Audre Lorde, writes of the importance of speaking up and not being silent to any aspect of a person’s life, especially women. Black women and the “submissive women” known in the Victorian era. These two women have many things in common, primarily oppression. Jane Eyre was forced into oppression and separation as a child. Jane understood the importance of her silence in society. Jane was constantly in fear; the red room, aunts and cousins that was abusive And living in an all girls school defined her dehumanization and torment.

Lorde’s silence was abusive to her, living with thoughts that want to reveal itself is very oppressive. We are too safe with the right of “ free speech”, it’s essential to speak up and face the power of conversation and debate. Lord states that knowledge is power, learning our own fears will create liberation and freedom within ourselves for security. The understanding of growth through life is connected to our childhood and experiences.

The separation from Helen and Mr. Reed was crucial losses for Jane to experience at such a young age. Jane also lived in poverty during her stay at the institution for young girls, she also developed a pattern of creating a cover for her emotions and bottled up thoughts to escape destruction. However, Lorde faces the challenge of being herself while using her voice to filter her feelings for self-revelation. As a child to experience no concern from family and to be abused physically and mentally created a blueprint for her adulthood. The fear is what we hold on to and the feelings oppress us as individuals to the extension of our character. In comparison to Jane, we create the comfort without speech to live on.

Melissa Derrick

Society norms are the thing of the past with today’s day and age. People have more freedom and equality is immensely emphasized but there are still struggles we go through.  Jane Eyre and Audre Lorde face a problem by growing up at a different time where their status in life was metaphorically labeled as “the submissive”. Whether it was Jane, a powerless 10- year- old orphan or Lorde a black lesbian poet isolated from the world, both struggling with gender roles. Their futures are oppressed and they both demand to be heard.  Jane comes from an abusive household where her cousins and aunt abuse her mentally and physically making Jane desire liberty and change. In that society, few opportunities were available for women and Jane wanting to be a governor which made things worse for her.

I liked Lorde’s quote “We can sit in our corners mute forever while our sisters and ourselves are wasted, while our children are distorted and destroyed, while our earth is poisoned; we can sit in our safe corners mute as bottles, and we will still be no less afraid.” This quote moved me because it’s the truth. Truth is what we fear yet what we seek to find and with the words of Audrey Lorde it points out an issue even though she was scared to even exist, she would still speak because speech from other historical women was her motivation to live.

“Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel, they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts just as their brothers do…”. This quote expressed by Jane was so simply put. She explains that women’s roles shouldn’t only be household chores but much more than that and there should be no gender inequalities because we all feel the same way therefore should be allowed to be in the same positions.

Jane Eyre undergoes immense oppression throughout her whole life. From the time she is growing up with her aunt as what is effectively her jailer, to the horrible treatment she receives from her cousins, to then being sent away to a boarding school at Lowood where expressing her voice is damn near impossible, Jane undergoes all of these hardships to then eventually break free of her figurative chains and take her life into her own hands and move out of all these places that have kept her from truly living her life. From Lorde’s reading we learn how important it is for women to transform their silence into language and action. Lorde asks the reader “What are the tyrannies you swallow day by day and at, tempt to make your own, until you will sicken and die of them, still in silence?”

When Jane first arrives at Lowood, she isn’t treated fairly and everyday is a subtle reminder of her seemingly insignificant place in this world. Mr. Brocklehurst, who is the supervisor of Lowood comes to make a visit to the school with her wife and children during the beginning  of Jane’s time at the school. He informs the teachers and pupils of the school how “treacherous and ungrateful” Jane is and how she should be treated as a liar and a cheat. Jane stands there as Mr. Brocklehurst says all these horrific things about her, unable to speak or defend herself because of the patriarchal society she is in.

It is not until Ms. Temple, the head teacher at Lowood, comes to find Jane, that she is lifted out of the immense despair that she is feeling. Ms. Temple allows for Jane to tell her story herself, and after Ms. Temple verifies that Jane’s side is in fact the truth, Jane’s name is cleared. Had Jane not been vocal and shared that all Mr. Brocklehurst said is lies specifically pointed to make her appear terrible in front of all the pupils and teachers at Lowood, she would have remained in an very hostile environment. She realized the tyrannies that she was facing from Mr. Brocklehurst and her former family and decided to break free of them by expressing her voice like Locke urges us all to do.

In both The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House and Jane Eyre the authors focuses on Feminist issues. Audre Lorde and Charlotte Brontë speaks on empowering women of different social classes, race, gender and sexuality.

In the article, The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House, by Audre Lorde
states: “Those of us who stand outside the circle of this society’s definition of acceptable women; those of us who have been forged in the crucibles of difference — those of us who are poor, who are lesbians, who are Black, who are older — know that survival is not an academic skill. It is learning how to take our differences and make them strengths.” Lorde states that you should learn how to take your differences and make them strength. Throughout the text Eyre did just that.

The example above was similar to a scene in the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë . Eyre was known for her courage and standing up for herself, but because she was a woman, not to mention a poor woman it was considered unacceptable. However, she refused to keep quiet and accept her social status as a poor orphan. For instance in the reading Jane Eyre, Eyre spoked out and said, “Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! I have as much soul as you and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you” …Do you think I am an automaton? ­ a machine without feelings?…Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong. I have as much soul as you,and full as much heart…I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God’s feet, equal, as we are.”
Eyre felt the need to speak out whenever she was poorly treated even if that meant defying the rules.

      Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre’s author, illustrated in chapter four one of Jane Eyre resisting characteristics. Similarly, Audry Lorde in her articles: “The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action” and “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House” explains her readers the importance of speaking-up, as well as resisting to the oppressor. In Jane Eyre the story tells us about Jane, a nine year old child, who is oppressed by her adopting family, but decides to face off Mrs. Reed, Jane’s Aunt. In the latter article, “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House,” Lorde mentions that, “…only the most vulnerable and temporary armistice between an individual and her oppression.” (Page 2) This example is being emphasized by Jane’s acceptance to be oppressed by her aunt, Mrs Reed. When Mrs Reed met with Mr. Brocklehurst and presented Ms. Eyre as a filthy liar, a person who does not have any morals. Jane stood mute and did not fight Mrs Reed lias infront of Mr. Brocklehurst. Jane knew that Mr. Brocklehurst was her ticket out of the tyranny of her aunts crib, and hence Jane held her horses until Mr. Brocklehurst left

       However, once Mr. Brocklehurst left Jane confronted her Aunt. Although Jane is having a hard time to resist a grown person and speak-up on what is on her mind, she pushes her limits by acting with passion and eager for justice,  and puts Mrs. Reed on the spot. Likewise, Lorde mentions in the, “The transformation of silence into language and action”  that, “The transformation of silence into language and action is an act of self-revelation, and that always seems fraught with danger.” (Page 2) in spite of Jane’s worrisome feelings from her aunt’s reaction, she realizes that her candid words (full of anger, as well as hatred) made her feel that retaliation has a liberating effect.

These two pieces of literature display two powerful women with strong motivations and determinations on achieving their goals. They have their own thoughts and perspectives on controversy during their times and they did fight against majorities’ beliefs in the society.

It was very easy for women living in Jane Eyre and Audre Lorde period to go with the societal flow and accept what the society defines them. For example, in Jane Eyre, the status and lives of women were pretty much determined by their family’s wealth and reputation. It was rare for women to change their lives and future by themselves. However, Jane Eyre has her own thoughts and decided to use education to achieve her independence and freedom. Her desperate school life did not stop her from getting knowledge and connecting to the rest of the world. The path to her independence has loneliness, discriminations, doubts and stress; she was so strong that was able to overcome all of these challenges. It was not easy for her and that’s the reason for a unique Jane Eyre

As for Lorde, she encountered a more tough situation due to the discrimination on her race and sexual orientation. These two issues are still existing nowadays and the latter one is controversial around the world. However, Lorde understood the difficulties, but she still chose to speak up. As it states in the article,” And of course I am afraid, because the transformation of silence into language and action is an act of self-revelation, and that always seems fought with danger”.  It is hard to count how many people were sacrificed for liberation or civil rights movements. People who chose to go against the society flow deserve highest respects due to their courage and vision.

Audre Lorde’s “The Transformation of Silence into Action” and “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House” state that Audre Lorde as a Black lesbian feminist is oppressed by people who are racism, sexism and homophobia. In the other hand, Audre Lorde transforms silence into action and language, and she advocates that people with difference or people are oppressed should break silence and fight for their own rights.

In addition, Jane Eyre is oppressed by Mrs. Reed families, and she is treated even below the servants. In the first chapter of Jane Eyre, Bronte writes “Accustomed to John Reed’s abuse, I never had an idea of replaying to it; my care was how to endure the blow which would certainly follow the insult.” As we can see, in the beginning, Jane keeps silence. However, when John hurls the book to Jane, Jane screams to john: “Wicked and cruel boy! You are like a murderer—you are like a slave-driver—you are like the Roman emperors!” Even though Jane ending with being locked in the red room by Mrs. Reed, Jane tried to transform silence into action and language.

Audre Lorde and Jane Eyre both experience oppression, and they are straight, recalcitrant, and autonomous. As Audre Lorde states that silence will not protect yourself, you should define yourself, name yourself, and speak for yourself. Moreover, Jane Eyre knows this idea as well, so she spoke up she wanted to go to school and get education. Jane Eyre’s resistance is to be herself, and get what she wants. Therefore, though compare Audre Lorde and Jane Eyre, we can find a lot connections between each other.

Both Jane Eyre and Lorde’s Transformation of Silence into Language and Action deal with overcoming misfortune as well as their own personal hurdles. I think these two text come from two very relatable points of views. Lorde being a black female poet has most likely experiences the ostracization that Jane felt. In both reading the subject of text is able to take back their life with both a solid foundation. (i.e. a community of support and a bit more self confidence) The most important part about finding the friends and family that supported these women, was that those relationships developed because of their introspection and the strength in character that materialized from it.  There are actually quotes from both texts that portray this personal development in the women.

In Jane Eyre Brontë writes, ““I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself.” In this response to Rochester’s plea to have her as a mistress Jane refuses to undermine her self worth and choses to be in control of her life as an independent. (In my opinion this makes their marriage after their reunion far more meaningful than any relationship they would have had before she left.)

The quote that stood out from Transformation of Silence into Language was, “My silences have not protected me… But for every real word spoken, for every attempt I had ever made to speak those truths for which I am still seeking I had made contact with other women while we examined the words to fit a world in which we all believed, bridging our differences.” Here Lorde finds a community of peers who understand her burdens while raising her warrior spirit.

The passage from Jane Eyre discusses a woman leaving the person she finds comfort.  The quote quote from Lorde’s work discusses a woman finding her comfort in a new community of likeminded people she relates to. Despite these differences the two moments share the aspect of self empowerment and the importance in how certain decisions, such as how to look at your life and where you want it to go, are forks in the road where you can choose to change your life.

Though both stories are not the exact same, one thing that excited me was how both women became advocates for those whose lives are comparable. In Lorde’s case she advocated for women in the same demographic, and in Jane’s case a she interceded in Adele’s schooling problems which brought up a comparison to Jane’s horrible educational experience.

I have seen similarity between Jane Eyre and Audre Lorde, as of their uniqueness mind, they were not accepted to their surroundings. As of Jane Eyre’s choice, she’s the one that chose not to live in a poor or normal but happy family. Because of the uncertainty of her mom’s relatives, she stayed in her aunt’s house although she got bitten. She can’t regret, once she does had that thought it means she’s wrong, and she doesn’t want to prove that she’s wrong, thus all treaties she had in aunt’s house is worthless. Hence, she will have to keep going, with thoughts being twisted and continuous being more twisted. This is her choice she chooses what her life’s going to be and what type of reactions she received. Compared to Audre Lorde, she felt not accepted because of her color and as being of lesbian. I personally think that Lorder was abused first of color then being lesbian. Even modern day, the racism and bias on homosexual existed compared to mid-1900s it will even stricter. I think women need to be educated, this way women can speak up for themselves, can use verbal to protect themselves, and open up their world. I think instead of education changed Jane Eyre, that she learned how to accept comments that will benefit her, how to communicate with others and hardworking, last to cover up her real thoughts and feeling to protect herself. Lorde tries to protect black feminists and lesbians by educating themselves, and use verbal to protect them. I think it means to attack those who attacked them by a non-violence movement.

In the first 12 chapter of Jane Eyre, we observed the oppression Jane experienced. There is not only physical oppression，such as abuse in Mrs. Reed’s house and harsh environment in lowood，but mental oppression. A vague future is the worst oppression. In that society, few opportunity and choice are available for women. For most women, they had to be tied in households. Meanwhile, Jane desired liberty and the only choice for her was becoming a governor. Even though Jane remained silence when she experienced physical oppression, Jane transformed her silence into action and language when she faced the crucial decision in her life. As Lorde wrote in her article, “you’re never really a whole person if you remain silence, because there’s always that one little piece inside you that wants to be spoken out, and if you keep ignoring it, it gets madder and madder and hotter and hotter, and if you don t speak it out one day it will just up and punch you in the mouth from the inside.” For example, when Mr. Lloyd visited Jane after she returned from the red-room, Jane indeed declared that she didn’t want to live with her poor relatives even though they might treat her nice. She wanted to go to school since that’s the only way to pursue liberty. Also, Jane has become a teacher in lowood for two years. After Miss Temple left the lowood, the sense of settlement also disappeared. Jane soon realized that “she was tired of the routine of eight years” and decided to find another job. It’s clear that Jane understood what kind of life she desired and she will never remain silence when her life is diverging from the desired path.

Xiaoyan