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Jane Eyre

In: English and Literature

Submitted By raymondt
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Huang 1

Stephanie Huang
Ms. Kwan
English 4U1
14 October 2011

“Jane Eyre” – Essay (Rough) Individualism is the process of finding one’s own identity.
Jane Eyre is a well renowned novel written by Charlotte Bront ё about a plain young woman who goes through life in a very interesting way. Taking place in England during the Victorian Era, Bront ё touches upon the life of one who refuses to fill in the social norms set for women. Being very headstrong and intelligent, the heroine faces love trials, especially with one, Mr. Rochester, who becomes her employer. Throughout the novel, Jane struggles to develop her own identity, but is always being repressed by some force. The theme of identity development is demonstrated in
Jane Eyre in many ways. The novel demonstrates three people who help shape the identity Jane longs for and enhances her as a person, or represses her ideologies. Jane’s search for her identity is mainly influenced by the characters Mrs. Reed, Helen Burns, and Mr. Rochester. All the aforementioned characters show a large impact on Jane’s views of the world and of love, helping shape who she is and how she thinks.
Firstly, Jane Eyre’s identity search is heavily influenced by her aunt, Mrs. Reed. Jane was adopted by her Uncle Reed when her parents passed away when she was very little, but after his death, she was left to his wife. Mrs. Reed always mistreats Jane. Jane would be falsely accused or punished harshly. For example, Mrs. Reed told the maids Bessie and Abbot to “Take her away

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to the red­room, and lock her in there.” (Brontё 6) all because she stood up for herself when her cousin, John Reed, physically abused her. The harsh environment causes her to start developing the mindset of “an eye for an eye”. To Jane, if someone would treat her wrong, she

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