Show the importance of four women to Jane Eyre's development, and discuss the ideas aobut women and womanhood that the five characters suggest to you

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Sherelle Oliffe Yr. R.11

FOUR PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNIFICANT IN JANE EYRE’S EARLY LIFE ARE MRS.REED, BESSIE, MISS TEMPLE AND HELEN BURNS.  SHOW THE IMPORTANCE OF EACH TO JANE’S DEVELOPMENT, AND DISCUSS THE IDEAS ABOUT WOMEN AND WOMANHOOD THAT THE FIVE CHARACTERS SUGGEST T0 YOU.

      The four people who played a significant part in Jane Eyre’s early life whilst also influencing the development of her character, were Mrs. Reed, Bessie, Miss Temple and Helen Burns.  All four of these women had strong beliefs about how women should behave, in addition to possessing a deep rooted passion for their own religious beliefs.  This essay will discuss how each of these women shaped the person that Jane Eyre became.  Initially, I will be looking at Mrs Reed who is Jane’s aunt through marriage and discussing how significant she was to Jane’s early life.

      Mrs. Reed had responsibility for Jane, as sole carer, a role that neither Jane nor Mrs. Reed were happy with.  Their relationship was one of hatred and general dislike on both parts.  Indeed, Mrs. Reed so disliked Jane, even from a young age that she treated her worse than one of the servants of the house.  It was not that she did not like children, as she had several of her own to whom she showed great love and affection.  However, so acute was the resentment that she held for Jane that she frequently separated her from the activities planned for her own children, declaring that they were; “intended only for contented, happy little children”. Unfortunately, exclusion such as this only succeeded in embittering Jane and causing a larger rift between herself and her aunt.  Additionally, these actions also succeeded in Jane developing a general dislike for her cousins, in particular Master John Reed, who behaved as equally disgracefully towards Jane, following the example laid down by his mother.  He treated her like a “rat” whose actual existence was insignificant.  Infact, the relationship between the two deteriorated to such a degree that it resulted in a physical argument which ended up with Jane being imprisoned in the Red Room.  

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      Although the intention had been to punish Jane, the Red Room actually assisted Jane in becoming a stronger person, which in turn resulted in Mrs. Reed becoming fearful of her unwanted niece.  Jane had time to reflect and realise the weapons that would most offend her aunt, that is, to turn her aunt’s religious convictions back upon herself, as can be seen when she relates in the mind of the mature Jane.

      “But I ought to forgive you, for you knew not what you did: While rending my heart-strings, you thought you were ...

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