How Does Charlotte Bronte Create Identity In Jane Eyre

In Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, the name sakes principle of attaining and cultivating her independence and identity versus the pressure of what the world says her independence and fulfillment is found in, are the core source of conflict-internally and externally-extrapolating out Brontë's criticism of how women were and are regarded within society. Janes independence, unlike that of other women of the time, required "that she serve and sacrifice herself for a man whom she loves and who loves her in return" (Hagan 351). Throughout the book this mandatory need of hers gets partially filled by a few men and situations until the final encompassing of this comes to fruition in Mr. Rochester. However, complete submission to said situation or person

Upon being told to find somewhere to dwell without making a peep, the 10 year old orphan ran to her safe spot- the window seat. The curtains enclosed her in their loving arms, leaving her to a small paradise of her own where her curiosities and love for learning went unpunished and were able to run rampant. That safe haven soon became shattered with the intrusion of John Reed forcing her to "come here" (Brontë 3). He beckoned her outside of her safety zone. Ultimately, she relented and came to his side only to be ridiculed and "struck suddenly and strongly" (Brontë 4). Despite this, Jane endured his passionate fists and condescending words and did nothing- not because this was natural but because this was ingrained in her. She, a young lady, needed to be submissive and obedient, not strong or independent; it was absolutely forbidden. However, when John "poise[d] the book and stood in act to hurl it, [she] instinctively started aside with a cry of alarm... the volume was flung, it hit [her], and [she] fell, [and] [struck] [her] head against the door and [cut] it," she recoiled like a furious serpent waiting to strike (Brontë 5). The extended passage, by way of comas, semicolons, and colons is literarily meant to mirror the incident-each phrase coming toward the reader like the book came towards Jane. Jane finally does strike back brutally and