Women With Opinions Should Stay in the Attic

One of Cohen's most interesting exhibits in his exploration of "Monster Culture" is the portrayal of Bertha in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.  In this classic piece, Bronte creates the character of Bertha, Rochester's Jamaica born psychotic wife, who is hidden away in the attic as a dark secret.  In preparation for our presentation on women in Monster Culture on Monday, please take a look at the video of Jane and Rochester's "interrupted  wedding" and focus on the depiction of Bertha in comparison to that described by Bronte in the passage below.  Please prepare questions and comments on the historical depiction of women, the modern presentation of such values, and how the two differ.  Think of how the "monster" of feminism has changed through these examples and what it says about our current mentality.  Do we inherently prejudge women of bold, foreign, or passionate nature?  Will we always face this monster?  How, if ever, can we make it disappear?

Textual Description:

Bertha was a "a big woman, in stature almost equalling her husband, and corpulant...virile force...purple...bloated features...exotic...Creole...of wealthy Jamaican planter...at once intemperate and unchaste."