Themes, Ideas and Messages GapFill

The theme of 'autonomy' is explored primarily through the character of Jane Eyre. Autonomy means independence and self-government.

Look at the points from a sample answer below and choose the most appropriate answer to fill in each gap.

AO1: Jane's autonomy is a source of  worryannoyanceprideloss to her throughout the text. She supports herself through her work as a  maid and governessgoverness and housekeeperteacher and governesshousekeeper and teacher. It could be argued that it is because she is so able to maintain herself that she shares her  patiencetimeinheritanceeducation with the Rivers without hesitation. When she returns to  Mr BrocklehurstJohn ReedSt John RiversMr Rochester, she tells him, 'I told you I am independent, sir, as well as rich: I am my own mistress' (Chapter 37). It is interesting that Jane has separated 'independent' and 'rich'. This separation is emphasised by 'as well as'. Clearly, for Jane, the two states are  co-dependentnot linkedinextricably linkeddependent upon each other. She was independent before she became rich. The money does, however, mean she is her 'own mistress' and no longer needs to rely on employment by someone else. 

AO2: Jane's independent nature is so strong in her that, even when faced with the difficult situation of giving up Mr Rochester, she is able to stand strong in her resolve: 'I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself' (Chapter 27). The use of  punctuationitalicscapital lettersgrammar here emphasises Jane's sense of self. It suggests that Jane needs no one else. The  metaphortripletidiomsimile further highlights this: no matter what, Jane refuses to give up her autonomy. The  exclamatorylanguagepunctuationrepetition suggests how emotional Jane is, and how determined she is to deserve the respect she gives herself.

AO3: Jane's insistence on self-dependence as an adult can be traced back to her experiences as a child. Despite the Reeds being Jane's family (Mr Reed was Jane's mother's  unclefatherbrothercousin), she is treated as though she doesn't belong there and is obligated to Mrs Reed for keeping her: 'You ought to be aware, Miss, that you are under obligations to Mrs Reed: she keeps you: if she were to turn you off, you would have to go to the poor-house' (Chapter 2). Here we see the threat of the Victorian poorhouse, or  prisonschoolslumworkhouse. The Poor Law Amendment Act (1834) brought about new ways that  charitypovertyreligionwork was managed in society. People who could not support themselves were sent into the poorhouse. Life in the poorhouse was very difficult and the threat of the poorhouse was used to  represssustainincriminatehelp the poor. Jane is made aware that she is an outsider and a burden as a child, and her fiercely guarded independence is a defining aspect of her character, influencing the decisions she makes and her relationships with others throughout the text.