| dc.description.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. | en_US |
