Women's Writing and Mission in the Nineteenth Century: Jane Eyre's Missionary Sisters

The female missionary character and narrative were present in a range of writings from missionary newsletters and life writing to canonical Victorian literature, New Woman fiction, and womens college writing, offering an alternative narrative for the development of women writers and early feminism. This book adds to the debate about whether religious women in the nineteenth century could actually be radical and feminist.

Format: Hardback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Until recently, Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre has been perceived as a marginal and anomalous work. Despite the prevalence of women missionaries in the nineteenth century, their presence in nineteenth-century literature has been overlooked. However, as this book reveals, the female missionary character and narrative were indeed present in a diverse array of writings, including missionary newsletters, life writing, canonical Victorian literature, New Woman fiction, and women's college writing. Nineteenth-century women writers intricately incorporated the tropes of the female missionary figure and plot into their domestic fiction, shaping their subjective experiences and the characters they created. By presenting an alternative narrative for the development of women writers and early feminism, as well as offering a fresh perspective on Jane Eyre, this book contributes to the ongoing debate about whether religious women in the nineteenth century could truly be radical and feminist.

Introduction:
The missionary plot in Jane Eyre has often been regarded as a marginal and anomalous element within the novel. While women missionaries were a ubiquitous presence in the nineteenth century, their absence from nineteenth-century literature has been noted. This book aims to challenge this perception by demonstrating that the female missionary character and narrative were, in fact, present in a wide range of writings from missionary newsletters and life writing to canonical Victorian literature, New Woman fiction, and women's college writing.

The Female Missionary Figure and Plot:
In the nineteenth century, women missionaries played a significant role in spreading Christianity and humanitarianism around the world. However, their presence in literature has often been overlooked or marginalized. This book seeks to rectify this by exploring the female missionary figure and plot in various nineteenth-century writings.

Missionary Newsletters and Life Writing:
One of the earliest examples of the female missionary character and plot can be found in missionary newsletters and life writing. These writings often depicted women as brave and self-sacrificing individuals who dedicated their lives to serving others, often in remote and challenging environments. Women missionaries were often portrayed as strong-willed and independent, challenging traditional gender roles and advocating for women's rights and empowerment.

Canonical Victorian Literature:
While the female missionary figure and plot were not as prominent in canonical Victorian literature as in other genres, they did still make their presence felt. For instance, Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre features a female missionary character named Helen Burns, who is portrayed as a kind and compassionate woman who sacrifices her own happiness for the sake of others. Helen's character highlights the themes of religious self-sacrifice and heroism that were prevalent in nineteenth-century women's writing.

New Woman Fiction:
The New Woman fiction genre of the nineteenth century was particularly interested in exploring the role of women in society and challenging traditional gender norms. Female missionaries were often depicted as New Woman figures, who were independent, assertive, and ambitious. They were often portrayed as agents of change, advocating for women's rights and social reform.

Women's College Writing:
Women's college writing was another genre that featured the female missionary figure and plot. These writings often focused on the experiences of women missionaries and their struggles to navigate the challenges of living in foreign cultures and serving others. Women's college writing often emphasized the importance of education and empowerment for women, and female missionaries were often seen as role models for young women seeking to make a difference in the world.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book has demonstrated that the female missionary character and plot were present in a wide range of nineteenth-century writings. Women missionaries were often portrayed as brave and self-sacrificing individuals who dedicated their lives to serving others, challenging traditional gender roles and advocating for women's rights and empowerment. The female missionary themes of religious self-sacrifice and heroism formed the subjectivity of nineteenth-century women writers and their characters, contributing to the development of women's writing and early feminism. By offering an alternative narrative for the development of women writers and early feminism, as well as a fresh perspective on Jane Eyre, this book adds to the ongoing debate about whether religious women in the nineteenth century could truly be radical and feminist.

Weight: 650g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032366227