Jane’s experience with oppression starts at a young age. While living in Gateshead with Mrs. Reed and Mr. John, she faces criticism and is seen as inferior even to her adoptive sister Georgianna, who is around the same age. While at school in Lowood she was taught to take heavy criticism from teachers and other authority figures she interacted with. “...I am, as Miss Scatcherd said, slatternly, I seldom put, and never keep, things in order; I am careless; I forget rules; I read when I should learn my lessons; I have no method; and sometimes I say, like you, I cannot bear to be subjected to systematic arrangements,” (53). Jane’s teachers, like Miss Scatcherd, and other authoritative figures she should be looking up to, are explicitly pointing
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Rochester propose to Jane, but St. John, a man who she finds out is actually her cousin, asks her the same thing. After refusing to subdue to Mr. Rochester’s request for marriage she runs off to preserve her independence and stumbles upon the Moor House, where she finds the Rivers siblings. St. John request for Jane to travel to India with him to help be a teacher, but only if she becomes his wife. Again, Jane feels as though St. John is trying to limit her freedom, her ability, and refuses to be his wife but would be elated to travel to India to teach. “ ‘I only want an easy mind, sir; not crushed by crowded obligations. Do you remember what you said of Celine Varens? - of the diamonds, the cashmeres you gave her? I will not be your English Celine Varens. I shall continue to act as Adele’s governess; by that I shall earn my board and lodging, and thirty pounds a year besides. I’ll furnish my own wardrobe out of that money, and you shall give me nothing but-’ ‘Well, but what,’ ‘Your regard…’”(253). Jane’s request for Mr. Rochester’s marriage is that she maintains her independence. Mr. Rochester, however, doesn’t understand her desire to freedom. Mr. Rochester tells Jane of the lavish life she will life when they are wed, but Jane only sees a life limited to travel, fancy clothing, and expensive jewelry in his description. Jane’s desire for autonomy, for the ability to do what she wants, the freedom to be whatever she would like to be, would not be fulfilled if married to Mr. Rochester. Jane also sees that this compromise doesn’t benefit her with St. John either. His only request is that she be his wife, and when she refuses he tells her she can go to India with someone else. St. John tells Jane she’ll be the perfect missionary’s wife, but she doesn’t want to be labeled as that, she wants to be labeled as Jane. In both situation Bronte uses Jane’s refusal to show her development as an independent woman. The refusal of two marriage proposals show
Rochester propose to Jane, but St. John, a man who she finds out is actually her cousin, asks her the same thing. After refusing to subdue to Mr. Rochester’s request for marriage she runs off to preserve her independence and stumbles upon the Moor House, where she finds the Rivers siblings. St. John request for Jane to travel to India with him to help be a teacher, but only if she becomes his wife. Again, Jane feels as though St. John is trying to limit her freedom, her ability, and refuses to be his wife but would be elated to travel to India to teach. “ ‘I only want an easy mind, sir; not crushed by crowded obligations. Do you remember what you said of Celine Varens? - of the diamonds, the cashmeres you gave her? I will not be your English Celine Varens. I shall continue to act as Adele’s governess; by that I shall earn my board and lodging, and thirty pounds a year besides. I’ll furnish my own wardrobe out of that money, and you shall give me nothing but-’ ‘Well, but what,’ ‘Your regard…’”(253). Jane’s request for Mr. Rochester’s marriage is that she maintains her independence. Mr. Rochester, however, doesn’t understand her desire to freedom. Mr. Rochester tells Jane of the lavish life she will life when they are wed, but Jane only sees a life limited to travel, fancy clothing, and expensive jewelry in his description. Jane’s desire for autonomy, for the ability to do what she wants, the freedom to be whatever she would like to be, would not be fulfilled if married to Mr. Rochester. Jane also sees that this compromise doesn’t benefit her with St. John either. His only request is that she be his wife, and when she refuses he tells her she can go to India with someone else. St. John tells Jane she’ll be the perfect missionary’s wife, but she doesn’t want to be labeled as that, she wants to be labeled as Jane. In both situation Bronte uses Jane’s refusal to show her development as an independent woman. The refusal of two marriage proposals show