Jane Eyre A Critique Of Strict Social Class Hierarchy

‘Jane Eyre’ highlights the ways in which the proletariat is oppressed by the bourgeoisie. As such, the novel could be regarded as a critique of the strict social class hierarchy in Victorian England, particularly in terms of the despicable mistreatment of Jane at the hands of her supposed â€Å"social superior† John Reed. Reed violently torments and oppresses Jane, reminds her constantly of being an ‘orphan’,a ‘dependent’ of the Reed family. Thus, Reed exemplifies the upper class oppressing the proletariat; he is the ‘superior’ being: You have no business to take our books; you are a dependent... you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, not live here with gentlemen s children like us, and eat the same meals... (don’t) rummage my book-shelves: they are mine; all the house belongs to me, or will do in a few years. The noun ‘dependant’ is significant here, suggesting that Jane is a burden on the Reed family, an outsider and worthless. Thus, Reed’s dialogue elucidates not only the power struggle between the classes but also Reed’s authority over Jane as - she is ‘beneath’ him in social class and this â€Å"fact† is supposed justification to ostracise her. Indeed, our heroine is seemingly destined to remain in some sort of ‘no-man s land’ between the upper- and servant classes and Mrs. Reed’s cruelty exacerbates the protagonist s increasing isolation, â€Å"she really must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy, little