Bertha Mason and Universal Sisterhood in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre: A Feminist Critique of Failed Sisterhood

Abstract

This research paper examines the radicalized and gendered oppression of Bertha Mason in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, demonstrating how she is mistreated not only by white men but also by white women, thereby violating the principle of universal sisterhood. Through a feminist lens and a critique of universal sisterhood, the study analyzes how Jane, the key narrator, describes Bertha in dehumanizing terms such as “demoniac,” “hyena,” and “tigress,” reinforcing racial stereotypes. Using a qualitative and inductive approach, the research reveals that while white women in English society possess opportunities for social mobility, Black women like Bertha are denied agency, voice, and identity. Drawing on Spivak’s argument, the study highlights how women with weaker social and racial backgrounds are rendered invisible in contrast to Western white women supported by historical and cultural privilege. The analysis concludes that feminism’s claim of common oppression is flawed, as women experience oppression differently; consequently, universal sisterhood cannot be sustained when racial inequality persists and one woman’s advancement comes at the cost of another’s marginalization.