Jane Eyre and Her Struggles Essay -- essays research papers

Jane Eyre and Her Struggles Jane Eyre is a classic English novel which follows the development of a young woman in the mid 1800's. Jane grows to be a smart, self supporting, independent woman. This becomes a struggle for her as she was brought up to live in the lower-class. Throughout this novel, Jane tries to show that class and gender should not affect personality. This novel explains Jane’s struggle against societal expectations of class and of gender. Jane’s initial struggle begins as she is brought up by her aunt. Jane is living in an upper-class household and is being treated as a person of the lower-class. Jane would be antagonized on a daily basis by the Reed children. As an outcast, Jane realizes at an early age how much class affects the behavior of people in society. Jane would be punished by Mrs. Reed regularly, which may have fueled her rebellious nature. A specific example would be when Jane was sent to the â€Å"red room† by Mrs. Reed as punishment for fighting with her son. This was the room where Mrs. Reed’s husband was found dead. This shows that Mrs. Reed had absolutely no respect for Jane as an individual as Mrs. Reed knew that Jane believed that the room was haunted. This event also shows that Mrs. Reed does not respect her deceased husband, as she abandoned the room after he was found. Soon after, Jane decides that she would like to go to school. Mr. Brocklehurst, founder of Lowood School admits Jane to the school. Mrs. Reed then explains to him that Jane is a problematic child. As soon as he leaves the household, Jane verbally attacks Mrs. Reed and has a feeling of accomplishment. Name 2 Jane’s initial confrontation with Mr. Brocklehurst inside the school leaves her in misery as she i... ...he was teaching the children. Eventually, when St. John attempts to ask Jane for her hand in marriage, she rejects him. He told her that it would only be in business, as he was to become a missionary and wanted her to help him. Jane does not believe in that kind of matrimony, so that was why she denied him. St. John’s two sisters, like Jane were very intellectual and loved to read. Jane loved having conversations with them, as they were as intellectual as she was. These characters raised Jane’s expectations of society. This classic English novel focuses on Jane’s struggle against societal expectations of class and of gender. Jane had many struggles with many characters throughout the novel, and this essay focused on some of the most important characters and the most important instances. Those struggles helped her become a smart, independent woman.