Female independence + characters

• "Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel"

  
  

  Jane is reflecting on her situation and all the women in her society

  She feels discontented and trapped in her position as Adele's governess

  
  

  Bronte is illustrating unjust, societal attitudes revolving women
• "During these eight years my life was uniform, but not unhappy"

  "I desired liberty; for liberty I gasped; for liberty I uttered a silent prayer" -->

  reflects a deep longing for freedom and autonomy; Jane's inner desire for liberty suggests a yearning for independence, self-expression and the ability to shape her own destiny

  Underscores her independent spirit and resilience in the face of societal expectations

  A determination to break from limitations imposed on her--> self-discovery
• "I am no bird, and no net ensnares me" --> displayal of independence, unlike women of the time who were very restrained

  illustrated through the metaphorical language "bird": women were regarded as fragile and needing protection

  "ensnares" --> takes pride in her independence
• "I am a free human being with an independent will."

  "free" = autonomous woman, deserving of the same liberty and opportunities as men
• "I don't think sir, you have the right to command me." --> strong sense of independence: she refuses to be subservient or obedient simply because of his social status or gender.

  She asserts her own autonomy, standing up for herself against authority figures

  The quote also reflects the broader societal expectations and power dynamics of the time

  In this hierarchical society, individuals were often judged and expected to conform based on their social class and gender.

  Jane's defiance challenges these norms, highlighting the injustices and inequalities inherent in Victorian society.
• Jane embodies the theme of female independence
• "'You had this morning a breakfast which you could not eat; you must be hungry. I have ordered that a lunch of bread and cheese shall be served to all'": Miss Temple --> showing compassion, knows she will get in trouble if caught
• "Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs" (Helen) --> shouldn't live in the past and think of bad things: should be humble and not argue/ be defiant
• "He is not of their kind, I believe he is of mine" --> "kind" = alludes to class, he's free-spirited and not tied down by the stereotypes of the upper class
• "Composed, though grave, she stood" (about Helen)


  -she is controlled, composed- Jane wants to emulate these virtues

  -sibilance = admiration
• "She lifted her eyes... a matyr, a hero"


  -she is presented as pious: powerful Christian values of endurance and forgiveness

  -hyperbole--> described in religious terminology
• “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself.”


  -emphasises her commitment to self-care, and self-respect --> implies her sense of worth is not dependent on other's opinions: underscores her strong sense of independence and self-reliance

  -despite facing isolation and a lack of support, Jane demonstrates resilience and inner strength: she chooses to affirm her self-worth and dignity

  -rejection of societal norms

  -symbolises her journey of self-discovery and personal growth: solitude serves as a space for contemplation
• Jane's willingness to embrace solitude suggests her comfort with introspection; her assertion of self-respect reflects her empowerment and autonomy. Rather than seeking validation of approval from others, she derives her sense of worth from within.

  This asserts control over her own narrative and destiny
• "you are too impulsive, too vehement" --> Helen to Jane
• "I was so hurt by her coldness and scepticism, that the tears rose to my eyes." --> "you are so young, and so little acquainted with men"
• Mrs Fairfax calls Jane "modest and sensible"
• "she looked at me bewildered" --> Mrs Fairfax upon seeing Jane and Rochester's relationship
• "She had stood in me the seed of a mother, governess and latterly companion" --> about Miss Temple: regarded as a maternal figure
• "Not a tear rose to Burn's eyes"
• "revenge never worries my heart" -Helen
• Jane is taught by Helen to be self-reliant and to be her own judge of character
• Miss Temple teaches Jane that she doesn't have to be limited as a woman