By Daniella Razzouk | Staff Writer

What do mentally ill women look like? Writers across history have each tried their hand at representing mentally ill or neurodivergent women, to varying degrees of success. The older the text, the more likely it is that the “representation” would be considered “problematic” today. The example that comes to mind most readily when discussing mental illness and neurodivergence in classic literature is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. In this text, we have two principal, and to an extent opposing, female characters, Jane and Bertha.

Bertha is the more overt example of the two, remaining an icon of the scorned woman trope until today. Jane, however, differs greatly and her neurodivergence is missed by many. Modern scholars have begun to propose the idea that Jane is autistic, or autistic-coded. This is mainly due to her discomfort and difficulty in social interactions, sensitivity to certain sensations, a tendency towards compliance, and her strong preference for clear, specific language as opposed to implications or signals (Kotowicz, 2021). On the other hand, Bertha borders on being a caricature of someone suffering from a mental illness, as she is aggressive, irrational, and violent, leading Mr. Rochestor to lock her in the attic.

These two characters have come to represent the two extremes of female neurodivergence/mental illness in literature. Characters are either “Janes”, in which they are, at least fundamentally, calm, have a tendency towards obedience, and are therefore, generally viewed as more desirable. This archetype is characterized, to an extent, by others in the text as being kind, good, women as well as loving wives. Another example of this archetype is the narrator of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Throughout the novel, despite every hurdle and difficulty thrown her way, the narrator’s sole goal remains to please her husband so that he will love her. While not all characters in this archetype are autistic-coded, they remain characterized by, above all, their obedience. While it is true that Jane does oppose and disobey Mr. Rochester and other male characters at certain points in the story, this only occurs after they have crossed a limit. For instance, Jane running away from Mr. Rochester was triggered by her discovery of Bertha in the attic. This causes her to go against her tendency toward compliance. However, in general, this tendency makes these characters, or this side of the spectrum, significantly more desirable than the opposing side, the “Berthas”.

Bertha is characterized, as previously stated, by her fits of rage, violent tendencies, and irrationality. This makes her the “villain” of the text, while Jane remains unquestionably the heroine. Bertha, and the archetype that she represents, is characterized by her “madness” and seemingly impulsive acts of violence. The text punishes Bertha for this, as she dies in the fire that she started while Mr. Rochester survives, but not unscathed. So, while the text does not free Mr. Rochester of all the blame, it is clear that Bertha is portrayed as the primary antagonist. Due especially to the fact that Mr. Rochester marries Jane, giving him a, more or less, happy ending once he has paid for his mistakes. The only character to escape punishment is Jane, whose guiltlessness and victimhood the text emphasizes constantly. The archetype of Bertha opposes that of Jane because where Janes are desired for their compliance or “softness”, Berthas are undesirable due to their uncontrollability, or “madness”.

Mental illness in literature tends to hold moral weight, it is either a “good” thing or a “bad” thing. Depending on the side of the extreme the character falls on, the text applies moral judgment. This is especially true for the text’s female characters. If the character’s mental illness (or neurodivergence) causes the character to be difficult to control, or opposing to the role she is expected to complete, she is a villain. If the character’s mental illness (or neurodivergence) makes them somehow pliable, or better fit the role, she is the heroine, and by the end, likely a wife. In other words, Janes get married and Berthas get locked in attics.

Works Cited

Kotowicz, Annie. “Jane Eyre, Autistic Heroine.” NeuroClastic, 17 Dec. 2021, https://neuroclastic.com/jane-eyre-autistic-heroine/.