Jane Eyre Research Paper

“I am a free human being with an independent will” (Bronte). Jane Eyre is a novel associated with the rise of feminism in the late 1800s. In this time period, women were seen as inferior to men. Most women did nothing to break the inequality, although Charlotte Bronte would be the exception. She was part of a new breed of women called feminists. Bronte stood up for women’s equality by writing the novel Jane Eyre based on her own life experiences. This book inspired women to seek a life other than a stereotypical 1800s housewife. Jane Eyre is a famous novel written by Charlotte Bronte, based on her own life experiences. In the time period of Jane Eyre, many events happened in England. The novel was written in the Victorian time period (1836-1901)

As a child, Jane Eyre’s parents’ died so she was sent off to live with her relatives. Jane’s Aunt abuses her and eventually kicks her out of the house. Jane transfers to a charity school called Lowood while befriending Helen Burns, who helps Jane get through the school miseries. Jane attends Lowood for eight years, six of the years receiving an education and the other two as a teacher. After teaching, Jane finds a job as a governess at a manor called Thronfield, while teaching a French girl, Adele. Jane’s boss at Thornfield is a dark, ardent man, named Rochester and she finds herself falling in love with him. One day, Rochester brings home a beautiful woman named Blanche Ingram. Jane expects him to propose to Blanche. But instead Rochester proposes to Jane, which she accepts willingly. The wedding day arrives and as Jane and Rochester begin to exchange vows, a man stops the wedding and gives Jane some tragic news. The man, Mr. Mason, explains to Jane that Rochester is already married to an insane woman named Bertha Mason who Rochester kept hidden on the third story of his home. Jane flees Thornfield, knowing that the wedding could never happen. Penniless and heartbroken, Jane finds a place to stay called Marsh End and Moor House with three people named St. John, Mary, and Diana. St. John surprises Jane one day by declaring that her uncle, John Eyre, had died and left her a financial sum of 20,000 pounds. When Jane

In this book, Jane Eyre was struggling for self-recognition as a feminist. When Jane realized she was constantly treated unequally in the book, she rebelled. For example, when young Jane lived at Ms. Reeds house, she was locked in a room when she became ill. This was the point in the book where she became a feminist. Jane refused to be treated unequally and inferior. Jane finally confronts Ms. Reed about the discrimination, in a cold and sharp tone. When Jane scolds Ms. Reed, it represented her feminism in self-esteem from other people as a respected person (Chasteen). As people could infer, Jane and Charlotte were both