Jane Eyre and Social Commentary

Analyze the author’s use of irony in describing Mr. Brocklehurst’s family in the second passage. How does the author contrast this description with Mr. Brocklehurst’s lecture to Miss Temple to provide social commentary on perceptions of class during this time?

Bronte makes symmetrical comparisons to demonstrate the double standard in the expectations of the school girls versus the expectations for Mr. Brocklehurst’s family. One example is when a girl is “vain” because she has naturally curly hair and yet Mr. Brocklehurst’s own daughters and the older woman, who I assume is his mother, wear very time consuming and delicate curls. If the man truly believed that curly hair was vain, he would hold his family to the same standards because is he not just as worried about their souls, if not more? In this situation however, he obviously does not and is using things like hair styles as a way of controlling the girls and crushing their independent will.  Not to say that it would be alright if this man treated his family in this way either, in many cases men who are at this level of controlling treat their families worse than other people. But since Bronte is trying to comment more on aspects of class and the religious institution itself, that type of situation is not as relevant.

The same goes with the clothes comparison. Tuckers are a piece of linen or lace worn by women around the neck and shoulders to cover where their other clothes do not. So they are also a modesty piece, like a camisole, as well as an accent piece. They are also white which means that they can become dirty easily and could be expected to be changed out more frequently than other clothes. I assume from the Mr. Brocklehurst’s rules, that the girls use linen tuckers. Linen of course is less expensive and easier to clean than silk or velvet. This presents again a double standard for the school girls especially if they are not even allowed to get clean tuckers to wear for special occasions like having lunch with important people. Not to mention the quantity of a small amount of linen versus entire outfits of velvet and silk. This demonstrates how Mr. Brocklehurst not only thinks that the girls deserve more regulation in case of vanity and pride, but it also demonstrates how Mr. Brocklehurst thinks the girls are monetarily less worthy of even necessary pieces of clothing than his own daughters. This goes beyond religious and ethical double standards and Mr. Brocklehurst’s classism.  

Having Mr. Brocklehurst’s family enter as Mr. Brocklehurst has almost finished outlining his harsh regulations for presentation allows the audience to establish an opinion of Mr. Brocklehurst through Jane’s perspective as a mean person. When his family comes in dressed in finery with little commentary from Jane beyond their appearance, the audience comes to their own conclusion through comparing the descriptions of what the girls have versus what his family has that Mr. Brocklehurst is a huge hypocrite. Given that Bronte has control over what the characters describe, this conclusion is what she wanted the audience to make and see the double standards in her society.

Sources:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tucker