The connection between them still exists, and may be interpreted as a result of them being able to relate as women or as a parent child relationship. As Jane leaves the fundamental kindness and respect between the two is made evident. Bessie stooped; we mutually embraced, and I followed her into the house quite comforted. That afternoon lapsed in peace and harmony; and in the evening Bessie told me some of her most enchanting stories, and sang me some of her sweetest songs. Even for me life had its gleams of sunshine (Bronte IV). This shows that Janes relationship with Bessie was one of the few joyous elements in her life. Despite Janes refusal of her advice, she is still an extremely important and strong relationship that allows her to endure in Gateshead. Class interaction is taken to the extreme during Janes time at Thornfield. When she first arrived at the house she initially mistakes Mrs. Fairfax for the owner and sole resident of Thornfield. When she realizes that she is simply the housekeeper, she expresses her relief that she is interacting with someone closer to her social position The enigma then was explained: this affable and kind little widow was no great dame; but a dependant like myself. I did not like her the worse for that; on the contrary, I felt better pleased than ever. The equality between her and me was real; not the mere result of condescension on her part: so much the bettermy position was all the freer (Bronte XI). This interaction exists at an interesting point in the novel. Janes introduction to Thornfield can be seen as an introduction to a society which Jane has only

interacted with as a child and dependent. Her apprehension is understandable when her previous experience with high society is considered. Jane is not comparable to the archetypal debutant, but her move to Thornfield is allows her to be viewed differently by those around her. Her class is again extremely ambiguous to those around her. One aspect of this is certainly her education; she can converse freely and exercises power as an authority figure over Adel. This is important in that she is finally in a position of power over an upper class child, much like those who tormented her in youth. This position allows her frequent contact with the upper class family structure, and allows her to exist as something of a motherly figure. Her initial meeting with Rochester is an important example of interactions across class and gender. There first interaction is a reversal of power, with Jane standing and Rochester crippled from a fall from his horse. This upset foreshadows how power dynamics are represented through their relationship. Jane is able to view Rochester without intimidation due to several gendered concepts relating to physical appearance relating to power. I could see him plainly. His figure was enveloped in a riding cloak, fur collared and steel clasped; its details were not apparent, but I traced the general points of middle height and considerable breadth of chest. He had a dark face, with stern features and a heavy brow; his eyes and gathered eyebrows looked ireful and thwarted just now; he was past youth, but had not reached middle-age; perhaps he might be thirty-five. I felt no fear of him, and but little shyness. Had he been a handsome, heroic-looking young gentleman, I should not have dared to stand thus questioning him against his will, and offering my services unasked. I had hardly ever seen a handsome youth; never in my life spoken to one. I had a theoretical reverence and homage for beauty, elegance, gallantry, fascination; but had I met those qualities incarnate in masculine shape, I should have known instinctively that

they neither had nor could have sympathy with anything in me, and should have shunned them as one would fire, lightning, or anything else that is bright but antipathetic (Bronte XII) This passage brings up several elements of how physical beauty could limits interaction between genders in the novel. His lack of youth is presented as a depowering factor, as is his lack of physical attractiveness. Because Jane feels free from the power dynamics presented by acute sexual attraction, she feels able to approach him and offer assistance, which she does. Her lack of interaction with young men who fit the standards of beauty places her in a unique position in relation to Rochester. One can interpret her statement that these hypothetical handsome men would have no interest in her as a suggestion that Rochester might. This statement shows how important this physical difference is to how she views the possibility of their relationship. Sexual attraction is also an important aspect of their encounter. Cynthia Griffin Wolff argues that by finding a balance of sexuality Jane is able to repossess it, A "real" woman must able to function in the "real" world, and she must domesticate even her sexuality in some degree. It becomes Janes task to find a median position between complete denial of sexuality and unchecked expression of desire (Wolff). This balance is seen in the passage from the novel, sexuality is replaced by approachability. This power dynamic based of gendered concepts of sexuality is clearly visible when the two characters are engaged. By accepting Rochesters proposal she accepts subservience based on both class and gender. Class is obvious in that she would be financially dependent on him. This concept of dependence, and being labeled as a dependent, is important when looking at the character of Jane. Her experience with financial dependence has been one of total oppression and abuse, from the childhood torment of John Reed to her time at Lowood, it is understandable

why her character would find this repugnant. After the engagement this fear becomes extremely acute. Glad was I to get him out of the silk warehouse, and then out of a jewellers shop: the more he bought me, the more my cheek burned with a sense of annoyance and degradation. As we re-entered the carriage, and I sat back feverish and fagged, I remembered what, in the hurry of events, dark and bright, I had wholly forgottenthe letter of my uncle, John Eyre, to Mrs. Reed: his intention to adopt me and make me his legatee. It would, indeed, be a relief, I thought, if I had ever so small an independency; I never can bear being dressed like a doll by Mr. Rochester, or sitting like a second Danae with the golden shower falling daily round me (Bronte XXIV). This fear of dependency is related in interesting terms to class mobility. Jane refuses to be bound to Rochester by material possessions. This freedom is shown to be extremely important when the revelation of Rochesters wife is made; in this instance Jane sees the possibility of her complete imprisonment. Her solution to this is complete emancipation from Rochester by fleeing his house. This is a complete sacrifice of any of her visible class to preserve her morals and freedom. This abandonment again suggests that Jane is not limited by concerns of class when making choices about how she will proceed in life. However, by leaving, she is empowering herself as an independent, if destitute, woman. As a governess before her marriage Lady Audley was in a position of a socially respectable yet ambiguous woman much like Jane. This connection is underlined by their distinctly different progressions through social space. Lady Audley seeks to marry into the higher social caste as quickly as possible, with seemingly few qualms. The conflict is not her loss of power as it is with Jane, but her perceived gain as a woman with access to more social and

material capital. Her rapid movement through this class structure is indicative in her eventual fall and extreme fate for trying to move through class boundaries. The solution for Lady Audleys transgression against the gentile society is to label her as insane and send her away under an assumed name. This has many gendered implications for her character, and can be viewed as a punishment for a woman trying to ascend class. The interaction with Doctor Mosgrave is particularly interesting when considering the issue of class mobility. His first assessment of her is vastly different then his final conclusion. "Because there is no evidence of madness in anything she has done. She ran away from her home, because her home was not a pleasant one, and she left in the hope of finding a better. There is no madness in that. She committed the crime of bigamy, because by that crime she obtained fortune and position. There is no madness there. When she found herself in a desperate position, she did not grow desperate. She employed intelligent means, and she carried out a conspiracy which required coolness and deliberation in its execution. There is no madness in that." (Braddon XXXVI) In this the doctor clearly explains why Lady Audley committed the crimes she did. This seeming objective analyses of the situation seems more relatable then his final diagnosis of her as insane. The turning point in his decision is stated to be his 10 minute meeting with her, but the actual reasons seem apparent with in the social context. There is no other safe solution for a figure who attempts to climb the social ladder through means of violence and rebellion. Despite the doctors reservations, it is possible that his fear of social subjugation motivated his choice to diagnose her as insane. Also possible is that his fear was reinforced by seeing that she was in no way disabled, and simply responding to the stimuli of oppression. A Marxist perspective on this encounter is one of pure revolutionary suppression and class. The spatial and class mobility presented by lady

Audleys ability to move between these class structures and identities. In Frederick Engels work Origins of the Family, Private Property, and the State he discusses how the state replaces the formal gentile organization of society. In contrast to the old gentile organization, the state is distinguished firstly by the grouping of its members on a territorial basis. The old gentile bodies, formed and held together by ties of blood, had, as we have seen, become inadequate largely because they presupposed that the gentile members were bound to one particular locality, whereas this had long ago ceased to be the case. The territory was still there, but the people had become mobile (Engels XI). The formation of the state can be seen as represented by the threat of a public trial, democratic, public, and fundamentally in opposition to the values and power of the gentile class to whom these characters are a part. This repression shows how mobility, class or otherwise, threatens the old values of society. The threat of the state is interesting in that it is a public identity where complete control is lost. Again the solution is to imprison Lady Audley under a false name and a diagnosis of insanity. The gendered implications of this solution are also apparent. Madness is always discussed by men as an affliction that exclusively befalls women. By discussing her mothers affliction exclusively the men place this issue on women. This reflects the power for men to subjugate women via labels and the implication of these labels. She is given no space in both the novel and society to tell her own story. This complete denial of her rights can be interpreted as a response and fear of her ability as a woman to move up the social ladder through violence and deceit. Her gender becomes an even greater liability as she is imprisoned in the house awaiting a diagnosis. Powerless within the confines of family, her advocacy is completely taken away from

her by the narrator. It is important to note that one of the reasons this label of insane is so important is that she may have a chance at liberation through the judicial process. If you could produce evidence of his death, you could produce no evidence against this lady, beyond the one fact that she had a powerful motive for getting rid of him. No jury in the United Kingdom would condemn her upon such evidence as that" (Braddon XXXVI). This is followed by the statement by Mr. Audley that their first priority is to avoid any disgrace. This shows how women have no freedom within the gentile society of the time, her role as a woman allows her to be imprisoned, labeled as insane, and taken to her eventual death without identity. This is a strong statement as to what will happen to any women who attempts to gain power by moving up social class. The initial description of Lady Audley is important to understand how her character will be treated by those around her. The resentment of other characters, particularly women, for her having a financially and socially successful marriage The truth was that Lady Audley had, in becoming the wife of Sir Michael, made one of those apparently advantageous matches which are apt to draw upon a woman the envy and hatred of her sex (Braddon I). This depiction shows that she will meet with attacks based on her class mobility. Her beauty is also described in detail; her curls are an important source of her power throughout the novel. However, do to her charms being dependent on sexuality; she is susceptible to subjugation since this power is the result of male attention and attraction. Her final rejection of this beauty after her exposure is important to the understanding of how she lost her power. She plucked at the feathery golden curls as if she would have torn them from her head. It had served her so little after all, that gloriously glittering hair, that beautiful nimbus of yellow light that had contrasted so exquisitely with the melting azure of her eyes. She hated herself and her beauty (Braddon XXXVII). This passage clearly shows how her power based on beauty was fleeting and left her powerless to resist the judgment

of her new society. This lack of power reflects strongly on the lack of autonomy of women in Lady Audleys contemporary society due to their power being based on sexuality. This is an interesting comparison to Janes plain physique. The ability of Jane to remain class queer is the driving factor in her freedom as a woman throughout the novel, the fate of Lady Audley is the result of her attempting to join a class who has complete power over her as a class mobile woman. Janes role in the class structure is evident in the relationships she forms with people of vastly different classes. From her relationship with Bessie to Rochester, there is always a lack of complete acceptance and equality between Jane and them. This is largely due to Janes freedom as a person without defined class. Her role as a governess allows her to earn money as more than just a servant. Janes class mobility can be held in contrast with that of Lady Audley. She is a character who was able to rapidly advance herself in society, yet who was unable to emancipate herself from the oppression of dependency. She was imprisoned and labeled as insane due to her attempts to advance her class through violence.

Bibliography

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. 1847. Project Gutenberg. <http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1260/1260-h/1260-h.htm> Braddon, Mary Elizabeth. Lady Audleys Secret. 1862. Project Gutenberg. <http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext05/8lasc10h.htm> Engels, Frederick. Origins of the Family, Private Property, and the State. 1884. Marx/Engels Internet Archive. <http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1884/origin-family/index.htm> Wolff, Cynthia Griffin. The Radcliffean Gothic Model: A Form for Feminine Sexuality. Modern Language Studies. 1979. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/3194284>