jane eyres development throughout the novel

gateshead: chapters 1-4, 21-22

at gateshead jane is heavily oppressed and shunned by the people she lives with. jane desires freedom-'you have no money, your father left you none, you ought to beg'-john reed

jane's imagination is the only reason she puts up with her abuse;she shuts off the outside world and retreats into herself which is her only way to deal with her mistreatment as a 10 year old child with no money, parents or future.

the red room is an example of her oppression which acts as a restrictor for jane's uncontrollable passion due to her imagination. 'a terrible red glare crossed with thick black bars' suggests jane's passion is the so uncontrollable and large that only the most extremes of oppression can hold it down eg the red room, the abuse she faces

lowood: chapters 5-10

at lowood, life is far from satisfactory however it is a sanctuary from the abuse that she faced at gateshead-'if i had lately left a good home...i should most keenly have regretted this situation'

at lowood jane's educational and personal perspective grows. exposing her to different personalities helps her deal with a variety of people. she also learns to control her passion and she also learns to have control over her life as a governess teaching at lowood.

however she leaves lowood after becoming restless as without miss temple and helen burns she was a 'disciplined and subdued character'. miss temple being jane's 'peaceful place' meant jane now felt unstable without her prescence as she was a distraction from the reminders of jane's past. instead of copying miss temple's personality jane now followed the challenge of finding her own identity. bronte could be using jane to show that passion is important for self worth and identity..

thornfield: chapters 11-20, 23-27, 36

jane's employment at thornfield marks a new start for jane's life which now gives her confidence…