The Role of Women in Victorian Literature: A Comparative Study of Jane Eyre and Tess of the d'Urbervilles

Abstract

This research looks at the way women are shown and their importance in Victorian literature, by examining Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. It looks at the way each novel describes its female main character, considering 19th century gender expectations, rules, and moral standards. Jane Eyre shows how Jane learns to respect herself, be independent, and have strong morals, while Tess of the d’Urbervilles tells of a victimised character trapped by social deceit and the sad results of living under a patriarchal system. While comparing the themes and analyzing the characters, this study brings out how Brontë and Hardy each attack Victorian gender views, using pieces centered on strength or weakness. Apparently, these stories mirror and react to the limited positions women had during the Victorian era, providing hints about early feminism and the issues women faced in literature.