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Exploring the Impact of Narcissistic Dimensions on Women’S Autonomy in the Novels of the Brontë Sisters

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Exploring the Impact of Narcissistic Dimensions on Women’S Autonomy in the Novels of the Brontë Sisters ABSTRACT EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF NARCISSISTIC DIMENSIONS ON WOMEN’S AUTONOMY IN THE NOVELS OF THE BRONTË SISTERS This thesis analyzes the effect of narcissistic dimensions on female autonomy in the novels of Jane Eyre, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and Wuthering Heights. Jane, Helen, and Catherine suffer from the internalization of patriarchal oppression which prompts the development of narcissistic personalities— vulnerable or grandiose—and produces the exaggerated self-portraits that impede their agentic growth. Patriarchal confinement acts as a catalyst that either promotes their narcissistic behavior, or inspires their agentic growth by inspiring the development of an agentic skill set. Jane and Helen are able to use confinement to overcome their narcissistic disorders and aid them in the revision of their exaggerated self-portraits, which is essential in order to develop the agentic skills that are necessary for autonomy. Catherine, on the other hand, uses confinement to shelter herself from reality, plunging herself more deeply into her narcissistic illusions, and her self-destruction. Jennifer Wolfe Lewis August 2015 EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF NARCISSISTIC DIMENSIONS ON WOMEN’S AUTONOMY IN THE NOVELS OF THE BRONTË SISTERS by Jennifer Wolfe Lewis A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in English in the College of Arts and Humanities California State University, Fresno August 2015 APPROVED For the Department of English: We, the undersigned, certify that the thesis of the following student meets the required standards of scholarship, format, and style of the university and the student's graduate degree program for the awarding of the master's degree. Jennifer Wolfe Lewis Thesis Author Ruth Jenkins (Chair) English Bo Wang English Michael Clifton English For the University Graduate Committee: Dean, Division of Graduate Studies AUTHORIZATION FOR REPRODUCTION OF MASTER’S THESIS X I grant permission for the reproduction of this thesis in part or in its entirety without further authorization from me, on the condition that the person or agency requesting reproduction absorbs the cost and provides proper acknowledgment of authorship. Permission to reproduce this thesis in part or in its entirety must be obtained from me. Signature of thesis author: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS For my mother… TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................ 1 CHAPTER 2: PLOTTING THE EFFECT OF CONFINEMENT AND VULNERABLE NARCISSISM ON AUTONOMY: OVERCOMING NARCISSISTIC INJURY IN jANE eYRE ................................................. 17 CHAPTER 3: PROVOKING AUTONOMY: RESOLVING THE ILLUSIONS OF THE GRANDIOSE NARCISSIST IN THE TENANT OF WILDFELL HALL ................................................................................. 41 CHAPTER 4: THE GRANDIOSE NARCISSIST IN CONFINEMENT: NARCISSISTIC RAGE, WITHDRAWAL, AND THE ILLUSION OF POWER IN WUTHERING HEIGHTS ........................................................ 62 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION ............................................................................... 84 WORKS CITED ..................................................................................................... 87 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION This thesis expands the definition of autonomy by going beyond the notion that autonomy is simply the ability of an individual to make choices and act according to their own best interests. With Diana Tietjens Meyers’ autonomy theory, I will show that autonomy is not simply a quality that one possesses, but a process that is developed through trial and error, self-reflection, and which depends upon a list of agentic skills that one must incorporate into one’s identity. Additionally, I explore how one’s journey to attain autonomy depends upon the ability to defy the hegemonic patriarchal culture in a way that allows one to avoid the internalized oppression that occurs through subordination and enculturation. It is possible for autonomy to be impeded by the detrimental effects of internalized oppression, which obscure one’s ability to determine one’s own best interests. Internalized oppression must be resolved if one is to attain the self-knowledge necessary to progress into an autonomous individual. Self-knowledge and the ability to self-reflect are among the most important aspects of autonomy because the ability to understand and articulate one’s needs in an authentic voice is the foundation upon which autonomy is possible. But without these key attributes, the authentic voice becomes obscured, and one’s capacity for autonomy is obstructed. Diana Tietjens Meyers defines autonomy theory in Gender in the Mirror: Cultural Imagery & Woman’s Agency as the capacity for individuals to possess self-reliance and self-knowledge: “they know who they are—what really matters to them, whom they deeply care about, what their capacities and limitations actually are, and so forth” (11). Autonomous individuals possess profound and insightful self-knowledge which influences their daily actions, and they are able to draw upon this self-knowledge through the development of agentic skills which 2 2 help them “reflect upon themselves and their lives and as they reach decisions about how best to go on” (Meyers 21). Meyers has combined aspects of autonomy and feminine voice theory to create a theory of autonomy that considers the role that one’s social environment plays in the development of autonomy through the careful maintenance of agentic skills, or how one’s autonomy can be impeded through by internalized oppression. Meyers argues that internalized oppression through subordination or enculturation can impede a woman’s agentic abilities, a set of skills which foster one’s ability to make choices with an authentic voice, and that allows one to discern one’s own voice from that of a subordinate or internalized self. In such cases, women become self-determining individuals who are able to exercise autonomy: women who have under-developed or a lack of agentic skills have limited self-knowledge and cannot achieve self-determination and autonomy (20-24). The agentic skill set is a collection of abilities that one must have in order to develop the self-understanding necessary to progress to self-determination and autonomy. As stated above, autonomous people use their agentic skills to make informed decisions about their everyday lives because they provide them with self-knowledge and understanding that allows them to tap into their genuine selves (Meyers 11-12). Meyers lists eight essential agentic skills—ranging from cognitive to social—that provides an individual with the foundation of autonomy: 1. Introspection: this enables individuals to process their experiences in order to achieve an awareness of self through their emotions, feelings, and desires, which in turn provides them with the ability to make sense of their subjective experiences in a meaningful way. In this way, individuals are able to assess the validity and authenticity of their sense of self (Meyers 20). 3 3 2. Communication: this allows individuals to profit from the insight, advice, knowledge, and experience from others (Meyers 20). This is particularly successful in homosocial environments and mentoring relationships. 3. Memory: the ability of individuals to recall and utilize significant experiences that is drawn from a pool of knowledge that is collected from their own experiences, from the experiences of others they have communicated with, and also from various forms of literature and art (Meyers 20). This is most often used in concert with analysis and imagination skills. 4. Imagination: the ability of individuals to imagine options for their future; this enables individuals to consider alterations to their self- images, and different paths their lives may take (Meyers 20). 5. Analytical: the ability of individuals to make decisions based upon their ability to reason, to assess the future impact of the visualization of their imaginings, and to evaluate and interpret the success of these imaginings through interpretation and analysis (Meyers 20). This is not only applicable to their own lives, but to the lives of others that they have observed. 6. Self-nurturing: the ability to safeguard and strengthen physical and mental health despite drawbacks and obstacles in their way. Also, to be able to reassure themselves of the value of their self- knowledge, and to be able to persevere when they find their identities in need of improvement, when they find themselves misguided, and their self-respect in danger (Meyers 20). 4 4 7. Volition: The ability of individuals to resist the pressure from patriarchal culture to submit to enculturation and subordination, and to maintain their commitment to their own identities (Meyers 20). 8. Interpersonal: the ability of individuals to cooperate with others in order to challenge the oppression of patriarchal culture, and work together to effect change (Meyers 20-21). This is most effective in homosocial and mentoring relationships. It is through the development and employment of these agentic skills that the foundation for autonomy is possible. However, if the advancement of these skills should become obstructed, particularly through oppression, autonomy cannot be realized. The development of autonomy and agentic skills is impeded by the internalized oppression of patriarchal culture. Internalized oppression occurs when individuals are unable to develop the self- knowledge necessary to make sense
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