Rejecting Control. Comparing Austen and Brontë

A couple of new Brontë-related bachelor's theses:

Jane Eyre: The Recognition of the Other

by Alice Torresan

Dipartimento di Studi Linguistici e Letterari - DISLL, Università di Padova, 2026

This work aims to analyze the novel Jane Eyre by looking not only at the love story but also at the text's connection to the context of nineteenth-century British colonialism. The analysis begins with the historical background, highlighting how the exploitation of the colonies represented the "wealth" of the era, an aspect reflected in the character of Bertha Mason. Critical scholarship has explored this theme extensively; in particular, two works proved fundamental to my research: Three Women’s Texts and a Critique of Imperialism by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak and The Madwoman in the Attic by Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar. This thesis proposes a third interpretation: the protagonist’s maturation occurs only when she succeeds in recognizing Bertha as a real person with her own history. By comparing these perspectives, I conclude that Jane Eyre’s development is not merely a personal journey, but a choice of ethical responsibility toward the Other. By demonstrating how Jane chooses to flee Thornfield to avoid being complicit in a system that nullifies Bertha’s identity, this thesis confirms that her freedom arises from the rejection of all forms of oppression. Jane’s ultimate goal is the pursuit of a love based on truth and mutual respect, rejecting any bond founded on control or secrecy.

Literary Comparison of Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights

by Nikola Mlezivová

České Budějovice, 2026. bakalářská práce (Bc.). JIHOČESKÁ UNIVERZITA V ČESKÝCH BUDĚJOVICÍCH. Filozofická fakulta

This bachelor's thesis examines and compares the novels Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. Firstly, it introduces the literary and historical context of the period in which both novels were created, and then compares the main female characters. Then it focuses on romantic relationships and love, as well as family and social influences, and compares the portrayal of the topics in both novels and the impact on characters.