Explain how Bronte presents Jane as a strong character in Jane Eyre

Bronte presents Jane as a strong character in the opening chapters of Jane Eyre; the abuse that she experiences as a child foregrounds the readers expectations of her and shapes their emotional responses to her throughout the novel. Because of the initial abuse, readers expect a weak and downtrodden individual, thus her plucky nature and displays of strength later on are all the more surprising and delightful than the last. Jane battles the prevailing Victorian ideals of gender roles; the 19^th century was one where women were expected to be subservient but Jane always responds to difficult situations with defiance and a generous dose of wit and comedy. Jane’s strength is perhaps most illuminating in her encounters with Mr. Rochester. They are metaphorically separated by their positions in society, thus Jane’s behavior is unexpected, particularly to a Victorian audience. She clearly shows how her pride and reputation is of upmost importance to her; when Mr. Rochester asks Jane to be his mistress, she refuses, despite the threat of destitution. She manages to hold her own in conversations and never allows him to undermine her. However, she displays her intelligence and understanding of the frailty of her situation with her use of respect and subtlety; this delicate balance that she successfully maintains firmly establishes her as the strongest character in the novel.