A Feminist Stylistic Analysis in Charlotte Brontë’s Novel Jane Eyre (1847)

Abstract

Mills’ feminist stylistic theory to explore how language reflected and resisted patriarchal ideologies. It employed a qualitative descriptive approach to analyze the novel at the levels of word, phrase/sentence, and discourse, aiming to reveal how Brontë linguistically constructed a liberal feminist identity for her protagonist. Word-level analysis identified gender-specific representations through marked forms, generic pronouns, and semantic derogation, highlighting the linguistic marginalization of women. At the phrase and sentence level, the study uncovered how metaphors, presuppositions, and idiomatic expressions reinforced or subverted Victorian gender norms. Discourse-level analysis focused on narrative focalization, characterization, and the fragmentation of female voices, especially in the contrast between Jane Eyre and Bertha Mason. The findings demonstrated that Brontë’s use of language empowered Jane with narrative authority, moral agency, and self-determination, challenging the gendered expectations of her time. This study contributed to feminist stylistics by providing a detailed linguistic and ideological reading of Jane Eyre, emphasizing the novel’s role in articulating liberal feminist resistance through stylistic choices.