In Charlotte Bronte's novel, Jane Eyre, Jane goes through many changes in her life. She begins at Gateshead Hall and continues on to Lowood Institution, Thornfield Manor, Moor House, and Ferndean Manor. Each step in her life marks new development for Jane. At each new place she travels, there is a man in her life that poses as a challenge to Jane. Because of this, she is forced to grow as a person and learns that she should not live inferior to men. As Jane grows throughout the book, one of the most important things she learns is to rule her heart with her mind.
             The story of Jane Eyre begins at Gateshead Hall. As a child here, she becomes entirely swept up in an emotional tantrum, which proves to be the most painful memory of her childhood. She lives with her aunt, Mrs. Reed, who treats her with the least amount of respect and love. Jane, feeling alone, has all that she can do to stand to be there. John Reed poses as the domineering male figure in the household. With the numerous amounts of rivalries between the two, Jane is always accused of being at fault. Jane's word means nothing in the house. "Why was I always suffering, always brown-beaten, always accused, for ever condemned? Why could I never please? Why was it useless to try to win any one's favour"(22)? Mrs. Reed never accuses John for the fights between him and Jane. John is never the victim and no matter what Jane will say to protect herself, nothing helps. He has so much power and control over her and what happens to her in that household. Jane is miserable and helpless.
             The next phase in Jane's life is her move to Lowood Institution. Mrs. Reed makes an arrangement for the head of the institution, Mr. Brocklehurst, to come and visit with Jane as a sort of interview. Mr. Brocklehurst poses as yet another challenge for Jane. "Mr. Brocklehurst is not a god; nor is he even a great and admired man: he is little liked here; he never took steps to make hims...