Reed or her children, or her chosen vassalage. If they did not love me, in fact, as little did I love them. They were not bound to regard with affection a thing that could not sympathize with one amongst them; a heterogeneous thing, opposed to them in temperament, in capacity, in propensities; a useless thing, incapable of serving their interest. (page 13- 14).
Living with Mrs. Reed and her family makes Jane feel as if she is a prisoner, unable to develop her sense of self or feel a sense of belonging. .
For the first ten years of her life she had no other choice but to live with them at Gateshead and deal with their constant vindictiveness, but when the opportunity to leave is presented to her, she takes it. Mr. Brocklehurst, from Lowood School, comes to speak to Jane about attending his school. When Mrs. Reed asks is she can send Jane to him Mr. Brocklehurst decides that Jane is worthy of attending, "Madam, you may. I shall send Miss Temple notice that she is to expect a new girl, so that there will be no difficulty about receiving her. Good bye" (page 37). .
Leaving Mrs. Reed and Gateshead is the first of three major challenges Jane Eyre overcomes in her life in order to find love and a feeling of belonging. Jane is extremely grateful for the opportunity to escape from Gateshead and she takes the chance to tell Mrs. Reed exactly how much she hates her.
I am glad you are no relation of mine: I will never call you aunt again as long as I live. I will never come to see you, and when I am grown up; and if any one asks me how I liked you, and how you treated me, I will say the very thought of you makes me sick, and that you treated me with miserable cruelty (page 39).
Afterwards, Jane feels a magnificent sense of accomplishment. She knows that that had been the most difficult battle she had ever fought, but it is her first victory. What she said to Mrs. Reed is tremendously disrespectful, but she does not care.
