How Does Jane's Adolescence Influence Her Adulthood

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Adolescence and its impact on a character is a common theme throughout literature. Adolescence describes the period after childhood and before adulthood in one’s life. Childhood can impact one’s future course in life, whilst adulthood will receive the lasting effects of adolescence. In Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre it is possible to see Jane’s adolescence as shaped by her childhood and impacting her adulthood. Jane’s difficult childhood leaves her with warped ideas of love and power. Jane’s adolescence is the first time she receives any love and learns how to love. Lastly, Jane’s adulthood decisions are influenced by her ideas on love and power that have been shaped by her childhood and adolescence. Bronte uses Jane’s childhood to characterize …show more content…

This can mostly clearly be shown when Jane comes full circle and visits her ailing aunt. Jane is forced to choose between hanging onto past insults and neglect or moving on and showing her aunt love. At Lowood Jane was taught how to love and forgive by Helen. “Yet it would be your duty to bear it, if you could not avoid it: it is weak and silly to say you CANNOT BEAR what it is your fate to be required to bear.” ( Jane Eyre 101 of 868) Helen taught Jane in the past that you must bear your burdens, in this case, Mrs. Reed’s coldness. “‘Yes, Aunt Reed. How are you, dear aunt?’” (Jane Eyre 438 of 868) Jane’s use of an affectionate word such as “dear” to address her aunt demonstrates the transformation of Jane’s perspective on her aunt. Jane palliates her old feelings replacing them with her newfound ability to love. “I felt pain, and then I felt ire; and then I felt a determination to subdue her—to be her mistress in spite both of her nature and her will. My tears had risen, just as in childhood: I ordered them back to their source. I brought a chair to the bed-head: I sat down and leaned over the pillow.” (Jane Eyre 439 of 868) Bronte uses word choice to portray how Mrs. Reed’s antipathy towards Jane hurts Jane. Through negative word choice, a cold and frustrated tone is introduced into the passage, showing Jane’s emotional anguish. “I approached my cheek to her lips: she …show more content…

Jane’s journey includes her childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. By using a variety of literary techniques such as imagery, word choice, symbolism, mood, and tone Bronte reveals deeper meaning in her words regarding Jane’s journey. Jane’s journey would be nothing without the extensive backstory Bronte gives Jane regarding her ideas about

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