Why is jane eyre independent?
Jane Eyre is only really independent in the end of the novel. When she quits as a teacher and becomes the governesse of Adele – she is not really independent because she has to work to earn money – there is no income from her familiy (Aunt Reed). When she inherits the money from her uncle she comes up the the social class and stands on the same step as Mr. Rochester. Now she is his equal and she don’t have to marry anymore if she don’t want to. Now she could live as she chooses – without having to work or to marry. In the 19th century, young women were only independent (not in the same sense as we nowadays) if there had their own money – inherited or due a settlement. Anyway, we should not forget, that jane eyre is progressive enough to arrange her own occupation as governess and still expresses sometimes her own mind and acts after it. But never forget, she learned to accept the patriarchal system during her time which confined her in a petty role.
