Carissa Cluesman
Just as servants played an essential role in Victorian England, they
also played an essential role in the novel Jane Eyre. Bronte
uses
servants in a variety of ways. For example the housekeeper is used to
bring
terror and utter rejection on Jane. The nursemaid is used to teach Jane
to love and nurture without neglecting discipline.
The housekeeper was most often a widow, working for her kin (Hill 119). Mrs. Fairfax falls under the category of the widowed older lady working for her kin (107; ch. 11). It is Mrs. Fairfax who responds to Jane’s ad and hires her (96; ch. 10). It is also Mrs. Fairfax who warns Jane before her wedding to Rochester that she should not trust him. Being the housekeeper as well as kin Mrs. Fairfax knows a lot about Rochester. She suggests that Jane "keep Mr. Rochester at a distance: distrust yourself as well as him" ( 263; ch. 24).
Bronte uses the stern housekeeper in the novel to influence Jane. The stern and disproving Mrs. Fairfax signifies the distress and turmoil that is soon to take place with the pending wedding. The housekeeper was often a terror to other servants in the home, and is the character of many stories haunting (Huggert 33). Mrs. Fairfax adhering to her role as housekeeper attempts to stir terror in Jane about marrying Rochester by telling her to distrust him (263; ch. 24). We find that Mrs. Fairfax’s warning does indeed take a toll on Jane’s behavior toward Rochester. After treating Rochester coolly for weeks, Jane says, "Mrs. Fairfax, I saw, approved me" (272; ch. 25).
The same kind of attributes are displayed by Hannah the housekeeper at Moor House. The same kind of close loyal bond is also displayed by Hannah. When Jane knocks on the door of Moor House , it is Hannah who answers and turns her away. Hannah’s loyalty to the family causes her to distrust strangers and attempt to protect their interests. She refuses to allow Jane to even speak to her mistresses (329; ch. 28 ). Jane continues claiming she will die if turned away. Hannah responds:
Bronte again uses the terrorizing image of the housekeeper to bring Jane to utter rejection at her worst moment. This specific time the housekeeper is Hannah. First, Hannah refuses to allow Jane to speak to Diane and Mary. Next, she refuses Jane the basics of shelter and food. At this point Hannah is used to bring Jane to total rejection and an utter terror. It isn’t until Jane reaches this lowest state that she can begin to raise again:
Bessie played an important role at Gateshead as well as in Jane’s life. Early in the novel, Bessie, the nursemaid, is in the position to report Jane’s behavior to Mrs. Reed. Jane is excluded from the drawing room with the rest of the Reeds because of her unchildlike disposition (20; ch. 1).
Bessie was responsible for Jane’s behavior not only to report it to Mrs. Reed but also to punish Jane when needed. It was Bessie who was first to report that Jane was indeed this happy little child. It was also Bessie who along with Miss Abbot administered punishment on Jane, by placing her in the red-room (24; ch. 1). Fulfilling her role as nursemaid during the holiday season, it was Bessie who was found in the nursery with Jane apart from the rest of the household (39; ch. 4). Despite the punishment and scolding we see Jane receive from Bessie, it is Bessie who has the greatest impact on Jane while she is at Gateshead. In Jane’s opinion Bessie was "the best, prettiest, kindest being in the whole world. I preferred her to any one else at Gateshead" (40; ch. 4).
While Jane despises punishment from any of the Reeds it was Bessie who she wished wouldn’t push her about, scold her, or task her unreasonably (40; ch. 4). It from this desire and these scenes that we find Bessie playing a significant role in Jane’s upbringing. In many ways Bessie represents the motherly figure that Jane does not have. Although she is firm with Jane, Bessie is found telling her stories and singing to her about the "poor orphan child" (33; ch. 3). The only affection Jane receives as a child comes from Bessie. Bessie is found embracing Jane before she leaves for Lowood, and it is Bessie’s neck which Jane clings to before she enters the coach ( 51-2; ch. 5). Even when she becomes an adult, we find that the only person from Gateshead who seeks out Jane, and is found embracing her, is Bessie (98; ch. 10).
Bronte uses Bessie as a type of mother figure for Jane. Bessie scolds Jane, and embraces her. This is the type of care any mother would provide for her child. Bronte uses Bessie to enable Jane to not only be loved, but express her love for others. Bessie’s significance lies in the future responsibilities that Jane must be prepared for. Later in the novel Jane is able to serve as Adele’s governess and a mother. Jane’s loving and kind nature which she learned first through Bessie is expressed in her treatment of Adele. This nature is displayed when she coaxes Rochester to allow Adele to accompany them on their journey to Millcote (264; ch. 24). By the end of the novel Jane not only has to love and nurture her crippled husband, but also a child (440; ch. 38 ).
The nineteenth century housekeeper and nurse played substantial
roles
in Jane Eyre. Bronte uses servants to remind Jane of her status
and to teach her to be loving. The way Bronte strategically places the
servants in her novel allows us to comprehend their importance in the
everyday
lives of the Victorians.
Works Cited
Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Ed. Beth Newman. Boston: Bedford, 1996.
Hill, Bridget. Servants: English Domestics in the Eighteenth Century. Oxford: Clarendon, 1996.
Horn, Pamela. The Rise and Fall of the Victorian Servant. New York: St. Martin’s, 1975.
Hugget, Frank E. Life Below Stairs: Domestic Servant in England from Victorian Times. New York: Scribner’s, 1977.