Through the duration of the novel, the character of Jane Eyre slowly develops from an unhappy young girl learning the hardships of life, into a joyous and contented woman of thirty living alongside her beloved husband. It is the way in which Jane Eyre battles against these hardships, that makes her such an intelligent and gallant heroine. The inner story of the novel, much more important than the melodramatic plot on which it hangs, is the story of Jane’s long struggle to become a person who is admired, respected, and cared for, without compromising any of her other principles. The savage fighting spirit disc

An indication of change in Jane is in chapter 27, when the identity of Bertha Mason is revealed and Rochester begs Jane to go away with him. Jane knows that this would be wrong, but the decision is a terrible one. Everything is done to make it hard for her to give in to this test of great strength. Rochester insists that she is the agent of his regeneration and that without her, he may fall back into vice and depravity. Jane reflects that she may “drive a fellow-creature to despair,” and asks herself “who in the world cares for you? or who will be injured by what you do?” The answer is inexorable: “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man.” She reminds Rochester: “We were born to strive and endure.” Jane is torn between her conflicting emotions; passion and reason. Unlike her confrontation with Mrs Reed, Jane’s strong morals guide her to reason, and she flees temptation, making a painful, yet correct decision in which her firmness and resolution are clearly demonstrated.

“You examine me, Miss Eyre,” said he: “do you think me handsome?”

Though Jane’s final happiness with Rochester is hard won, the fight is not always against the hardships of life, but against the flaws in her own character. Jane Eyre is a character both memorable and unique, and the quality of Charlotte Bronte’s protagonist lies in her journey to discover inner growth. She is an intelligent, yet emotional, superior being who is human, even flawed; as the 19th-century reader would have discerned, she is a model for us all.

Some topics in this essay:
Jane Eyre, Aunt Reed, Burns Helen, Jane Jane, Miss Eyre”, Bronte Jane’s, Miss Ingram, Reed Jane’s, Instead Jane, Jane Gateshead, jane eyre, aunt reed, hardships life, character jane eyre, helen burns, character jane, jane’s strong, jane able, revealed rochester, bertha mason, inner growth,