“Great events make me quiet and calm; it is only trifles that irritate my nerves.” -Queen Victoria

“…[Jane Eyre’s] early mental development is influenced by the tales
told to her by the servant Bessie and her own readings of such works as
Gulliver’s Travels. The fairy tales present her with conventional images of
passive femininity, meant to condition young women to seek socially
advantageous, idealized marriages, the usual fate of the fairy-tale heroine.
Jane’s own reading, in contrast, present[s] her with masculine images of
independence and adventure. These images influence her, even as she learns that expectations fed by fairy tales are neither practical nor fulfilling (Rowe 70-77). The truth of Jane’s life is far from paradigms. She cannot and will not become a passive fairy tale heroine, but a masculine life of independence is neither practicable for a woman in her time, nor is its emotional isolation truly fulfilling. Thus, Jane cannot rely on conventional concepts and imagery to define herself. However, others do attempt to define her in terms of conventional images” (Inge p. 15).

Commentary: I found this very interesting, as I had not made such a connection while reading. I too have been subjected to both fairy-tales and adventure stories throughout my life, and though I prefer adventure, I too would rather not experience it without someone who is more than a friend by my side.

Inge, Christina J. (1999) “Jane Eyre’s Quest for Truth and Identity,” The Oswald Review: An International Journal of Undergraduate
Research and Criticism in the Discipline of English: Vol. 1 : Iss. 1 , Article 6.

Rowe, Karen E.” ‘Fairy-born and human-bred’: Jane Eyre’s Education in
Romance.” The Voyage In: Fictions of Female Development. Ed.
Elizabeth Abel et al. Hanover, NH: Dartmouth UP, 1983. 69-89.