Browsing by Author "Nedelcheva, Monika"

The aims of this thesis are to present the significance of three of the most successful novels of the Brontë sisters, the impact these works made on the feminist movement and why the novels still are relevant. The question of the woman in nineteenth-century Britain is another topic studied. The analysis focuses on the elements in the novels by which the authors criticise the strict patriarchal norms of the Victorian society and demonstrate their progressive thinking as they present perceptions and ideas contradicting the common beliefs of their age. The primary material consists of the novels Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë and Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë. My study presents plot summaries, textual and comparative analysis as well as data by scholars who have studied the works of the Brontë sisters in terms of the social, political and economic situation in Victorian England. The characters of Jane Eyre, Catherine Earnshaw and Agnes Grey have become iconic role models not only for the female society in nineteenth century Britain but also for generations of women all over the world. Jane Eyre’s story inspires women to seek justice and never tolerate maltreatment, to demonstrate dignity and pride, no matter what their social stratum is. Catherine Earnshaw’s fate, on the other hand, showcases how being too stubborn and focusing on attaining high-social status, whilst ignoring the true desires of one’s heart, can consume one. Finally, Agnes Grey teaches women that by patience, consistency and hard work you can achieve your goals, in spite of the doubts of your family or society. Self-realization, finding and using one’s own voice, focusing on one’s life goals are some of the foundations on which their character development is shaped. I conclude that progressive authors like the Brontë’s sisters, who manage to portray realistic observations of their society in their novels, can guide the course of feminism and influence generations of readers.