DECONSTRUCTION
and
Jane Eyre
What is Deconstruction?
 Questioning binary opposition
 Unlimited interpretations
 Ex: Jane Eyre = feminist
… or misogynist?
Deconstruction Article
 Jane doesn’t connect with women, only men
who are trapped by their families and escape
through imperialism.
 Rochester’s older brother inherits their
family wealth, so Edward marries a woman
in Jamaica.
 Trapped in marriage with Bertha, so can’t
marry Jane.
Article
 St John’s father and Uncle Eyre have a
fued, so Eyre’s inheritance goes to
Jane
 St John goes to India to gain authority,
but dies there
Article
 John Eyre, John Reed, St John Rivers,
Jane Eyre
 Jane’s treatment of Adele mirrors Mrs.
Reed’s treatment of Jane
 Sends her to school to be “docile,
good-tempered, and well-principled”.
Jane
 Timid, Intelligent, Articulate,
Composed, Strong, Independent
Bertha
 Insane, Wild, Uncontrollable,
Murderous, Violent
Jane = Bertha
 Not composed
 Fights with John Reed and Mrs. Reed *
 Argues passionately with Rochester
 As a child > rebellious, untamed.
Restrained as an adult.
Bertha = Jane
 Witty, cunning, intelligent
 Like Jane: articulate, “art of weeping”.
 Bertha is calculating in lighting fire,
“cunning in craft” *.
Rochester constrains J & B
 Bertha: physically held in attic.
 Jane: mentally manipulated to fall
deeper in love with him.
 Selfish: Jane - for his happiness,
protection. Bertha - guiltlessness,
security, benefits from marriage.
Influence over Rochester
 Jane: manipulative “art of weeping” *,
bigamy, devotion, makes him cuckoo *.
 Bertha: keeps from marrying, burden,
constraint.
Misleading appearance
 Jane: looks plain, but is interesting,
insightful, intelligent.
 Bertha: composed to lure in Rochester,
benefits of marriage, looks beautiful to
disguise mental illness.
Free spirits
 Societal constraints nonexistent
 Jane: Doesn’t hold her tongue, speaks
her mind.
 Bertha: Doesn’t hold back in actions,
tries to kill Rochester, laughs wildly.