Children, Madness, and Freedom

Positionings: Theoretical and Personal In considering Charlotte Brontë’s, Jane Eyre, I would like to first say a bit on the position we will be looking from, so to speak. The form in which this book is written, that of a fictional autobiography which is retrospective, and therefor confessional, is a form which grants considerable psychological freedom to an author. Freedom of this nature often affords an author a proxy whereby issues or desires to …

…privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex. When thus alone, I not unfrequently heard Grace Poole’s laugh.” (Ch.XII) It was of course Bertha whom she was hearing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**