Trace the Development of Jane's character from passionate Child to Independent Woman. To what extent does her Changed Position Reflect that of Other Women in Victorian England?

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Trace the Development of Jane’s character from passionate Child to Independent Woman.  To what extent does her Changed Position Reflect that of Other Women in Victorian England?

Jane’s character changes immensely throughout the course of the novel.  In Victorian England, there were distinctive boundaries of social classes and I intend to study Jane’s social elevation, from a destitute orphan to that of a beloved wife.

When Jane was a child her parents died and she was sent to Mr Reed, her late mother’s brother.

“…my own uncle – my mother’s brother…in his last moments he had required a promise of Mrs Reed that she would rear and maintain me as one of her own…”

Her uncle died and she was left with Mrs Reed and her three cousins who all despised her.  They only looked after her because of the promise to Mr Reed.  It was typical in Victorian England for an orphan to stay with relatives because if they didn’t they would be sent to the workhouse.  They would either be loved or despised – like in Jane’s case.

Jane was a spirited child who was not afraid to stand up to Mrs Reed or John Reed.  She was isolated and explains how unloved and ill treated she was at Gateshead

“…if anyone asks me how I liked you, and how you treated me, I will tell them the very thought of you makes me sick…”

Jane is a brave, little girl and tells things as they are.  She accepts how badly she was treated and lets Mrs Reed know this just before leaving to go to school at Lowood.  When Mr Brocklehurst visited her at Gateshead, she was forceful and told him directly “Psalms are not interesting.”  This action was not typical of others in Victorian England, as they would not have answered so bluntly.

Jane Eyre leaves Gateshead and attends Lowood School, she forms alliances with Helen Burns and Miss Temple, and she becomes a much happier little girl than she was at Gateshead.  It was very common for orphans to be sent away to school if relatives didn’t want them.  Even though life at Lowood was harsh with little to eat, outbreaks of typhus and appalling conditions, Jane is still much happier.  The harsh life experienced at school was very typical, especially at charity schools like Lowood.

“I would not now have exchanged Lowood with its privations for Gateshead and its daily luxuries.”  Jane would rather be away at school than at Gateshead with her family who detested her.

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At Lowood, the pupils were taught in small groups, this reflected teaching styles of Victorian times.  At school, children were taught to learn things off by heart rather than thinking for themselves.

“…taken her seat before a pair of globes…, summoned the first class round her…Repetitions in history, grammar &c., went on for an hour; more writing and arithmetic succeeded…”

After six years at Lowood, Jane became a teacher.  This was typical of women of Jane’s class in Victorian society.  “The only real options they had were to become a teacher, a governess, a seamstress, a wife or a ...

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