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The Power of a Good Book. Books as a Motif for Power in 'Jane Eyre' (1847)

En god boks makt. Böcker som motiv för makt i 'Jane Eyre' (1847)

På svenska

Author

  • Olivia Nordgren

Summary, in English

Books and reading are a central motif within the narrative of Jane Eyre (1847) by Charlotte Brontë and contributes in many ways to the depiction of characterisation, world-building, and the progression of the narrative. In particular, there are correlations between the depiction of books and reading and the depiction of power and power dynamics in Jane Eyre. Previous research into books and reading practices in Jane Eyre have focused on the allusive properties of the literary references mentioned in the narrative, but none have addressed the multitudinous depiction of books as both material and symbolic objects. This thesis therefore addresses the use and depiction of books and reading in Jane Eyre in relation to the motifs of owning, reading, and using books in relation to depictions of power and power dynamics. The purpose of this is to elucidate the way that Charlotte Brontë depicts complex aspects of the characterisation, world-building, and narrative of Jane Eyre through the depiction of books and reading. In order to conduct this study, the thesis uses a thematic close-reading method which focuses particularly on uses of books in Victorian literature as defined by the researcher Leah Price, and additionally analyses stylistic features of the prose through close-reading. The thesis found that the materiality of books in Jane Eyre contributes to the depiction of economical power, that the symbolic role of books as objects contributes to the characterisation of the characters, and that the depiction of ways books and knowledge gained from books can be used exemplifies the function of book-ownership as cultural capital in Jane Eyre. The conclusion reached from this was that there indeed is a correlation between the depiction of books and reading and the depiction of power and power dynamics in Jane Eyre and that this contributes in a complex way to the depth and nuance of the characterisation, world-building, and narrative of Jane Eyre.

Department/s

  • Master's Programme: Literature - Culture - Media

Publishing year

2024

Language

English

Document type

Student publication for Master's degree (two years)

Topic

  • Languages and Literatures

Keywords

  • Jane Eyre
  • reading practices
  • cultural capital
  • materiality
  • power dynamics
  • class dynamics
  • books
  • book objects

Supervisor

  • Torbjörn Forslid (professor)