Mrs reed sees that Jane is constantly put in her place, reminding her and without her generosity she would be a penniless orphan in the poor house. That Jane having no money meant that she had no social status that she was a charity in her aunt’s home ruled by the cruel and spoilt John reed.
Her description of John reed is unflattering and sarcastic; it shows her lack of respect and how she herself views him as a person based on his treatment of her.
Jane is seen as outspoken and rude. Her disrespect is punished by being locked away in the red room. She is locked away with her fears and suffers traumatically whilst there. As John behaves how he pleases abusing not only mentally but physically too, he is not punished. He is cruel and spoilt while eve Jane’s presence alone is seen as an offence.
Jane has great faith in her religion and morals. She believes that wrong doings shall be eventually punished. Jane becomes easily distressed as thoughts of death and ghosts enter her mind. For this she is locked in the red room she becomes so distressed that she passes out. Bessie takes pity on her. Bessie unlike Mrs Abot treats her kindly and with care. Jane is not afraid to speak of the unkindly manor in which she is treated.
Mrs Reed unfairly keeps important information from Jane in order to keep power over her she breaks off contact with the rest of the family and does not tell her of relations concerning her, especially of her inheritance from her wealthy uncle John. And so her cruel aunt continues.
Jane seeks equality and fairness greatly as she speaks of her uncle and her unfair treatment for this is punished. Although Jane mentions that if given a choice she would chose to be alone and away from the Reeds. Perhaps because she does not believe in their way of thinking. Bessie is the only figure of kindness at Gateshead. Eliza is shown as harsh and Georgina is seen as superficial.
As Jane leaves for Thornfield she is excited by a fresh start and a new chance. Which is then damaged in front of Mr Brockelhurst, which shadows her hopes for that new start. Jane is seen to attack Mrs Reed’s cruelty with anger and passion. As she becomes more mature we see her learning to deal with this anger more reasonably. In time Jane learns to forgive the Reeds and although she denies any contact with them, she responds to Mrs Reed’s request to see Jane at her deathbed.
After her homecoming Bessie treats her like a lady. Mrs Reed explains her treatment of Jane and apologises. The children’s treatment of their own mother is the opposite intended instead of loving and caring for their ‘dear mama’ John has been selfish and has treated his mother badly. Georgiana is vain and pays her mother no attention. Eliza who is disciplined and very religious is also portrayed as harsh and selfish.
