Influential female characters in literature reflect the struggle for women's equality with men. Much like reality, these characters seek individualism and freedom or equality with men in a male-dominated society. These scholars are called feminists, and many feminists view Charlotte Brontë's main character, Jane Eyre, as a proto-feminist icon of the Victorian era. Jane Eyre not only shows the struggle of a woman under a man, but it also depicts the struggle of women in a male-dominated society. Reading Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre through a feminist perspective reveals Jane's struggle for independence, individuality, and equality in a society controlled and dominated by men. Before we can analyze Jane's situation in depth, however, we must put the Victorian era into perspective. In Victorian England, a woman's primary purpose was to "serve others...please her husband and society" (Barrera, "Etiquette of a Victorian Lady"). In addition, women have for years been the managers of the household and, therefore, confined to it and all its tasks. Even the clothes women wore only served to emphasize the feminine side and the “separation from the world of work” (Abrams, “Ideals of Womanhood in Victorian Britain”). Since women were controlled by society and men controlled society, women were forced into obedience. However, feminism was also on the rise as many women grew tired of domestic life and their place in society, causing them to seek equality with men. This theme of "patriarchal forces that hindered women's efforts to achieve full equality with men" is present in Victorian society as well as in Jane Eyre. women s...... middle of paper ...... beloved society. Jane also shows how independent she is by seeking work even after marriage and refusing to conform to the typical Victorian woman: dependent and obedient to men. In the end, Jane wins, in a sense, over a man; she defies the natural order of society when Rochester must become dependent on Jane. In conclusion, Jane Eyre is the story of how a strong woman overcomes the unfair and unequal societal norms of the Victorian era and is rewarded with the equality and independence she fought so hard for. Works Cited Barrera, Mari. “Etiquette of a Victorian Lady.” December 11, 2011..Abrams, Lynn. “BBC – History – Ideals of Womanhood in Victorian Britain.” BBC - Homepage. August 9, 2001. December 10. 2011..