Analysis of the Tragic Fate of Bertha Mason in Jane Eyre from the Perspective of Foucault’s Theory of Madness

Abstract

Charlotte Brontë’s seminal work, Jane Eyre, played a pivotal role in shaping women’s literature throughout the 20^th century by delving into the myriad challenges confronted by women within a patriarchal society. This paper employs Michel Foucault’s theory of madness to scrutinize Bertha Mason’s portrayal and the underlying causes of her tragic destiny in Jane Eyre. From the outset of her brief existence, Bertha’s life spirals into an abyss as she transitions from a position of privilege to that of a maddened spouse, ultimately becoming an imprisoned renegade. It becomes evident that Bertha’s tragic fate stems from the confluence of patriarchal and marital oppression, which reduces her from a lady of means to a crazed wife and then an imprisoned rebel. Deprived of autonomy in marriage and ostracized due to illness, Bertha’s vehement defiance, though extreme, underscores the stringent limitations and indomitable spirit of Victorian women. Her depiction not only enriches the narrative fabric of the novel but also offers profound insights into the plight of women and the progressive awakening towards women’s liberation.