Essay Database

At Gateshead, the Reed family holds power over Jane Eyre. The Reed’s power comes in several forms, including limiting Jane’s social contact as well as bullying her. The Reeds also psychologically abuse Jane by attacking her value. Mrs. Reed does not allow Jane to interact with her cousins saying that not until, “by her own observation that I was endeavoring in good earnest to acquire a more sociable and child-like disposition, …she really …

…is the representation of the colonies and the Reed family is the representation of the British Empire. Like the Reed family, the British Empire holds power over their conquered colonies. The Reed family and the British Empire use almost the same methods to display their power. Jane displays several of the colonies reactions to being under British rule, including showing some of the methods that the colonies used to gain freedom from the British Empire.