Describe the changes that took place in Jane Eyre's life when she moved from Lowood Institution to Thornfield Hall.

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Jane Eyre Coursework.

Describe the changes that took place in Jane Eyre’s life when she moved from Lowood Institution to Thornfield Hall.

In the story of Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre is written as a very strong self assured, determined young woman who is rebellious against society. A story that shows against the culturally subversive path of feminine independence.

Jane’s life began when she was separated from her family and sent to live with her ‘Aunt Reed’ and her cousins. Jane didn’t enjoy her stay at ‘Gateshead’ with the ‘Reeds’ she was I suppose the runt of the litter. Janes Aunt Reed was constantly trying to find faults with Jane as she thought no child could be more perfect than her precious little children.

One example of this would be one rainy day at ‘Gateshead’ when Jane and her cousins were playing outside in the rain, as her cousins returned inside to see there mother Jane thought she would explore the house, she found a book shelf on which she picked out a book that she would like to read…sure enough she found a quiet spot to read it by the window behind some curtains. Jane loved to read; it helped her explore her emotions and made her feel that she was more at one with the world. Jane’s cousin secretly saw Jane reading this and told his mother that Jane was still outside playing in the rain! For some reason Jane got in serious trouble when her aunt reed found her for reading a book! Surely that is not a crime! Jane was made to stay in her uncles old room against her will. Jane swore she saw a ghost and could feel her uncle around her and being only 10 yrs old she was very frightened and so she screamed hoping someone would come and rescue her. Bessie the nicest one of the lot was the maid at Gates head opened the door and Jane clung to her and weeped”Let me out Bessie please, I don’t like it in here” and was sensitive towards Jane but aunt reed just slammed the door and locked Jane back in there.

As you can probably tell by this Jane barely had a relationship of whatever kind with her Aunt and Cousins.

After a lot of cunning and persuasion from Jane, they received a visit from “Mr.Lloyd” regarding Jane’s plead to attend Lowood institution for Girl orphans. Thankfully for Jane she was accepted into Lowood Institution! Her aunt wasn’t to pleased about this but now she couldn’t really do anything about it! This was one of the most important changes in Jane Eyre’s life and in my opinion it was for the better! Jane arrived at Lowood feeling very nervous which is not really surprising turning up to a big institution not knowing anyone and only being 10 yrs old, to me I think it was a very confident and brave thing Jane did and she is to be admired! Miss Temple one of the teachers at Lowood was very welcoming towards Jane and made her feel quite secure and not so lonely, there was still a little insecurity Jane felt as it was all still quite mysterious! After Jane had settled in a bit and unpacked her belongings in her new room, she took a little walk around to institution to get familiar with her surroundings and put her mind at ease. On her walk Jane came across a young girl, the name of Helen Burns, and a girl slightly older than Jane herself, sitting on a bench in the institutions gardens reading a book, and as Jane liked to read she thought it would be the ideal opportunity to strike up a conversation, “what are you reading?” Jane asked

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Helen then told Jane. Jane then said how much she loves to read and Helen said when she had finished reading her book Jane could Borrow it, there friendship began! One of the strongest friendships in the story I think! Jane Eyre and Helen Burns became very good friends and spent a lot of time together while they were both at the institution. In a way I think that Helen was a sort of motherly figure to Jane someone that Jane could look up to and get advice from, they became very close. Helen would tell Jane all about the ...

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