Essay, Research Paper: Jane Eyre - The Changes She Made

Being any place for nearly half of one's life can change one's outlook on life, as well as altering their behavior, beliefs and convictions. Although Jane came into Lowood, a curious and fiery child, she left just slightly different. Jane became a different child after Lowood Institution. Whether the difference in her character may be blamed on the Institution itself, or on the death of her first friend from Lowood, Jane had altered her beliefs and her character had become a faded imposter of something which at one time had luminescent glory. Jane had become something very different by the time she had left Lowood Institution.

The Institution, in which Jane spent most of her life in, may've had a very influential role in the way in which Jane turned out. Jane came out of Lowood very plain. She had become such an ideal poster girl for Lowood that she became a teacher there for 2 years after her initial education. Jane expressed several times that she found herself very plain looking: "I sometimes regretted that I was not handsomer… I felt it a misfortune that I was so little, so pale, and had features so irregular and so marked." After that comment, she proceeds to put on a black frock that she deems "Quakerlike", which isn't much of a compliment as far as fashion goes. While staying with Mrs. Fairfax, she mentions many times that her attire is very plain and she wishes it fancier. Even when Jane simply describes the clothes that she is wearing, one can tell that they are plain and not really in fashion. When in conversation with Mr. Rochester, he many times mentions that he finds her answers and replies very plain, "that is no answer; or rather it is very irritating, because a very evasive one; reply clearly." Jane herself says, "Sir, I was too plain." The Jane that we knew before she attended Lowood Institution was far from plain. Lowood made Jane into their wishes of what a girl should be. Brockelhurst's dream for his students was that they become very plain, all the same and God-fearing Christians. Jane became just this.

If it wasn't the influence of eight years at Lowood Institution that changed Jane, it was having and losing her friend, Helen Burns. Helen was the first at Lowood to treat Jane as an equal. We start to learn about Helen and one could even call her martyr-like. Helen accepts her punishments whether they are just (when Miss Scatcherd scolds her for the manner of her drawers), or unjust (when Helen is scolded for not cleaning her nails but she was unable to that morning because the water was frozen). Helen believed that the things that she suffered for in this world would provide her with the key to the Lord's kingdom. In some instances, such as the one concerning her drawers, it may be looked upon as if Helen may've wanted the punishment that she received. She says, "My things were indeed in shameful disorder, I intended to have arranged them, but I forgot." Helen had a strong belief in God and after Helen's death, we find Jane praying many times. First she prays for liberty, then change and stimulus and then finally a new servitude. Each different thing that she prays for, it goes a step lower and it gives one the impression that she doesn't want to ask for too much. She later prays that Mrs. Fairfax does not turn out to be another Mrs. Reed. Later on, upon arriving at Thornfield, she "gives thanks where thanks were due." One may venture so far as to say that Jane skipped the eight years in her life in the book (claiming them as not able to keep one's interest) because during those eight years she became more and more like Helen that there wasn't really anything to say. In becoming like Helen, she became more plain and dull, and less like the fiery character that we are originally introduced to. Helen influenced Jane greatly, encouraging her to bear the hardships that she receives, and to do as she is told. Helen introduces Jane to God and His kingdom. Jane later accepts the invitation and becomes God-fearing.

It was either Lowood Institution or the death of Jane's first friend, which changed Jane. One could make guesses about this but it isn't necessary. It was both that affected the way in which Jane had transformed and changed. It was the conformity of Lowood and the religious attributes to Helen that turned her into a person hardly like the one who originally joined Lowood at the age of ten. Although Jane's complete personality was not lost, it was masked by things that were not of her character. Jane changed, but was not lost.