Equality

In this novel, Jane struggles continually to achieve equality and to overcome oppression.
The interpersonal equality
The equality of social class hierarchy:
During her early life at Gateshead, she was treated cruelly and unequally by her aunt and cousins just because she was an orphan. But she never yields to Mrs. Reed, the symbol of upper-class. On the contrary, she fights against them bravely until she was sent to the Lowood School.
Besides, from the behaviors of the servants at Gateshead, these servants think that they are inferior that those upper class. It shows the inequality of class hierarchy. It shows the wrong concept that against people is born equal.
When Jane works as a governess at Thornfield Hall, she is looked down upon by the rich ladies of the fashionable society, but she never despises herself, she never feels herself inferior.
However, equality also occurs in this novel. When Jane arrives at Thornfield Hall, Mrs. Fairfax treats her kindly, Jane fells very comfortable because she fells equality in their conversation.
The equality between male and female:
Jane always fights against those who believe women to be inferior to men. Three central male characters threaten her desire for equality and dignity: Mr. Brocklehurst, Edward Rochester, and John. Each tries to keep Jane in a submissive position, where she is unable to express her own thoughts and feelings.
But, in her quest for independence and equality, she must escape the serve and hard-hearted Brocklehurst who is especially arbitrary, reject John, who always treat her badly and leave Rochester when she found he has had a wife which is unequal to her marriage. Doing all of this, she just wants to show that men and women are equal.
At last, she really has the chance to met John again proves that she was able to function well through the time she spends at Moor House, in a community and in a family. At the same time, she also proves to Brocklwhurst that everyone is equal in this way. She, as a female, will not depend on anyone and she can be financially and spiritually independent.
The equality of between lovers
When Jane works as a governess at Thornfield Hall, Rochester is attracted to her qualify of mind, courage, independence, and strong personality, and they fall in love with each other. But they also seek the equality in their love.
The equality on economy
In Jane’s opinion, lovers should have the equality on economy. She makes a living as a governess even she is to marry Rochester whom she can depend on. But she insists to feed herself by her owns working although it is common for the husband to feed the wife at that time in England. Besides, Jane’s efforts for earning economic
autonomy in love are also another evidence of the equality between men and women. Thus, even though she loves Mr. Rochester, she refuses to marry him until she has her own fortune and can enter into the marriage as equal.
The equality of marriage
Although Jane really loves Rochester, she can't accept the reality when she found he had had a mad wife. Jane although extremely sorrow but simply leave him for equality. She prefers to live with hardships after leaving Rochester rather than marry him to be a mistress because she thinks that means the loss of dignity. What she needs is the equal marriage. So when St. John wants to marry Jane, she refused because she still loves Rochester. If she marry St. John, that will be an unequal marriage. That will be against the equality in marriage that Jane insists.
The equality in spirit
“It is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the gave, and we stood at God’s feet, equal,--as we are!” this is the idea of equality in Jane Eyre’s mind. Jane pursues equality in spirit between lovers. She waits until she is not influenced by her own poverty, loneliness, psychological vulnerability, or passion. At the same time, Rochester has been blinded by the fire and has lost his manor house at the end of the novel; he has become weaker while Jane has grown in strength. Since they still love each other, they are together again. We can see this is the equality in spirit between lovers.。