Comparing the Portrayal of Women by Jane Austen Essay Example

saves Mr Rochester from the burning house. This novel showcases the weaknesses of men and mental strength of women. This in turn contradicts the social norms of 19th Century England, where males had more rights and privileges than women and women were powerless due to a lack of equal social power. However, the novel Jane Eyre opposes these social norms by displaying females as the stronger gender than males.

In contrast, Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights combines both aspects of Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. Heathcliff and Hindley Earnshaw are the dominant males in the novel, and control many of the female characters in the novel. The females are subjected to abuse by the aforementioned male characters. However, there are instances of the males being dependent on the females. One such instance is the case of Linton Heathcliff.

The sickly and weak Linton had to rely on his lover, Catherine Linton to nurse him back to health. These inter-weaved aspects of Wuthering Heights leaves readers with much to ponder about. Several males in the novel exert their authority and force the women into submission. However, some men in the novel are portrayed to be weaklings and require the help and backing of women to survive. These contrasting displays of gender roles in the single novel brings out the gender roles in Pride and Prejudice as well as the gender roles in Jane Eyre.