Sarah Frank

Mrs. Pierce
AP English 4
Marriage is an Inescapable Cage

How would you react if society forced you into a specific role that was out of your
comfort zone? Imagine that you are trapped in a cage like a bird, but to get out of the cage it
would be socially unacceptable. As you continue to dwell in the cage, your mind may spark ideas
of rebellion to get out of the entrapped lifestyle. In Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, The
Awakening by Kate Chopin, and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte women fall prey to the
oppression by men in their relationships.

Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights exemplifies how women become trapped in a cage
when Catherines independence is taken away from her. Catherine had been described as a,
nonetheless, wild child. Heathcliff is portrayed as a savage character as a child as he ran around
the moors with Catherine. When Catherine was sent away to a rich family to become a real lady,
she lost her sense of self in order to conform to societys expectations of a woman.
Unfortunately, Heathcliff was able to keep Catherine under his control because of his violent
temper and overall strong power. When Catherine refuses to marry Heathcliff because of his
social status, he ran away for three years. At this point one may argue that Catherine did not fall
under Heathcliffs oppression but she chooses not to marry him for what society wants.
Catherine has little control over her life. Once Heathcliff sees Catherines ghost, the two are
inseparable. It is not until death that Catherine can live the life that she wants. This takes away

from female independence. Because Catherine was raised to fall into a certain role, it portrays
that men know they have power over women to guide them into a trapping relationship.
Patriarchy in Wuthering Heights plays a large role in understanding why women are
easily oppressed. Catherine had no issue sacrificing herself in order to grow into societys ideal
woman. The love between Heathcliff and Catherine had to be sacrificed for economic safety at
Edgar Lintons. Young Cathy also went through the agonizing pain of not being able to be with
Linton because of Edgar. Manipulation from Heathcliff lead to Cathy acting against her fathers
wishes. All of Cathys actions were controlled so even her ending choice to be with Linton was
warped in her mind so she did not realize she was aiding in Heathcliffs revenge. Although
patriarchy is a concern in Wuthering Heights, misguiding relationships also aid in understanding
why women fall to oppression by men in relationships.

Kate Chopins novel The Awakening demonstrates how oppressive marriages are to a
women mentally. Edna was trapped in societys conventions for how she should act as a member
of the higher class. Edna only came to a partial understanding that her defiance against her role
in society to fulfill her personal freedoms would not have a happy ending for Mr. Pontellier,
Robert, her children or herself. Upper class members of society are looked at as wealthy and
reputable. Material items flourished from the upper class as they attended small parties to
increase business connections. It is the lower class women that indulge in sexual passions
because they did not need to worry about business aspects or creating a family. Unlike the rest of
the upper class, Edna felt the need to have a conventional lover. Flirting and Ednas invitations
for Robert to come over may seem harmless but as their relationship grew, an easy way to
happiness was out of the question. Expectations between the upper class vs the lower class could
easily have changed the reputations of Edna, Robert and Lonce.

As a mother during the 19th century, women were expected to have many children and
raise them to be high functioning members of the upper class. Madame Ratignolle was the best
example of a caring mother. Adele had several children and looked forward to making booties for
when she had another child. Although Edna had children with Lonce, she did not want children
so she was not the nurturing mother that she was supposed to be. Lonce accused Edna of not
taking care of the children for he believed Raoul had a fever, If it was not a mothers place to
look after children, whose on Earth was it (pg 18)? Her defiance against her role as a mother
was an act of being stubborn and was described as not a mother-woman (pg 21). Edna defies
her role as a mother like Madame Ratignolle in inspiration to live like Mademoiselle Reisz with
no responsibilities other than her music. Mademoiselle Reisz is idolized by Edna because she has
sacrificed social and personal amenities to do what she pleases. The lifestyle of Mademoiselle
Reisz is ideal to Edna but Adele points out that if she puts her wants before her duties, it will be a
mess. Adeles advice to Edna was, Think of the children; think of them(pg 154), which was a
turning point in Ednas thought process because she came to the realization that if word got out
that she was with Alcee and Robert, there would be no happiness for her. Another realization to
Edna occurred: she would unable to leave Lonce and go to Robert because she had no rights to
see the kids. Where Adele had been the ideal mother, she was also the ideal wife. Edna opposed
the idea of having responsibilities that she did not feel necessary to her life. An important factor
of marriage during this era was that marriage was similar to a business agreement so the husband
could get more clients through his wifes calling hours. The calling hours were an opportunity for
prospective clients to speak to the wife about the business. Edna went against her role and left
the house during her calling hours which let down Lonces expectation of Edna to help him with
the business. In addition, Edna would wander around, which was unusual for women to do alone,

so she worried Lonce. By talking back to Lonce, flinging her ring on the floor, and not
following through with her tidying up around the house, she deviated away from the figure of a
wife. Edna knew she would not be happy with Lonce because she felt no connection or lust like
she had felt towards Robert. The internal happiness Edna expected to have with Robert was
flushed away when Robert mentioned marriage because the idea of being trapped in another
marriage was unappealing.

In Jane Eyre, patriarchal rule causes Jane to fall under the oppression by men. Janes
cousin, John, constantly abuses her and looks at her like a murderer which she is punished for.
What punishment is better than sticking a 10 year old girl in a room? Jane wonders, Why could
I never please? Why was it useless to try to win anyones favor?(Bronte 10). By being around
the female oppression in society at a young age, Jane is raised into a household that pushes her
down. After fighting against John, Jane realizes she has a passion to get away from her
oppression(Johnson). Patriarchy was still present even though Mr. Reed had deceased. Mrs.
Reed, who functions in the capacity of a husband, as Jane's oppressor(Anderson), was the
households patriarchal figure but as a woman her wishes were disregarded by her son. Mrs.
Reed represents victorian ego(Anderson) so she must oppress Jane. When Jane is reminded
that she is less than a servant, she comes to the realization that she has not done anything
wrong she speaks out against Mrs. Reed:
I shall remember how you thrust me back-roughly and violently thrust me back-into the
red room, and locked me up there, to my dying day, though I was in agony, though I cried out,
while suffocating with distress, Have mercy! Have mercy, Aunt Reed! And that punishment you
made me suffer because your wicked boy struck me-knocked me down for nothing. I will tell
anybody who asks me questions this exact tale. People think you a good woman, but you are bad,
hardhearted. You are deceitful!(pg 36).
By telling the doctor, Mr Lloyd that she wants to get out of there and get an education,
she is going against what is expected of her as a young orphan girl.

As Jane moves away from the patriarchy of Mrs. Reed, she moves into a new
patriarchy at Lowood under Mr. Brocklehurst. Lowood gives Jane the opportunity to learn in an
all female environment but the girls are restricted to any special treatment because they are
orphans. Mr. Brocklehurst enjoys running Lowood so he can take things away from the poor
orphan girls to give him a sense of power. To limit the girls individualism, he demands that all
girls must have straight hair and to limit their rights, he gives them barely any food nor warmth.
Mr. Brocklehurst made a point to make the girls as miserable as he could:
And there is another thing which surprised me: I find in settling accounts with the
housekeeper, that a lunch, consisting of bread and cheese, has twice been served out to the girls
during the fortnight. How is this? I look over the regulations, and I find no such meal as lunch
mentioned. who introduced this innovation? and by what authority (pg 67)?
Thornfield challenged the expectations of a woman during this time and Janes passions
with Mr. Rochester. Mr. Rochester is used to the patriarchal household: he has servants and Mrs.
Fairfax working for him but he also has a surprise, crazy wife, Bertha, who he had locked in the
attic. Bertha was used for her money and then stuck in an attic when she became psychotic which
categorizes Mr. Rochester as the average hierarchy. Bertha is another complex symbol depicting
the image of women who were not submissive ended up like (Anderson). Bertha is described to
snatch and growl like some strange wild animal but it was covered with clothing, so how could
anyone love her? Berthas craze causes the reader to rationalize Jane being Mr. Rochesters
mistress. By leaving Thornfield, Jane goes against Mr. Rochesters plan and pulls herself away
from the sexual hierarchy.
Mr. Rochesters joking affair with Blanche also characterized him as a
stereotypical man during the Victorian period. Playing with Janes emotions, Mr. Rochester
influences Jane to think about Blanche Ingram, who can tyrannize over men whenever
possible(Landow). Taking away the aspect of Bertha, Jane fears entrapment in a day where

women's lives an airless dungeon: a life of confinement to boredom and endless repetitious
task(Anderson). The life with Mr. Rochester would not escape the patriarchal society as Joyce
Zonana describes, The shopping trip to Millicote gently figures Rochester as a domestic despot:
he commands and Jane is obliged to obey, though she feels degraded by that
obedience(Zonana).
And then you wont know me, sir; and I shall not be your Jane Eyre any longer, but an
ape in a harlequins jacket-a jay in borrowed plumes. I would as soon see you, Mr. Rochester,
tricked out in stage trappings, as myself clad in a court -ladys robe (pg 298).
By marrying Mr. Rochester, Jane would have to give up on her route to self-sufficiency.
When Mr. Rochester mentions their betrothal in 4 weeks Jane thinks, I could not quite
comprehend it: it made me giddy. The feeling the announcement sent through me was something
stronger than was consistent with joy-something that smote and stunned: it was, I think, almost
fear(pg 296). By choosing love, Jane nearly loses her own personality(Johnson). Jane is
unable to rationalize going back to Thornfield until she discovers her wealth inherited from Mr.
Rivers. At the end of many trials Charlotte permits Jane to return at last to her lover. It is a wiser
Jane, and also perhaps a wiser Charlotte who welcomes this happy event (Johnson). Each time
Jane went on to a new place, she could not escape patriarch. If Jane had chosen to stay with St.
John, she would not have the full freedom. Jane is curious as to what her life would have been if
she married St. John as she explains his life: As to St. John Rivers, he left England; he went to
India. He entered on the path he had marked for himself and he pursues it still. A more resolute,
indefatigable pioneer never wrought amidst rocks and dangers(pg 523).