Props to the Amazing Jane Eyre

     Throughout the first 21 chapters of Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, readers see Jane transforming into a wise young woman before their eyes. Jane matured greatly, and she learned the power of love and forgiveness. However, she was not so reasonable in the beginning.
     When Jane was young, she was living with her Aunt Reed and cousins in Gateshead. Her aunt was relentless, she did not want to care for Jane and constantly reminded her of what a burden she was. Jane had every right to feel angry and neglected, but at times she acted instead of thinking first, such as in chapter 4 before she is sent off to Lowood. Jane yells at Mrs. Reed, “I am glad you are no relation of mine. I will never call you aunt again as long as I live. I will never come to visit you when I am grown up; and if any one asks me how I liked you, and how you treated me, I will say the very thought of you makes me sick, and that you treated me with miserable cruelty.” She would later learn that one should not always try to get revenge on the other, but rather accept the differences and act as civil as possible. If mature Jane had been there in that moment, I know she would have handled things quite differently.
Furthermore, readers really see Jane changing when she enters Lowood, her new school. There she meets and establishes a life changing relationship with an intelligent girl named Helen Burns. Helen is the polar opposite of Jane. She respects and understands the criticisms of others and does not let anything get to her. Additionally, she does not take things too personally and overreact, like Jane does. Helen taught Jane the importance of forgiveness and not seeking revenge. Vengeance and enmity will never get you far in life. Moreover, Helen's death was like a wake up call to Jane. Jane looked up to Helen so much so that her death sparked a change in Jane's entire character, a change for the better.
Finally, the audience witnesses the power of Jane's transformation when she is called back to Gateshead more than 10 years after she left. One of her cousins committed suicide and Mrs. Reed had suffered a stroke in the aftermath. Old Jane would have easily brushed it off and felt happy about Mrs. Reed finally getting what she deserved. Yet, she packed her bags for a few weeks stay and traveled the long journey back to Gateshead. While there, she realized that Mrs. Reed's hostility was still as strong as ever, and nothing had changed. One night, Jane tried to once and for all make things right. “Dear Mrs. Reed, think no more of all this, let it pass away from your mind. Forgive me for my passionate language. I was a child then; eight, nine years have passed since that day" (Ch 21). Jane portrayed significant character change by pleading a truce to her dying aunt. This moment would have been unimaginable for young Jane, but she no longer existed. A strong woman was now in her place, doing all she could to make matters right.
From an 8 year old girl to an 18 year old woman, Jane had been through hell and back. However, all of her experiences had shaped her into the learned and independent woman that she became. With Helen's short yet fulfilling presence and Jane's own merit, plus a number of other contributors, Jane matured greatly and discovered the power of forgiveness.