Charlotte Brontë composed her novel Jane Eyre during the Victorian era; a historical period in which patriarchy determined the expectations of men and women. The effect of this social system has led to women facing discrimination simply because of their gender. Sigmund Freud, in his essay entitled “The Poet's Relation to Daydreaming,” stated that women were only capable of having erotic desires that dominated their “fantasies,” and that even their ambitious “fantasies” were rooted in into erotic desires (177). ). The predominant thought regarding women during this era was that, due to their nature, they desired to marry, taking care of the needs of her family. Those who were not fortunate enough to marry (due to appearance or social status) were expected to become rulers. Mrs. Brontë, through her protagonist Jane Eyre, clearly depicts the struggles of a destitute young woman forced into near-slavery. This story is well articulated by Adrienne Rich in her essay titled “Jane Eyre: The Temptations of a Motherless Woman,” when she states that Jane wants to “choose her life with dignity, integrity, and pride” (471). Although Charlotte Brontë paints a woman who will not be bound by the mores of her society, she is not so exuberant as to make her protagonist proclaim "I am a woman, hear me roar." The toning down of Jane's behavior can be attributed to the satisfaction of critics, but Brontë also claims that society's expectations, or the patriarchal rights of men, have produced a similar negative effect on men. From John Reed and his hypocritical attitude, to Rochester's internal battle over the treatment of women, Charlotte Brontë demonstrates that sexism, inherent in a patriarchal society, has a negative effect on both men and women. half of the paper... hiarchal right, ended up squandering his inheritance and then committing suicide. The end result is simple. The effect of a patriarchal society, and the sexism inherent in it, is that there is a negative outcome for both men and women. Patriarchal societies that discriminate against women simply because of their perceived weakness no longer empower men as they disenfranchise women. Works Cited Brontë, Charlotte. Jane Eyre, An authoritative text, contexts, criticism. Ed. Richard J. Dunn. WW Norton & Co Inc., 2001. PrintFreud, Sigmund. "The Poet's Relationship to Daydreaming." Collected Documents Vol IV. NewYork: Basic Books, 1959. 173-183. Print.Ricco, Adrienne. "Jane Eyre: The Temptations of a Motherless Woman." Jane Eyre, An authoritative text, contexts, criticism. Ed. Richard J. Dunn. New York: W. W. Norton & Co Inc., 2001. 469-83. Press.