Jane Eyre

4 Pages 1088 Words

The Progression of Jane

What does it mean to be grownup? Throughout her childhood Jane strives toward this elusive plane which she won’t ever reach! Jane Eyre is a passionate work of English literature. Set in the nineteenth century, Charlotte Bronte writes of a girl’s continuous journey through life in search of acceptance and inner strength. Each of the physical journeys made by Jane Eyre have a significant effect on her emotions and cause her to grow and change into the woman she finally becomes. Her experiences at Lowood School, Thornfield Hall, Moor house, and Ferndean correspond with each stage of Jane’s quest and development from an immature child to an intelligent and sophisticated woman.
Ten-year-old Jane, orphaned by the death of her parents and uncle, led a discontented life under the care of her aunt, Mrs. Reed. Jane learned at an early age that she would have to strive for everything she wanted. Due to the harsh treatment she was subject to by both her aunt and cousins. Jane also had severe outbursts of retaliation, which resulted in her departure from Gateshead and enrollment at Lowood School. At Lowood, Jane met Helen Burns, a girl who becomes Jane’s friend. With her tender, real qualities, Helen preached to Jane the importance of patience and fortitude. Because of Helen’s Christian lessons of endurance, and forgiveness, Jane accepted her situation at Lowood and made progress in both her studies and her character. Jane admits, “(she) would not now have exchanged Lowood with all its privations for Gateshead and its daily luxuries” (75). She became an attentive student gaining the respect of her teachers, which pleased Jane and gave her a bit of self-confidence.
Jane decided to broaden her horizon after eight years of both attending and teaching at Lowood School. Jane remarks, "A new chapter in a novel is something like a new scene in a play..."(94). She finally finds some direction in her l...