23rd Annual Student Research Conference
Sherlock's Rival: Jane Eyre as Detective and the Crime of Female Selfhood
Lisa N. Scott
Dr. Heather Cianciola, Faculty Mentor
Several critics have represented Jane, the protagonist in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre, as a figure of gender equality and independent femininity, yet the reasons behind this critical analysis of her character are not always clear. Correlating with the writings of these scholars, I also view Jane as being revolutionary for the depiction of her sex and I will attempt to clarify this notion by highlighting Jane in the role of investigator. Boasting natural curiosity that becomes prominent within her gender, Jane is a triumphant detective beginning with her childhood endeavors at Gateshead and Lowood Institution and ending with her encounters of patriarchal influences, Mr. Rochester and St. John Rivers. With her sense of planning and intuition, Jane enables readers to understand her rebellious nature, which seeks to uncover her own independence and is portrayed as trangressive, criminal behavior in Victorian-era society.
Keywords: Jane Eyre, gender equality, femininity, detective, Victorian society, criminal behavior, Rochester, St. John Rivers
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 62-4
Location: VH 1232
Time: 3:30