An Orphan’s Dissent: Charlotte Brontë’s Spiritual Vision in Jane Eyre

Abstract Although often considered subversive of religion, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre (1847) employs discrete biblical language and allusions to present a dissenting feminist historicist hermeneutics. As a daughter of reverend Patrick Brontë, Charlotte’s spiritual vision is particularly significant but overlooked due to her use of what I am calling a dialectical misdirection. I show how even the subversive statements towards Christian teachings articulate the moral philosophy that guides Jane’s decisions thus weaving together plot sequences to ultimately provide autonomy. Through typological assessment and a cultural critique of mid-century Evangelical doctrines, it appears Jane’s faith emboldens her resistance to systemic oppression.