Ethics and Moral Development in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre Open Access

Abstract

This thesis examines Aristotle’s and Charlotte Brontë’s respective treatments of character development in Nicomachean Ethics and Jane Eyre. By analyzing the works in tandem, I put Ancient philosophic discourse and Victorian literature into dialogue, thereby demonstrating the way in which the fields of philosophy and literature interact with, and illuminate, one another. While Aristotle’s ethics rest at the center of the project, I supplement my analysis of the moral narrative in Jane Eyre by drawing upon Epictetus’ Discourses, Augustine’s Confessions and Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals.

 

This thesis argues that Jane, Brontë’s protagonist, defies the contemporary gendered Victorian moral code and displays growth more congruent with Christian and Aristotelian teachings. To both strengthen my own analysis of Jane’s internal makeup, and demonstrate the stylistic similarity of Aristotle’s and Brontë’s modes of writing, I contrast Jane’s character with those of others. More specifically, I examine her moral character alongside that of Bertha and St. John, interpreting the three characters as literary embodiments of Aristotle’s distinction between the states of deficiency, intermediacy and excess. I not only study other characters as a means of proving Jane’s morality to be most conducive to leading a happy, autonomous life, but to also reveal the way in which they serve to test her morality and compromise her freedom. To do so, I have constructed my argument in accordance with Aristotle’s topoi, dividing my chapters based on “places,” and have studied an oppressive force in each. Tracking Jane’s character development throughout the Bildungsroman, I reveal her increasing ability to resist the Victorian patriarchy; more generally, I draw attention to the moral and psychological strategies that allow women and men to overcome hardship.

 

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter I: Gateshead

  I. Section 1: John Reed as an Oppressive Froce

  II. Section 2: Aristotelian Morality

  III. Section 3: Demonstration of Character  Growth

Chapter II: Lowood

  I. Section 1: Mr. Brocklehurst as an Oppressive Force

  II. Section 2: Christian Morality

  III. Section 3: Demonstration of Character Growth

Chapter III: Thornfield

  I. Section 1: Morality and Agency

  II. Section 2: Morality and Self-Restraint

  III. Section 3: Demonstration of Character Growth

Chapter IV: Marsh End

  I. Section 1: Jane's and St. John's Varying Moral Philosophies

  II. Section 2: Demonstration of Autonomy

  III. Section 3: Demonstration of Morality

Conclusion

Works Cited

 

 

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	English
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Ethics Philosophy
Keyword	Christian virtue Victorian Era Aristotle morality Nicomachean Ethics
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Kelleher, Paul, Emory University
Committee Members	Marcus, Frederick, Emory University Trapp, Joonna , Emory University

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