10. Jane Eyre (pg. 219)

10. Jane Eyre (pg. 219)
“You must see the carriage, Jane, and tell me if you don't think it will suit Mrs. Rochester exactly; and whether she won't look like Queen Boadicea leaning back against those purple cushions.”
Queen Boadicea lived during the first century A.D. During this the time, Britain was overrun by the Roman Empire. Boadicea is widely known for leading the English people to rebel against the Romans during Nero's reign. She is described as “tall, strong boned, scowling creatures with long red hair” and often “mannish.” Bronte describes Mr. Rochester thinking of Blanche as Queen Boadicea showing the reader that Mr. Rochester finds Blanche to be a strong-willed person not necessarily to be remembered by her looks but rather her personality and strength. Bronte most likely describes Blanche in this negative and (almost) ugly reference to show the reader that this would be an ugly marriage. They are not right for each other. At the time that Jane Eyre was published, women had certain acceptable roles in life. The female character that Bronte created in Jane was unusual. Jane was an independent thinker. She explored religious thought and found ways to be as self supporting as she could in the time. She struggled but she persevered. Queen Boadicea was definitely an unusal woman. Bronte may be using these references to encourage the development of woman's minds to not accept the roles that society put upon them.

Boudica - Britain's Warrior Queen. Welcome to History UK. History of England. November 2009. 28 November 2009. http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/England-History/Boudica.htm

Grant, Vallkyrie. Iceni Queen Boadicea. March 2009. 28 November 2009. http://fanzone50.com/Tales/Boadicea1.html