This passage in Jane Eyre evokes the theme of Jane’s independence, and, by extension, her feminism. Specifically, Jane’s sense of self-reliance and view that status does not come from age, gender or worldliness is often thought to make her a feminist heroine, and the book Jane Eyre is often thought of as feminist literature because Jane, who has few avenues to support herself financially but nevertheless rejects marriage. In Victorian England, marriage was the ultimate goal for a woman to secure financial security. It also often did not matter whether the marriage would be a happy union as long as it freed the woman from worrying about having to look to relatives for food and shelter. By choosing to remain independent even though she has the option to marry, Jane proactively makes a choice that many readers consider feminist.
She easily could have chosen to marry St. John, but she does not love him, so she declines, even though the marriage would secure a financial future for her and raise her status socially. She also rejects marriage to Mr. Rochester initially and rejects his proposal that they live together once she realizes that his wife is still alive. She believes that a marriage just for the financial stability it would provide is not a route towards her happiness, which is why she declines his proposal.
In this passage, Jane is saying outright that Mr. Rochester has no right to assume that he is her superior. She tacitly is claiming to be his equal. Thus, Jane’s sense of independence extends to her views of equality and status, and in this passage, she challenges Mr. Rochester’s claims to superiority in their relationship merely because he is older and worldlier than she and, one can surmise, because he is a man.
Just to add something to very comprehensive post regarding gender roles, Jane Eyre, acutely intelligent and fiercely independent, sets on end the depiction of the Victorian woman. For, she speaks to her employer as though she is his equal in intelligence and understanding--an act very much out of the norm for Victorian times.
"I don't think, sir, you have a right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience."
First of all, there is no direct textual reference to class here at all. Jane mentions only age and worldly experience: "older than I ... seen more of the world." Nor does the author through Jane Eyre bring gender directly into this comment, although both may be said to be indirectly referenced as it may be said that upper class Victorian men had the freedom and means to travel at will while financially dependent, young, unmarried women had no such freedom.
Secondly, the issues directly brought forward in this quote are the definition and meaning of superiority and the...
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nature of a woman's role as a governess in a household, which seems a rather narrow issue to bring forward but one of experiential importance to the Bronte sisters and one whichindirectly reflects on the issues of gender, class, and servitude.
The first consideration of theme is that Bronte, through Jane, defines superiority as an inner characteristic independent of travel, wealth (assuming wealth is needed for independence and travel), age and (indirectly referenced) gender as men had freedom to travel that women in general did not have. She defines superiority as derived from what has been done with time and experience. These are elements that are universal and the common province of everyone and anyone; even the most impoverished and disadvantaged have time and experience. Bronte and Jane Eyre thus separate superiority entirely from gender, class, age, privilege and wealth
The second consideration of theme is that the employment of a young women as governess in a household gives her equality of class, superiority, independent individualism, and independence of thought. (1) As a governess, Jane does not scruple to speak up independently to Rochester nor to correct and reprimand him ("I don't think, sir, you have a right") nor to instruct him ("claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience") nor to thereby equate herself with him. (2) Jane thus equates herself with his social class and confirms for herself personal independence and independent dignity (even though she lacks monetary independence) along with the independent authority to have and express without fear independent thought and action.
Therefore, though the themes touch indirectly on class and gender, the direct thematic issues brought forth in the quotation are (1) the definition of superiority and (2) the definition of the position of a young, unmarried woman employed in a household as governess.
Jane is also commenting on the subtle difference between having done things and growing or changing or improving oneself as a result of those experiences. For example, just attending school doesn't make you smarter -- it is the act of being there and then doing something with that experience that makes you different from others. It is "the use you have made" that makes the difference.
There are a couple of different themes here. First, people from different social classes can still be equals. Jane dares to talk to Rochester like this, even though he's her employer. Although Jane and Rochester are different, they end up falling in love. Finally, there is also a lesson here regarding the different sexes and the supposed superiority of men, who try to make choices for women.