In her gothic novel Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte tells a story of a young, poor orphan who is raised by her bitter aunt, Mrs. Reed, along with abusive cousins and maids. After years of repulsive treatment, Jane attends a strict all-girls school, Lowood, and embarks a teaching profession at Thornfield, which fits her ambitions of putting her competent skills to work. Jane holds an ambiguous role in society while undergoing a journey of trials and challenges against feminism, deceit, and rejection. However, Jane pulls through with fortitude, recognizing that her moral intuition and self-worth are much more valuable than the opinions of others.
Bronte expresses Jane’s obstinate view of feminism by revealing her dismay against the inferior treatment
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After leaving Thornfield behind with minimal pay, Jane struggles to find money, food, shelter, and an occupation. One cold winter night, Jane is desperate for a warm, cozy place to lodge. She comes across a cabin with three women: Hannah and two sisters, Diana and Mary. Nearing the state of death, Jane knocks on their cabin door and Hannah opens up with an agitated look. Jane pleas for a piece of bread and a room to stay. However, Hannah resists, "Distrest, the very feeling I dreaded, appeared in Hannah’s face. ‘I’ll give you a piece of bread, but we can’t take in a vagrant to lodge… You should not be roving about now; it looks very ill… Here’s a penny; now go -- Move off.’ ‘But I must die if I am turned away.’ … ‘Get up! for shame! Move off, I say’” (296-7). No matter how much Jane asks for help, Hannah disgustingly shoves the beggar away. Although she finally receives food and a place to stay after St John’s request, Jane does not allow Hannah to be dismissed from her faulty inferior treatment. The following day, she confronts Hannah for her unfair prejudice when Jane sought help. Hannah then apologizes for her mistaken judgement. Jane does not allow the prior inferior treatment from Hannah to pass by as if it had been of no importance. She takes the matter seriously, revealing Jane 's character which is solely against the public’s harsh treatment towards low rankings and the poor.
Ultimately, Charlotte Bronte expresses Jane Eyre 's coming of age experience through various circumstances dealing with women’s rights, treachery, and isolation. Her righteous values and acuity are put to the test through a cycle of adversity. Jane finds the strength and courage to withstand hardships, to bend and not break, and to realize that she drives her own destiny, not