This is a comparative analysis of two film adaptations (from 1943 and 2011) of Charlotte Brontë’s  Jane Eyre, with a focus on the male characters. My aim is to study how patriarchal control is adapted for the screen, compared to the original novel. The focus is on the characters John Reed, Mr. Brocklehurst, Mr. Rochester and St. John Rivers. The analysis is about how the filmmakers depict the essence of the characters, why they chose to do so and what determinants influenced the two films; furthermore, how this affects Jane’s character and her pursuit for independence. The thesis of this essay is that there is a difference in the interpretation of the male characters in the two films compared to the novel Jane Eyre and this affects Jane’s pursuit for independence. My conclusion is that although the films differ in narration and filming technique, the strongest impact on the discourse is the changed script due to politics and production code.

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