Emily Bronte, One of the

Emily Bronte, one of the foremost Victorian era writes wrote her seminal work "Jane Eyre" as a form of Bildungsroman, or a novel that tells the story of a child's maturation process, focusing on the emotions and experiences that accompany their rise into adulthood. Jane Eyre's story goes through several stages of her life, each one mirroring her emotional and spiritual growth. Many critics claim that this narrative follows the account of Bronte's own childhood growth.

The most interesting analysis of this book examines the specific pattern in which Jane Eyre moves throughout the narrative. Upon close inspection, Eyre's movement pattern is catalyzed by the dual influence of two overbearing and nurturing authority figures who forces her to attain both spiritual and emotional maturity. The presence of overbearing authority figures can be observed in a consistent manner as a progression throughout the narrative.

There are five distinct stages within the narrative: Jane's childhood at the Gateshead Estate, her education and life at Lowood School, her time as the governess at Thornfield, her time with the Rivers family at Marsh End, and finally her rekindled love and marriage to Rochester at their Ferdean estate. In each these stages, she experiences life under an extremely overbearing caretaker and life influence. As a child, she lived at Gateshead Estate with her overbearing aunt.

Jane explains, "She regretted to be under the necessity of keeping me at a distance; but that until she heard from Bessie and could discover by her own observation that I was endeavoring in good earnest to acquire a more sociable and childlike disposition, a more attractive and sprightly manner -- something lighter, franker, more natural, as it were -- she really could must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy, little children" (pg. 5). This passage clearly shows the overbearing nature of her Aunt Reed.

Jane grew up in her childhood always attempting to live up to the untenable standards established by her aunt. The frame of the entire stage of her life is defined by her aunt's expectations as well as her specific personal desires. The catalyst of her growth is her confrontation of her cousin John Reed, and her refusal to continue to accept her aunt's rules and punishments.

This same pattern is mirrored when Jane attends Lowood school, Jane once again is under the strict restriction of the hypocritical and cruel headmaster Mr. Brocklehurst. Brocklehurst's doctrine of poverty and privation contrasts strongly with the wealth and opulence he lavishes on his own family. Jane learns through this hypocrisy, human nature and her greater understanding of both morality and social justice. At Lowood, Brocklehurst is the catalyst that forces Jane to mature into an adult after the death of her friend Helen Burns.

At the next stage of Jane's life, she accepts a position as governess at the Thornfield manor. Here, the pattern of domineering authority figure is repetitively enforced through Rochester. Rochester presents the next stage of Jane's personal growth, she harbors a secret love for him based in part on his dark and impassioned nature. 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 by the pressure that he applies in his pursuit of her. 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.