In Susanna White’s film adaptation of Jane Eyre, Jane can be seen accessing a pocket from the front of her dress when Mr. Rochester asks her how much money she has before departing to the Reed residence (1:50:05-1:50:10). Due to the ease of access Jane seems to have here, it appears to be a sewn-in pocket. While it was common for men’s apparel to include sewn-in pockets throughout the early nineteenth century, the same cannot be said for women. Instead, women often relied on a pocket kept separate from their garments, often tied around the waist and hidden beneath one’s dress or skirt (“Women’s Tie-On Pockets”). This tie-on pocket is likely what Jane and other women throughout the time period would have had, and it is possible the pocket she accesses in the film is meant to be a hidden tie-on pocket that she gains access to through a discreet slit in the dress. These tie-on pockets were developed during the seventeenth century and were in common use to the end of the nineteenth century; they provided “an extremely popular detachable accessory for carrying their possessions” which would sometimes consist of prized belongings since women were provided with few options for safekeeping (“Women’s Tie-On Pockets”).  

Viewers do not gain access to the total contents of Jane’s pockets, but she can be seen pulling out what appears to be a coin purse, and it can be assumed she would carry other items of value such as portraits and materials more suited to her everyday life as a governess, like pencils and sewing materials. Unlike men who often had access to material autonomy, these tie-on pockets were often the one space a woman could keep her own belongings controlled by no one other than herself. Though wealthier women often had pockets fashioned from more durable materials with embroidered designs in silk or wool, tie-on pockets were not exclusive to the wealthy and were commonly found on working-class women as well due to their ability to be made from plain linen or recycled fabric (“Women’s Tie-On Pockets”). They often varied in size but were generally larger than one may imagine, making it possible for women to carry items as small as coins or as large as a live bird (“Women’s Tie-On Pockets”). The history of tie-on pockets often points back to women’s disempowered position throughout the time period, something worth giving large consideration to when reading Jane Eyre and its many adaptations since Jane herself as well as many other depicted women are often considered possessions and are forced to rely on marriage to wealthier men for sustenance and livelihood.

Works Cited

“Jane Eyre: Episode 1.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2006, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wlD=101269&xtid=128871. Accessed 10 Mar. 2022.

Pocket, single. vads, https://www.vads.ac.uk/digital/collection/POCKETS/id/649/rec/64. Accessed 12 Mar. 2022.

Pocket, single, embroidered. vads, https://www.vads.ac.uk/digital/collection/POCKETS/id/451/rec/252. Accessed 12 Mar. 2022.

“Women’s Tie-On Pockets.” Victoria and Albert Museum, https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/womens-tie-pockets. Accessed 11 Mar. 2022.