In the mid-20th century, the rise of feminist literary criticism opened a new horizon for Jane Eyre. Among them, the most influential are two American female professors: Sandra Gilbert and Susan Geba's masterpiece Crazy Woman in the Attic. Their views are novel and unique, which is refreshing. They think the crazy woman in the attic is Jane Eyre. The crazy woman burned Thornfield Manor and disabled Rochester, which Jane Eyre wanted to do but didn't do. Bertha is angry Jane Eyre. She not only plays Jane Eyre, but also acts like Jane. At first glance, this statement is absurd, which is hard for China readers to accept. However, these two female professors are quite convincing based on modern psychology, psychoanalysis and prototype theory. They think Jane Eyre has a dual personality. In the depths of her consciousness, there is an angry Jane and a hateful Jane. Jane Eyre's split personality can be traced back to the conflict when she fought with her cousin John when she was a child and was put into the red house by Mrs. Reed. Anger and fear of confinement lead to the defamiliarization of Jane Eyre's self-image, that is, the split of personality. At that time, Jane Eyre looked in the mirror and saw "a strange little guy staring at me", like a "ghost". This is another Jane Eyre. As an adult, angry Jane Eyre became subconscious, and she did not disappear. In Thornfield, Jane Eyre fell in love with Rochester, the owner of the manor. However, in her heart, Jane Eyre is very sensitive to the unequal factors contained in her love relationship with Rochester, full of anxiety and fear. It was Bertha's existence and crazy behavior that prevented the establishment of marriage relationship in time, cleared away the unequal factors and laid the foundation for the final establishment of an idealized and equal love relationship. Therefore, the crazy woman is Jane Eyre in the subconscious, and her behavior reflects Jane Eyre's inner will.

To feminists, crazy women have a deeper meaning. She is a symbol of women's existence. For example, in order to persuade Jane Eyre to stay, Rochester gave a long explanation of his marriage with Bertha: marriage is a transaction, Bertha inherited insanity, she is wanton and cruel, and Rochester seems to be an innocent victim. Not to mention whether Rochester's defense is true or not, the key is that this is a trial in absentia. Bertha in the dark attic? Mei Sen didn't know that a trial about her reputation, fate and power was going on, so she couldn't appear in court to defend herself. Everything about her can only be decided by Rochester. Feminists believe that this scene of trial by default is a true portrayal of women's living conditions. Crazy women are the archetypes of women: they live in disorder and darkness, have no opportunity and strength to defend themselves, and are always absent and anonymous, so they have no own history and culture. The essence, identity and characteristics of women are endowed by men, so there are no factors of distortion, distortion, deformation and malice. Therefore, they marvel that they have walked out of the crazy woman.