The subject of marriage is represented quite extensively in the Victorian Era of literature; this comes to fruition through means of the marriage plot. When thinking of this communion, however, one may be curious as to how accepted interracial marriage was during this time; specifically focusing on England. While not discussed as much during the 18^th century, much of the sentiments shared by the population can be found in the 19^th century. Furthermore, one may be surprised to discover that the concept of mixed-race relationships was not as much of a taboo as one may have once thought in comparison to contemporary times despite many citizens being described as predominantly white during this time (Caballero). Mainly, interracial marriage occurred in portside communities, and even aristocracy participated in the act (Caballero). One notable member of this demographic that had an interracial marriage is Lady Anne Coventry, a daughter of the 9th Earl of Coventry (Caballero). While there were certainly those who looked down upon the practice, usually; the act was a part of everyday life for groups who lived closely to each other (Caballero).

In terms of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre: An Autobiography, the subject of interracial marriage finds a presence with the topic of Mr. Rochester. As revealed, Rochester married Bertha, a Creole woman. Being that she is Creole, she is of mixed race, herself, and I was curious as to how accepted this practice would have been for audiences reading the novel.

Works Cited

Caballero, Chamion. “Interraciality in Early Twentieth Century Britain: Challenging Traditional Conceptualisations through Accounts of 'Ordinariness'.” MDPI, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 17 Apr. 2019, https://www.mdpi.com/2313-5778/3/2/21.