“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte is a book that focuses on the journey of its title character, Jane Eyre, as she faces the difficulties of Victorian England. Bront portrays Jane as an independent female character who defies societal norms and expectations throughout the entire book. By examining significant passages and scenes from the novel, we will examine how far Bront portrays Jane as an independent female character in this essay.

Bront establishes Jane as an independent and resourceful character early on in the book. Jane experiences cruel treatment as a child at the hands of her aunt and cousins, but she does not allow their mistreatment to break her. In one scene, Jane is locked in the red-room, a small chamber where her uncle died, and she reflects on her situation, saying, “I resisted all the way: a new thing for me, and a circumstance which greatly strengthened the bad opinion Bessie and Miss Abbot were disposed to entertain of me” (Chapter 2). This quotation emphasises Jane’s fortitude in the face of difficulty and demonstrates her refusal to live up to social expectations.

As Jane gets older, she keeps demonstrating her independence in different ways. She challenges the demands that her employer, Mr. Rochester, places on her when she accepts a position as governess at Thornfield Hall.