博朗特於十九世紀創作的《簡愛》在1847出版後即廣受各世代的讀者們歡迎，然而，儘管這部作品帶給讀者十分寶貴的閱讀資產，其內涵卻經常被誤解：部分評論家視其為一篇挑戰維多利亞社會傳統的女性主義宣言，而另一部份評論家卻不滿小說所顯露支持傳統思維的立場。舉例而言，部分女性主義學者並不認同女主角簡愛的婚姻，並認為簡愛所選擇的婚姻制度扼殺了女性的自主性。
至1960年代以降，因應後殖民研究及女性主義研究的興起，評論家們更傾向討論小說中的性別與族裔議題以定位《簡愛》。然而，此研究方向僅專注於討論《簡愛》為一部女性主義小說，或者僅僅呈現十九世紀大英帝國與其殖民地關係的作品，而忽略這本小說同時紀錄維多利亞時代的日常生活經驗以及該時代豐富多變的社會政治氛圍。因此，本論文著眼於十九世紀初期之英國社會背景，分析小說中出現的多項社經脈絡及文化複雜性，深入研究《簡愛》裡的傳統與革新成分，探討《簡愛》如何呈現維多利亞時代之傳統與革新並存的歷史風貌，最後重新定義《簡愛》於英國文學史中的地位，期能在該研究領域中提出一個閱讀該文本的嶄新角度。
本論文第一章介紹論文的主旨及研究方向，接下來三章則分別討論《簡愛》中的各個重要人物，不同於大部分專注於角色心理剖析的研究，本篇論文強調小說中的人物與真實社會系統之間的關係。本論文指出，這些博朗特所創造出的社會情境裡行動、思考、互動的角色們，很大程度上反映出維多利亞時代各式各樣的生活方式。本論文第二章即討論女主角簡愛所經歷的諸多波折與社會地位變動，並以此探討維多利亞時代的複雜社會規範。第三章則藉由討論男主角羅徹斯特在擁有社經優勢的同時仍然受到社會規範的束縛，點明維多利亞時代並非實行絕對父權制度，並說明該時代之社經法律系統的多面相。第四章則為關於柏莎梅森與聖約翰里佛截然不同名聲之討論：無法控制自身行為的柏莎梅森為社會厭惡、反感的瘋女人，受到囚禁；而遠赴印度傳教的聖約翰里佛則因對宗教的奉獻而為社會所景仰。本章延續討論個人行為如何決定維多利亞社會對他／她的評價。本論文結論將指出，假使讀者僅僅關注《簡愛》中的性別，亦或是族裔議題，則容易忽略小說中的其他豐富內涵。本論文建議，將《簡愛》視為一部紀錄維多利亞時代社會文化複雜性的文本，並閱讀其所帶給讀者們歷久彌新的感動與珍貴的歷史經驗。

Brontë’s Jane Eyre leaves a legacy for readers; however, its legacy is often misunderstood. Many a time the novel is seen as a feminist manifesto, and some critics praise its feminist ideas in contrast to Victorian conventions; however, others criticize the same novel because it frames people’s ways of living and thinking. For instance, some readers think Jane Eyre’s willingness to become Mrs. Rochester is problematic and should not be celebrated, for it shows the restraint on women’s liberty.
Since the 1960s, with the rise of the post-colonial studies and the feminist-studies, critics have defined the novel’s literary position with focuses on
gender and racial issues; however, if one sees Jane Eyre as simply a feminist manifesto or an endorsement of the patriarchal Victorian society and the British Empire, one neglects its historical significance in showing the rich daily-life experience as well as the political and cultural complexity of that age. Thus even though many critics tend to read Jane Eyre with focus merely on the woman question and the racial ideology, this thesis will focus on the conventionality and unconventionality in the novel by examining the historical background in early Victorian England. In other words, this thesis will investigate the social traditions as well as the emerging new prospects of the Victorian society, expecting to propose a new way to re-examine Jane Eyre’s position in English literature.
To begin with, in chapter I I will give a brief introduction to my thesis. In chapter II, I will explore the heroine Jane by examining her social positions in different periods. As a poor orphan, Jane fights to pursue her happiness as well as security; under this condition, her failure and later success make readers understand the dynamic social rules in that time. Chapter III will focus on the male protagonist Mr. Rochester. Even though he holds financial and social advantages, he is not totally free from the restraint of legal and social norms. I will argue that Rochester’s predicaments in his inheritance and marriage show the negative aspect of Victorian patriarchy. In chapter IV, another two characters Bertha Mason and St. John Rivers will be studied to see individuals’ different kinds of relations with the community. The concluding chapter will integrate what has been discussed and present a more complete view of the coexisting conventionality and unconventionality in Jane Eyre.

Table of Contents

Chapter I
Introduction …………………………………………… 1


Chapter II
Jane Eyre as a Dynamic Character………………………16

Chapter III
Rochester’s Rebellion and Redemption in Jane Eyre…... 39

Chapter IV
Bertha as a Social Outcast and St. John a Martyr………..60

Chapter V
Conclusion……………………………………………….81

Works Cited ……………………………………………………………91

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