Independence In Jane Eyre

The transition from dependence to independence can only be reached through the finding of one’s true self. In Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, the relationships Jane has with the male characters has helped her to come of age from dependence to independence because Jane begins by rebelling against John and Mr. Brocklehurst, she leaves Mr. Rochester, and denies St. John’s proposal. Jane’s acts of rebellion against John Reed show that she is tired of being dependent on him and his family. By showing signs of rebellion to Mr. Brocklehurst when she first is interviewed for Lowood shows that she yearns for independence and to be away from the Reeds. Jane’s standing up to Mr. Rochester by leaving him shows that she is not dependent on him and has taken

Rochester has an insane wife locked away in his house. She denies Mr. Rochester’s request to become his mistress and finds her way to St. John and his sisters Mary and Diana’s doorstep after almost dying from hunger and dehydration due to her being homeless and poor. Jane refuses to become dependent on their family because she does not want history to repeat itself (with the Reeds and Lowood). She demonstrates this when she says “Show me how to work, or how to see work: that is all I now ask; then let me go, if it be but to meanest cottage-but till then, allow me to stay here: I dread another essay of the horrors of homeless destitution” (Brontë 353). Jane shows that she is old enough to handle herself and can become an independent woman if she has the resources to help her. All she really wants is a job and by getting a job and becoming wealthy after her Uncle John passed away, leaving her all of his money, Jane has truly become the person she has always wanted to be: an independent woman. With this confidence, Jane has the courage to refuse St. John when he proposes to her. Jane knows that if she is to marry it will be out of love not for service. In the text “I repeat: I freely consent to go with you as your fellow-missionary; but not as your wife; I cannot marry you and become part of you” (Brontë 415). Jane displays her strength, will

Jane’s coming of age story begins with John Reed where she is very rebellious and overly-passionate, which leads her to attack him when he bullies her. When first meeting Mr. Brocklehurst, Jane showed him that she is rebellious because she only enjoyed the books of the bible where there was rebellion against God. After her time at Lowood, Jane was very mature and now had more faith (due to her friendship with Helen Burns) than she ever thought was possible for her. With Mr. Rochester, Jane was not afraid to respectfully speak her mind, she denied his request for her to stick around and becoming his mistress after Jane found out he locked away his crazy wife, which showed that she had matured and could handle the situation and make decisions for herself. Finally, with St. John, Jane proved that she is capable of being independent because she requests only their help in finding a job before, but later becomes wealthy and also denies his proposal. Jane’s strong qualities remain within her all throughout her journey but are expressed in ways that show how she has matured, for example, from first being emotional to now logical. By learning from her life experiences Jane was able to mature and grow to be a strong, and independent