Jane Eyre

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Explore how Jane emerges as an intelligent and educated woman by the end of the novel.

Throughout the novel, Jane experiences many hardships which help her mature and develop into the young woman she eventually becomes. She overcomes the problems and mistreatment she faces during her life and emerges an independent, strong woman. The novel was written in the Victorian era; a time where women were judged on factors such as wealth and beauty. Jane, however, was neither of those so had to gain her place in ways which were seen unconventional at the time.

While staying with the Reeds, she is constantly belittled and made to feel of less worth than them 'humbled by my physical inferiority' (p. 1). Jane is constantly devalued and neglected, even at one point being told that she is 'less than a servant'. She is treated as an outsider and therefore has to learn how to cope when there is no one to rely on and turn to. This causes her, even from an early age, to learn the importance of self dependence.

Through having to spend a lot of time alone, Jane reads a lot