According to the article, governesses were those women who were unhappy with their current state in life and who left “their quiet homes for the school-rooms of halls and castles” (569). The problem with these women is that Victorian society took advantage of the fact that there was a surplus in the number of governesses versus the number of positions. These women, who only hoped for a better education and maybe a better life, were left with low paying salaries and the burden of being the “hired strangers” (570). Governesses became the lowest class:

Many ladies would not dare treat their maids as they behave to the teacher of their children. Why? The maid had a broad field before her; she can afford to turn upon her mistress. The governess must endure all things. A low marriage or a slow death are her only loopholes of escape. (575)

The article then goes on to discuss the dissatisfaction that governesses deal with throughout their lives. They are unable to return home and unwilling to be paid any mind by their employers; “Governesses are usually a fretful, discontented race” (574).

Though Brontë’s character, Jane, is absolutely one of those discontented women that the appendix article talks about, she is saved when she attends Lowood. Jane had a very rough start in life, being orphaned and raised by an abusive family, and only dreamed of venturing out and knowing more of the world. Lowood gives Jane the tools she needs to apply and get her position at Thornfield Hall. Instead of following the “norm,” Jane is saved when she leaves the Reeds’. All that awaited her there was abuse with no affection, save that of Bessie, one of the maids. Jane truly benefits when she attends Lowood, especially after the typhus incident when other members of the community get involved and Mr. Brockelhurst is removed as sole caretaker of the girls. Jane never once regrets leaving her lavish home behind for the simplicity of Lowood.

Jane is happy at Thornfield Hall — Jane had “heard of the treatment of governesses” (Brontë 163). After some time, she finds that she still “desire[s] more of practical experience than [she] possessed, more of intercourse with [her] kind, [and] acquaintance with variety of character” (Brontë 178). It is right at the point that Jane begins to feel stir-crazy, the way the article predicted, that Mr. Rochester comes into the picture. Mr. Rochester does not treat Jane in the conventional way; instead of ignoring Jane he takes pleasure in her company and she in his. I feel as though the introduction of Mr. Rochester at this point in time is Brontë going against the ideas in the Fraser Magazine. Jane is not the crazy governess who will have to be sent to the asylum, she is witty and perceptive. The relationship between Jane and her employer is very odd, but Jane finds that she dreads the day Mr. Rochester departs because she will know what it truly is to be alone.

Works Cited

Brontë, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Ed. Richard Nemesvari. Toronto: Broadview, 1999. Print.

“Hints on the Modern Governess System.” Fraser’s Magazine November 1844: 567-577. Print