Shirley Caroline Character Analysis

Charlotte Bronte’s Shirley the story of a wealthy, independent, and well-educated girl with philanthropic nature and great administrative quality gives us a fully developed character of a 19th century woman. Shirley’s maturity and confidence are contrasted with Caroline’s self-doubt and disparate desires. As mentioned above in this discussion Shirley and Caroline derived their personality by their respective class and the educational background. Shirley is treated as an Angle of free spirit in the novel rather than an Angle of house. She is the centre of power and attraction. Shirley Keeldar 's enjoyment in reading "just what gentlemen read" (368) is derived partly from her knowledge that she is defying society 's norms. She always freely expresses

Further she questioned the society why cant woman exercise her thoughts and judgement as men do in reading the stories of religion. She strongly felt ‘Let the woman speak out whenever she sees fit to make an objection.’(344). She remarked men like Joe are prejudiced to accept the truth. She rejected Joe’s analysis of women’s knowledge and capabilities with the example of Caroline as “nonsense”!(345) thus Charlotte expressed her real opinions on the general aspects of man and society regarding the Bible and the Story of Adam and Eve. She even sarcastically mocked on the character of Adam, the father of humankind “more shame to Adam to sin with his eyes open!”(343). Shirley’s rationality and reasoning capacity made many to aspire to be like Shirley. Caroline always wanted to be like her, “I do like Shirley.”(251) However Caroline’s dependency and her costumed knowledge never allowed to inherit the freethinking and full development. She hesitates a lot to express herself; she stands as a silent spectator of Shirley’s privileges and practical life. William admires the character of Shirley; he wished his “lasses to be as proud as Miss Shirley”

The character of Shirley carries the propaganda of desired changes and growth of women along with men and society, which was neglected. She tried to fill women with moral courage. Her story and her acts in the novel try to empower the marginalized women. ‘She scorns hypocrisy’ as Caroline observes, her true nature recognises the hidden potentialities of women and encourages them to exercise for the private and public welfare. She created a new opportunity for Miss Ainley to exhibit and contribute for their project. She acts according to her intuitions and never cared for men’s objections and power. Her generous nature tries to show that woman with public responsibility and higher authority would certainly benefit the society. As Robert observes, ‘lack of education left scarcely anything but animal wants’ (563) women’s deprived education is the hindrance for growth not her sex. If she were provided with genuine opportunities of gaining knowledge, it will lead to overall progress that Shirley does. Her experience and daunting courage even dared the fear of death as she express to Mr Moore “I expect it, and have feared it. Just now I fear nothing.”(531). Her knowledge of physiology and anger are sharper than any men. She is self-expressive and self –esteemed. Her rejection of marriage proposal from the men like Robert and even her