Jane Eyre's Struggle for Love

The overriding theme of "Jane Eyre," is Jane's continual quest for love. Jane searches for love and acceptance through the five settings in which she lives: Gateshead, Lowood, Thornfield, Moor House, and Ferndean. Through these viewpoints, the maturation and self-recognition of Jane becomes evident, as well as traceable. It is not until Jane flees from Rochester and Thornfield, and spends time at Moor House, that her maturation to womanhood is complete. At this point, Jane …

…the man she loves. Jane has earned her happiness without violating her integrity or her conscience, and both her longing for love and self-fulfillment have been realized. "Jane suits me: do I suit her?" Rochester asks. "To the finest fibre of my nature, sir," Jane replies. (Bronte, 470) Jane's "finest fibre" is her newfound ability to wholly love both herself and others. This ability is the essence of Jane's maturation and the essence of her womanhood.