How Does Jane Eyre Change Throughout The Novel
Jessica Fish
Mrs. Sullivan
English 9H Period 3
30 January 2017
Title
Nineteenth century women were expected to be quiet and reserved, but there were some exceptions. Jane, of Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre, is one of these exceptions. In her early life, Jane endures harsh treatment from her aunt and cousins, so she is sent away to boarding school in order to escape them. Later, she becomes a governess to a young girl, but leaves after romantic complications with her employer. Eventually, she returns to him after hearing about his terrible injuries from a fire. Over the course of the novel, she encounters these and other obstacles that she handles with a strong and independent sense of voice. The unrestrained way Jane speaks her mind …show more content…
Her honesty is based on what she believes is true and fair, not necessarily what others may believe, and without regard for what may happen next. For example, she shouts accusingly at Mrs. Reed, “People think you a good woman, but you are bad, hard-hearted. You are deceitful!” (Brontë 44). Even though this could worsen their already strained relationship, Jane states her opinion in order to defend herself against the unfair judgements put on her by Mr. Brocklehurst. It is important to her that Mrs. Reed understands that she is not a liar or a child of poor character. Without regard for what may happen next, Jane speaks her mind without restraint. Everything she says is honest, even if it is also unkind or impolite. Years later, she does not hesitate before informing St John that she does not love him romantically and therefore cannot marry him. She realizes after telling him this that “[a] fresh wrong did these words inflict: the worse, because they touched on the truth” (Brontë 475). He reacts to her words by turning cold and bitter to her. However, to Jane, she is only telling him the truth about how she feels and has no ill intent. Instead of holding in her opinions to protect the feelings of others, she lets them fly free for the sake of
Mrs. Sullivan
English 9H Period 3
30 January 2017
Title
Nineteenth century women were expected to be quiet and reserved, but there were some exceptions. Jane, of Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre, is one of these exceptions. In her early life, Jane endures harsh treatment from her aunt and cousins, so she is sent away to boarding school in order to escape them. Later, she becomes a governess to a young girl, but leaves after romantic complications with her employer. Eventually, she returns to him after hearing about his terrible injuries from a fire. Over the course of the novel, she encounters these and other obstacles that she handles with a strong and independent sense of voice. The unrestrained way Jane speaks her mind …show more content…
Her honesty is based on what she believes is true and fair, not necessarily what others may believe, and without regard for what may happen next. For example, she shouts accusingly at Mrs. Reed, “People think you a good woman, but you are bad, hard-hearted. You are deceitful!” (Brontë 44). Even though this could worsen their already strained relationship, Jane states her opinion in order to defend herself against the unfair judgements put on her by Mr. Brocklehurst. It is important to her that Mrs. Reed understands that she is not a liar or a child of poor character. Without regard for what may happen next, Jane speaks her mind without restraint. Everything she says is honest, even if it is also unkind or impolite. Years later, she does not hesitate before informing St John that she does not love him romantically and therefore cannot marry him. She realizes after telling him this that “[a] fresh wrong did these words inflict: the worse, because they touched on the truth” (Brontë 475). He reacts to her words by turning cold and bitter to her. However, to Jane, she is only telling him the truth about how she feels and has no ill intent. Instead of holding in her opinions to protect the feelings of others, she lets them fly free for the sake of