social class

• Most things free-born will submit to anything for a salary - Mr. Rochester


  Rochester demonstrates the power of people in his social class over those of a lower social class:

  • He argues that money can buy anything, including obedience, even when it contradicts someone’s moral views
  • Brontë is showing the cynicism and disregard with which people of Rochester’s class are able to treat those of lower social status, even if they are “free-born” (i.e. not slaves)  
• I should wish her to be brought up in a manner suiting her prospects – Mrs Reed


  Jane’s “prospects”, or life choices, are very limited:

  • As an orphan with no money, Jane will have to work or marry in order to survive
  • Mrs Reed could educate Jane along with her own daughters, but chooses not to
  • Brontë is illustrating the extremely limited options for someone of Jane’s social class: 
  • She is also demonstrating the way in which upper-class characters like Mrs Reed can exercise their power over those with very low social status, like Jane