1. “The novel can deal unflinchingly with the social issues of the day
“The novel can deal unflinchingly with the social issues of the day.” Discuss with reference to any two novels. 

2. Line of argument
Both novels deal with social issues but Jane Eyre deals more abruptly with them compared to Rebecca
Both novels deal with the issues of social class inequality and the oppression of women

3. Social class inequality
In both novels the theme of social class inequality is introduced almost immediately. It is clear that both narrators have begun in the lower classes.
Jane Eyre: begins in Gateshead where it is made abundantly obvious that she is regarded in a different class to her cousins:
“You are a dependent; you ought to beg”
Her cousin John makes it clear to her that she does not belong there, that she is different to them and makes her feel as if she is not of worth. By using her wealth in order to insult her and as a reason to dislike, shows how big the divide is between social classes.
John confirms this by instructing her to call him “Master Reed”. They are both still only children but even at that stage John views himself as above her and acts as if he is her boss simply because she is in a different class. Shows how much people look down on lower classes.

4. “ “Your friend..” “She’s not really a friend… She’s a companion” ”
Rebecca
Similarly we are introduced to our narrator where she is working as a companion for Mrs Van Hopper:
“ “Your friend..” “She’s not really a friend… She’s a companion” ”
Narrator is paid to accompany Mrs Van Hopper, the first clue that she is below her in social class. A further clue is the way that Mrs Van Hopper refers and treats her, similar to the way that Jane is spoken to at Gateshead:
“her tone just casual enough to warn him of my footing”
She is conveying to Maxim of the narrators position, that she should not be spoken to the same as her. She sees herself as higher up that the narrator. However the narrator ends up in the conversation but Mrs Van Hopper does not believe this is acceptable:
“You put yourself a teeny bit forward today”

5. Although this is not the same harsh and derogatory manner that John had spoken to Jane, it is still a insult towards the narrator stepping outside what Mrs Van Hopper believes to be her boundaries. The narrator even confirms herself that she wishes she could be someone different, showing insecurities regarding her position in society: “I wish I was a woman of about thirty-six dressed in black satin with a string of pearls” She believes that if she were different, if she were more posh, rich (shown by ‘satin’ and ‘pearls’) and older she would be more attractive, more appealing to Maxim. Showing that she feels inadequate for him simply due to her age and social class. She is unhappy in her own skin showing how much she values these characteristics.

6. The narrator in Rebecca comments upon the gap between her and Maxim, there are many differences between her and Maxim such as age, history but also social class. The narrator describes the “great gulf” between them. The connotations suggest a massive gaping hole between them, something that cannot be closed, that will remain. It implies it is overwhelming to the narrator. This emphasises the divides in society and how prominent social divides are.

7. Jane Eyre There are also contrasts to be seen between Jane and other characters. For example in Lowood. Straight away Lowood demonstrates the class divide in society. All the girls who reside there are orphans with little money therefore being in a lower class. The girls clothing is described as “insufficient to protect us from the severe cold”. They are not provided with acceptable clothing/items for them to live comfortably simply due to their lack of wealth. Their sense of individuality is stripped from them: “sat motionless… all with plain locks”. They are all made to look the same, not step out of place, not express themselves. This is in complete contrast to Mr Brocklehurst’s family and the way they are allowed to express themselves: “fell a profusion of light tresses, elaborately curled”. They are described as wearing expensive and lavish clothing, “velvet, silk and furs”, exposing Mr Brocklehurst as a hypocrite as well as the extreme differences between social classes.

8. In both novels the narrators marry into different social classes presenting different struggles for both of them. Jane Eyre: “I saw he was going to marry her… because her rank” When Jane thinks he is going to marry Miss Ingram, she thinks one of the key reasons that he is doing so is because of her status in society, something that Jane cannot hold. Proving that social class still played a massive part in society and dictating people’s choices. Mrs Fairfax reminds Jane of this when she says: “Equality of position and fortune is often advisable” She believes the marriage will not be a strong one due to the differences between the two of them, they come from different backgrounds and Jane is seen as the inferior of the two.

9. Rebecca Similarly the narrator has married a higher class man
Rebecca Similarly the narrator has married a higher class man. As soon as she arrives at Manderly she appears uncomfortable with her new found position. This is clear through how uneasy she is around the servants and butler: “I wish I knew what to say, what to do”. She is very unconfident and nervous around them compared to how comfortable Maxim is around them, as someone who is used to it: “She doesn’t dare bully me though”. He is seen as someone with authority whereas the narrator is seen as weak and ill at ease as she is in a situation she is not used to.

10. Another key social issue both novels deal with is the oppression of women. In Jane Eyre this is most noticeably demonstrated through the character of Bertha Mason In Rebecca it can be seen through the character of Rebecca

11. Bertha
Bertha is described as Rochester’s mad wife who is locked up. The descriptions of her are constantly very passionate and full of emotion. “The clothed hyena”. The animalistic description of her portrays her as a impulsive, dangerous woman who has been stripped of her human qualities and instead reduced to an animal. She is also described as powerful and forceful: “showed virile force”. Both in her appearance and physical strength but also her decisions are done with no hesitation – she does not appear as shy as Jane does throughout the novel: “gazed wildly”.

12. We are also shown what Bertha used to be like when Rochester first met her. She is still shown as a powerful, strong woman: “majestic” who creates an impact on everyone she met: “all the men in her circle admired her”. She is clearly shown who knows her own mind and has a lot of self control. She does not get pushed around by anyone. Although this may seem the opposite of female oppression, it is the fact that she has had this independence stripped from her now, she is confined to be locked up, no longer regarded as a human being. Reduced from her former glory to someone who is described as a “beast”. It can be argued that she has been reduced to this to try and control her passion and forward behaviour.

13. Something very similar to this can be argued in Rebecca
Something very similar to this can be argued in Rebecca. Rebecca too is described as not being very, what is traditionally seen as being, well behaved: “she used to have this fellow Favell down to the cottage”. She would frequently sleep with other men, something frowned upon in society. She would go against Maxim’s instructions: “I told her she could see her friends in London but Manderly was mine”. Clearly she is a very independent woman who did as she pleased, although it may not have been in a particularly pleasant way, however this drove Maxim to the edge and eventually he kills her: “I fired at her heart”. Although Rebecca was a manipulative and deceiving character who the audience do not warm to, ultimately she was punished for being an outspoken, powerful woman who did as she pleased. This can be argued to be representative of the inability of society to accept woman who stepped outside their ‘place’.

14. In conclusion:
Both novels deal with the social issues of the day, including social class and oppression of women.
Jane Eyre provides a more abrupt and harsh insight into the social class issues as we see her horrific treatment simply due to her social class whereas in Rebecca, we do see the differences in social class however it is a more gentle view into the social class differences.
Both present a strong female character who has ultimately been punished for being a strong individual, a woman that society is not accustomed to, through Bertha and Rebecca.
Overall the themes of social class and oppression of women both are central to both novels and the presentation of them adds to our understanding of the social issues in society.