There are many themes these quotes bring to mind. However, the more prevalent subjects tend to revolve around self-love and individuality, oppression, and the quest for independence or freedom – among other things. This article will analyze the most frontal quote themes in Charlotte Brontë’s ‘Jane Eyre.’ 

Education; A Fix For Prejudice

Prejudices, it is well known, are most difficult to eradicate from the heart whose soil has never been loosened or fertilized by education; they grow firm there, firm as weeds among stones.

For most of Charlotte Brontë’s ‘Jane Eyre,’ readers get to see gender prejudice crawl up top as one of the most prevalent themes. It is a subject that is struggled over by not just Jane, the major character, but by every other female character of the book.

This outcome is, by all means, a reflection of the society in which author Charlotte Brontë lived, and she merely only tried to paint this reality in the most real possible sense she ever could – to maybe get a reaction towards the subject. This quote comes as an excerpt from ‘Jane Eyre,’ where Charlotte Brontë uses her character, Jane, to activize against prejudices, especially women, while proffering education as having a very important role to play in ending it. 

Sovereignty of Oneself

I am no bird, and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will.

This statement from Jane just about sums up her entire motto of life and, at the same time, describes the kind of character and personality she truly is. Jane doesn’t waver on her lacks and insecurities despite having so many of them – for one thing, is that she’s an orphan who doesn’t have the liberty of parental care or pure, unconditional family love. 

For another, she doesn’t have a home and no financial help, and the only way this becomes possible is if she is willing to play by re rules of men who control the majority of her society’s social and economic means. Jane is holding this quote of hers to the letter makes her unique and different from Blanche Ingram and Celine Varens – two women who compromise their self-values for Mr. Rochester’s money. In the end, Jane is still held in greater regard than these women by Mr. Rochester. 

On Repayment of Wrongs 

…When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should – so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again.

On dealing with issues and people, Jane’s earlier orientation at Gateshead, living with her cruel aunt, Mrs. Reed, follows the tenet of a typical tit-for-tat, and readers notice how she lives by this rule earlier in life as she constantly fights back against her cousins who wouldn’t give her time of day. 

However, during her time at Lowood school, Jane meets a few people who inspire her with their strength of character and all-around kindness. One such person becomes Helen Burn, who impacts Jane with her faultless virtues – and even though Jane thinks she could never match her goodness, it doesn’t stop her from learning tremendously from Helen. 

Happiness Comes With Being Your True Self 

I am not an angel, I asserted; and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself.

As she progresses further through life, Jane constantly finds herself in the company of all kinds of people, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And while she’s faced with unpleasant situations and people, she tries to be intentional about the way she acts, not to be so brass but also not to be too enduring that she’s taken for a fool. 

Jane is cultured and a Christian at heart but doesn’t try to be extreme at it, as readers get to see Helen Burn and St. John Rivers are. Instead, she finds a middle ground where she acts herself, is understandingly kind to people who deserve it and treat her equally and is not being kind and Christian to a fault, just like Helen Burn – who Jane likens to an angel with perfect virtues. 

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