Jane Eyre Reading Response

Although Jane is an artistic and passionate girl from the beginning, but was treated unfairly and without love for much of her childhood. Jane begins to find herself through role models, and matures through the years as she goes from Gateshead, to Lowood, and to Thornfield.

In the beginning in Gateshead, Jane is familiar with the feeling of lonliness.  "To that feeling of isolation I was accustomed; it did not oppress me much," (28).  This shows just how mature Jane has become.  By being denied her childhood, she has grown to maturity early.  Jane has grasped what it means to be an adult, alone in the world.  She even goes on to explain what she does on her own.  “I had risen half an hour before her entrance and had washed my face, and put on my clothes by the light of halfmoon setting, whose ray streamed through the narrow window near my crib,” (50) As a ten year old, Jane is already responsible for herself and getting ready by herself. She doesn’t rely on anyone to help her, even when it is simply means getting ready.  

Before even arriving to Lowood, Jane's aunt Ms. Reed tells Mr. brocklehurst, the supervisor of the boadring school, that Jane is a liar.  As a result, Jane fights back and tells Mr. Brocklehurst that what her aunt said about her being a liar wasn’t true.  She showed maturity, since it is a lot of times rare for someone so young to speak up for him/herself, as it can be a scary and intimidating this.  At Lowood, Jane begins to have more of an open mind and is begginning to be positively influenced by role models, such as Helen.  Helen says to Jane, “I make no effort; I follow as inclination guides me.  There is no merit in such goodness...You will change your mind, I hope, when you grow older: as yet you are but a little untaught girl,” (68).  Helen explains and tries to get young Jane to understand that sometimes one must have an open mind to get along with others.  For the next six years, Jane excels in her studies, and after spending two more years at Lowood as a teacher, Jane decides she is ready for a change.  Being a diligent student, a dedicated teacher, and soon wanting change, is a true sign of maturity.  Jane is no longer a child, but rather an adult who seeks to experience and get the most out of what she can during her time at the Lowood Boarding School for orphan girls. 

Now much older than the childish ten-year-old she was, Jane realizes that when she does not let the opinions of others, like Mr. Brocklehurst or Ms. Reed, affect her, there is no oppression to dread.  she realizes that she is bound only by her determination and free will regardless of the authority that she has traditionally been bound to please.  She discovers her own strengths through her experiences in the world and therefore becomes a mature person.  Now as a mature adult taking responsibility for her own actions, Jane wants to reconcile with her aunt, who is on her deathbed.  Although Jane went through a tough childhood being raised by her aunt, she still wants to make up and end on good terms, wanting to thank her for caring her for her the best she could. “I approached my cheek to her lips: she would not touch it. She said I oppressed her by leaning over the bed, and again demanded water. As I laid her down--for I raised her and supported her on my arm while she drank--I covered her ice-cold and clammy hand with mine: the feeble fingers shrank from my touch--the glazing eyes shunned my gaze,” Although her aunt has no interest in essentially making up with Jane, Jane is mature in how she dealt with the situation and with even making the effort to see this aunt who never loved her.