Throughout her journey, Jane has changed from the small little eight year old girl who was angry to a
young woman who has a better understanding of the world. When she was living in Gateshead, she
was unhappy and mistreated, therefore she would lash out and be a disruptive young girl.
Throughout her time at Gateshead she was ignored and disliked by her “family” members, as well as
most of the staff. Her cousin, John, abused and commanded her around the house. Her aunt would
ignore her and punish her when she would defend herself against her cousins. The staff belittled her
and never cared for her. During her final days at Gateshead, instead of being her usual self, she
fought back against the cruelty. When John came to “punish” her she attacked him instead. When her
aunt accused her of being a liar, she fought back against her aunt and told her that she, her aunt,
deserves the title of being a liar. After leaving Gateshead, Jane started to leave her old ways behind
her. At Lowood, she met Helen. Helen showed Jane how to accept her faults and forgive even the
most unforgivable people. When Mr. Bocklehurst came to visit Lowood for the first time since Jane
had been there, he, again, accused her of being a liar and instead of Jane retaliating against this
powerful and rude man, she stayed silent. Later that day, almost adult-like, she approached Ms.
Temple and was able to tell her side of the story. Jane was able to explain that she was not a liar, but
that she had grown up into a home that treated her such. Jane’s next conquest was when she became a
governess. She is first faced with the secret about Grace Poole and her possession. When the first
attack happens with Jane in the house she does exactly as Mr. Rochester asks of her and she never
asks any of her own questions. During the second time, she follows his rules and speaks to no one
about the possession going on within the manor. Overall, the action that had shown that Jane’s
maturity had fully bloomed was when she was summoned back to Gateshead. She returned to a
family, that never treated her as one of their own, without any bitterness. She returned to a woman
who blamed her decisions that her mother had made. Also, to a woman who acted as though she
never existed. She did all this with no rebuttal and with no question. She returned to a nightmare, just
to be able to see an aunt that took her in unwillingly and to tell her that she was forgiven for all of the
cruelty that she had put Jane through. Jane returned to Gateshead with an open heart and to give
forgiveness to her aunt and to her cousins, Eliza and Georgiana. She was able to finally put aside her
differences and have civil conversations with her cousins. They learned of her great ability to draw
and she drew portraits for them. She cared for the aunt that never cared for her. She sat with her when
everyone else was busy and she listened to her ramble about nonsense. Jane was able to forgive all.
From age eight to age eighteen, Jane has made huge differences in her life. Most of all, Jane has
matured into a wonderful young lady and she is able to show this throughout her journey.
