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Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë

Charlotte Brontë's Victorian classic and most notable novel follows the story of Jane Eyre, an impoverished orphan who battles through life's hardship and struggle, in an attempt to gain a greater insight of her own identity. From her cruel Aunt Reed, the strict conditions at Lowood school, her repressed love for Mr Rochester and the mysterious presence in the attic at Thornfield Hall, the narrative provided me with a unique gothic twist on the romance genre.

Jane Eyre as a protagonist can easily be viewed from a feminist perspective, being an advocate for women's emancipation and free will during the Victorian era. She is somebody who repeatedly challenges contemporary ideals of conduct and expectations, as well as claiming value in self independence and liberty over materialism. An example of this for me, is when Jane's irritation grows after Rochester's attempt to garnish her with expensive jewels and gifts after their engagement. Her humble modesty is explicit, as she feels unworthy of being treated as a beauty, due to her established simplicity and plainness within herself. It is clear that Jane favours more traditional forms of happiness, such as family and friendship. In addition, she often questions Rochester's true intentions towards her, further reinforcing her cautiousness, as well as the deep grounded effects of her harsh past experiences.

As we may be familiar with, a Victorian ideal for women was to be the "Angel in the House". Deriving from the title of a popular poem by Coventry Patmore, in which he held up his 'angel' wife as a model for all women, the phrase became a conventional pattern in Victorian households. This type of woman was expected to be submissive and devoted to her husband, as well as self-sacrificing, pious and meek. Even though at times it is apparent that Jane embodies the passivity of the 'angel', she is almost always on the contrary, challenging the patriarchal system which can be said to be symbolised by Rochester. In chapter 19, she even refers to marriage as a 'catastrophe' which is an atypical view! As a result, Jane seems to be an embodiment of the philosophical 'New Woman' of Victorian society. Departed from the stereotypical woman, the phrase stands for a woman who is intelligent, independent and self-supporting, which is a well-rounded description of Jane's character.

I particularly appreciate Brontë's formation of a seemingly 'New Gothic', that seems to have a more prominent focus on the psychological effects of trauma and its long lasting effects on an individual. The use of the phenomenon of repetitive compulsions striked me as a notable device in the narrative, as the character of Aunt Reed is almost embodied by Bertha Mason in Jane's future. This may indicate her unconscious need to want to overcome or master her tortured past through reconciling with it, and only then, Jane seems to finally experience a form of content and satisfaction. When Brontë weaves in supernaturalistic elements throughout the novel, especially when Jane repeatedly hears a sinister laugh coming from the attic, we are almost certain that there is a ghostly presence in place. However, she is clever in the fact of presenting Bertha as a grievous and afflicting character, who ultimately grounds us to the more realistic circumstances.

As a whole, I thought the novel to be a beautifully written exploration of the inevitable searching human condition and the radical effects that it may have on one's life. The development of Jane's character is central to the novel's significance, and this is further reinforced by the bildungsroman genre, as we experience her transformation from child to young woman. Brontë's appreciation for great detail, especially of nature and landscapes, serve for a timeless classic that can be enjoyed by all readers.

-Iman

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The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood's 1985 dystopian novel centres around the protagonist, Offred, who is a victim of a totalitarian society, which was once the United States. The state of Gilead is run by a fundamentalist regime that enslaves women as property of the state with the aim of procreation, due to environmental disasters and a declining birth rate.

Atwood's writing throughout is incredibly observant. She possesses an extensive capacity to see detail in simplistic objects. For instance, in chapter 19, a whole segment is dedicated to the description of a single egg. Atwood writes "The egg is glowing now, as if it had an energy of its own. To look at the egg gives me intense pleasure". More broadly, eggs are commonly referred to throughout the novel, cleverly serving as a reminder of the hopes of the State of Gilead.

There is a consistent time shift between the present and the past throughout, as Offred recalls her memories of her daughter and husband, Luke, as well as between her time at the Red Centre and her current place as a Handmaid. This makes the relevance of the novel particularly striking, as we begin to question whether a society like Gilead may actually be upon us one day. These theoretical approaches are particularly emphasised by Offred's presentations of the past, that as the audience we can easily relate to from our own lives. I myself began to question where we truly are going as a society, as it seems so easy to fall back on what we have strived so hard to grow form in terms of liberation and women's rights. Atwood herself describes The Handmaid's Tale as a form of 'speculative fiction', which further demonstrates the possibilities presented.

I appreciate the way that Atwood draws in events and ideas that were present during the time of publishing, for instance 70s feminism and abortion riots etc. If we think about it, religious brainwashing and fanaticism, as well as childbearing expectations of women has been something that has been happening all through history. Therefore, it can be inferred that Atwood has flipped an already 'dystopian' world in order to understand the perspective of a woman living in it.

In conclusion, I enjoyed Atwood's style that completely detaches the use of quotation marks and immerses the narrator completely into the main action of the narrative. The subtle blend of feminist causes, environmental issues, politics, dystopia and psychological thriller account into an ever relevant masterpiece!

-Iman