At Lowood, Helen helps Jane grow in maturity ‘Learn from me, not to judge by appearances’ Helen teaches Jane many strong moral values and Christian principles ‘The bible bids us return good from evil’ (p. 58.) She helps Jane to be able to endure strenuous situations without fighting back, and helps her view life from a more mature perspective. Through time spent observing Helen and having various conversations with her, Jane’s understanding of how to cope with her suffering grows.
Miss Temple is a positive female role model for Jane. ’She had stood me in the stead of mother, governess and companion’ Miss Temple is the first woman that Jane meets who she respects and can look up to. She aspires to be like Miss Temple as Miss Temple is a woman who is intelligent and kind, two qualities which Jane has. She describes her as a ‘mother’, something Jane has never had before. The word indicates Jane’s adoration of Miss Temple, and shows how much Jane has been guided by her. Through Miss Temple people not judging people according to their class, Jane is shown she doesn’t need to be bound by the traditional Victorian view of people’s place in society.
By the time she finished Lowood, Jane has a clear independent streak ‘You must advertise’ (p. 88). Whereas most women in Jane’s position would have just stayed in the position they were in, Jane desires to be free of Lowood and to have liberty for the first time in her life. She makes her own decision, aware of the risks, to find a new situation as she doesn’t wish to be confined to Lowood for the rest of her days. She, instead, craves her own, independent position.
While Jane is at Thornfield, she becomes a mother figure for Adele, sincerely defending her when Mr. Rochester is harsh towards her. ‘______’. One possible reason for this may be due to her seeing the resemblance between herself and Adele. She remembers her treatment with the Reeds, and doesn’t wish Adele to experience anything like that. Jane herself also finds herself a ‘mother figure’ in the form of Mrs. Fairfax. ‘I felt a pang at the idea that she could even temporarily misconstrue what she had seen’ (p.83) She worries about being thought badly of by Mrs. Fairfax. Jane respects her opinion and seeks her approval, becoming upset when she doesn’t receive it. A family system is therefore formed between Jane, Mrs. Fairfax and Adele.
Jane, at first, doesn’t know how to act in Mr. Rochester’s presence. ‘You fear in the presence of a man to smile to gaily’ (p.43) Throughout her life, Jane has barely any contact with men so is unsure of how a lady in her position should behave. She has never experienced being in such a close proximity with a man so regularly, and is concerned of doing something which could have been seen as the ‘wrong’ thing to do in those times.
Jane’s relationship with Mr. Rochester helps her to grow on an emotional level. ‘I looked at my face in the glass and felt it was no longer plain’. Her relationship with Mr. Rochester helps raise her self esteem, as it proves to that she has desirable characteristics. This gives her something she has been missing: the feeling that she is worth something. Bronte using the word plain gives an insight for the reader of just how little self belief Jane had and how negative a view she had of herself.
However, she has not experienced love before which causes her to act in a different way to which others might have. ‘Of whom I made an idol’ (p.272) Because she has never had a romantic relationship with anyone else, she has nothing to compare it to. Her making him an ‘idol’ meant that she would see him with blind adoration, thereby making her unable to see all the negative things which he does. She has allowed herself to be consumed in love for him which causes her to naively place her trust in Mr. Rochester, something which she has now learnt to never do again.
After the problems with Mr. Rochester, Jane still keeps to her principles ‘One drear word comprised my intolerable duty-‘Depart!’’ (p. 312). Although Jane is tempted by Mr. Rochester’s offers, she still adheres to her principles and leaves. She finds it ‘intolerable’ to tear herself away from the man she loves, however she believes it to be wrong. Through this hard time, she has enough inner strength to do what she believes to be the morally right action.
Even though Jane has suffered a lot, she still values family before money ‘You were serious when I told you you had got a fortune; and now for a matter of no moment, you are excited’ (p. 381) Immediately, Jane is far more pleased at the idea of having a family than of receiving money. As Jane grew up having no one, the idea of having relatives who actually care about her is a momentous thing to Jane as it helps give her an inherent sense of identity which she longs for.
Jane gains the courage to express her true opinions ‘I scorn your idea of love’ (p. 433) She is able to reject St. John’s assertions that he can ‘claim’ her, and she can tell him what she really feels. The strength of the word ‘scorn’ used by Bronte is compelling, as it also helps denote the journey of Jane between chapters. She doesn’t feel uncomfortable around men, and is instead able to attack St. John’s words in a vigorous manner. Her tribulations with Mr. Rochester helped her develop the strong independent streak she had had since she was young, and now she is able to confidently state her beliefs without fear of reprisal.
Jane learns the problems of keeping feelings to oneself ‘I am sure it will benefit him a little to talk about this sweet Rosamund’ (p. 367) Jane sees St. John blatantly ignore his feelings for Rosamund. It is clear how he feels for her, yet will not admit it. His cold attitude to love triggers Jane’s memories, and causes her to draw parallels between her and St. John. She becomes aware of the detrimental impact ignoring your true feelings has.
Jane finally manages to accept the past and returns to where her heart is ‘I announced that I was going on a journey’ (p. 417) Her experiences in the year help her to overcome what she felt before, and now she feels capable to return to Mr. Rochester after everything that has happened. She has matured emotionally and is now able to face something which caused her so much pain before.
By the end of the novel, Jane is able to put the past behind her ‘Reader, I married him’ (p. 477). She can move on from all the hurt she felt and can allow herself to act on her love for him again. Now they are equals, each with their own identity, and it’s magnanimous the way Bronte shows Jane overpowering Rochester. Jane now has control and is in charge of herself, without needing anyone else. The Victorian audience would have been shocked by this unusual power exchange and viewed it with almost a sense of awe.
Through Jane’s remarkable life, everything she experiences helps to shape her into the women she becomes. She has a strong character which helps her get through the bad, and helps her eventually emerge as an educated and independent woman. She gains her identity, finding out her past and meeting her family. The suffering she experienced, from the brutal bullying with the Reeds through to being deceived by Mr. Rochester, increased her emotional resilience greatly. She learnt many life lessons, and came out at the end as a more internally complete woman.