The Envy of Societal Phallus

One of the most profound moments for myself, because of it’s blatancy and word for word, unweaving vigor is this piece from Jane Eyre: 

Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex.

Perhaps some would argue that this isn’t a “scene” at all, but more a simple internal dialog by Jane and may not be unimportant -On the contrary.  All internalizations by Jane are more important than what she describes happening, as she is not some godhead of the story and can thus narrate the intent of other’s actions- but lack the actions of dialog or interaction with another character.

I’d like to first refute those thoughts.  To deny the profound action Jane takes in this thought would be ludicrous.  Is it not our freedom of thought that we hold most dear to us?  It’s the one freedom we can cling to, regardless of situation or members involved.  It is one thing that cannot be silence with power, social standing, money, abuse, and so on.  It drives us, even when we are mute.  Even Jane’s first major steps came from her thoughts.  Her outbreak against her cousin’s abuse.  Despite her fear she held to her own mind, and could take comfort in her own rationale despite unbeknownst to her in her terror.  It lead her to lash out and strike her cousin in which ever unexplained way she did, and it was a massive turning point.

This freedom, however, does need at outlet.  But that Jane takes the step to say this is bold, and for the writter to have written this even more-so.  Though I’ve not looked into it, I’m sure Charlotte Bronte was so beyond revolutionary and opened many doors for other great feminist writers, such as Virginia Woolf and Rebecca West, to move literature so profoundly.  Also, the misogyny that existed within the time was a rampant as ever, though women were not perhaps stoned in public as they once were, but it was still evident in their contemporary social structure.  Perhaps I’m preaching to the choir with this, though.

In short, this entry progressed and showed the revolutionary mindset of such an individual for her time.  When repulsion for women was so pungent and saturated into society Jane -and Bronte- spoke up.  They defied the norm and shook a fist at their breeding.  Despite all odds that worked to brainwash, to stifle and repress, they speak out.  They think, feel, and believe their ideas.  Their internal voices broke through the veil of submission and rebelled against crushing resistance, and perhaps a change was not immediate in her time, but the idea held and carried.  Feminism didn’t just change men, but it changed women as well.  No longer are the docile and meek seen in the same light to their stronger, more vocal counterparts.  Even Rebecca West and others have ridiculed Virginia Woolf for not being radical enough.

Before I move on I’d also like to first clarify some things:  The idea of feminism and women’s liberation.  Feminism is not massive parades where women bunch together in some sort of anti-men driven propaganda where they burn their bra’s.  Not at all.  It’s not the idea that women should bulk themselves to generate the mass and strength of a man, nor should they be pushed into it for their Feministic ideas.  Nor is it the notion that women are superior to the male sex.  Feminism is the idea women have the right to vote, to work.  That women should be able to make money for themselves, to save it, and not have her earnings be untouchable, go to the family, and then be left destitute when her father dies or dependent upon some “merciful” male.  It is the idea that women should be in-discriminated against because her genitals don’t hang between her legs and her breasts and girded with fat.  It is the right to feel as one wishes and to, not only be liberated in freedom of mind, but to be able to support that freedom with action.

Feminism is that women are equal.  Women are human beings that feel as men, think as men, and therefore, deserve to be treated with as much respect and value as men.

Societal phallus is what was to be envied.  Not the literal one that dangles between the thighs of men.