Jane describes Rochester as " a dark face, with stern features, and a heavy brow; his eyes and gathered eyebrows looked ireful and thwarted" (pg. 99). Jane is attracted to the callous and slightly domineering nature of Rochester, this residual interest in authority figures is artfully placed by Bronte to stay true to her theme. Rochester serves as another personal growth catalyst for Jane, he not only represents her first love, but also awakens feelings and emotions that she has never experienced before. He brings to her an element of love and forgiveness that she thought impossible after the callous experiences she had at Lowood. However, Rochester is also a symbol of unfilled love as his secret marriage forces Jane to leave his manor with despair and unrequited love in her heart. When Jane, facing starvation and despair, finally found a living with siblings at Marsh End, she once again experiences maturation as she sheds her "black and white" perspective of life. At Marsh End, Jane through the tutelage of her friends Mary, Diana and St. John, finds that there is both evil and good in the world and makes peace with her girlish fancies. Within this episode of her life, the overbearing authority figure is symbolized by St. John, who is revealed to be her cousin. St. John, though a kind hearted individual also attempts to force Jane to marry him. In St. John, Jane develops a deep understanding and appreciation of the power of love and nurturing. St. John's love for her is masked...

He asks, "Make my happiness -- I will make yours" (pg. 224). His actions becomes the catalyst for the final stage of Jane's life, when she hears the cries of Rochester from across the moor.
In the final stage of her life, Jane writes that she has finally found happiness in her marriage to Rochester. Despite his physical deformities they have reconciled their love and grow happily together. The final stage of her life is symbolic of Jane's complete maturation process. Within this stage, she has no overbearing authority figure in her life, she has mastered her own understanding of morality and justice, as well as love and hate. The result is that she finds equality in her relationships and now devotes her time to developing the family that she has always craved. The conclusion of the narrative creates a feeling of hope and wonder, causing sympathy and compassion to rise up in the reader as we finally understand the complete maturation process of Jane.

Emily Bronte's narrative is a story of Jane Eyre's awakening from an innocent child to a fully grown adult who understands the complexities of the world. Jane's journey is symbolized by her reliance on others to catalyze her existence. Bronte uses authority figures as both drivers and foils to Jane throughout the narrative. When in the final analysis, Jane finally finds happiness and love, the shedding of an authority figure represents her final growth and freedom.