Injustice in Jane Eyre

Injustice is another theme repeated often in this novel. For instance, Mrs. Reed's treatment of Jane is completely unjustified. Not only does Mrs. Reed punish Jane for an incident that was not her fault, Mrs. Reed also tries to convince the headmaster of the school where Jane attends that Jane is a liar. However, Jane is able to overcome the injustice of being called a liar as Miss Temple allows Jane to tell her side of the story and also contacts Mr. Lloyd to determine the real story.

Conditions at Lowood School, including treatment of the students, are another example of an unjust situation. Mr. Brocklehurst skimps on the school budget. Students are not given enough to eat or proper clothing. As a result, many students die from sickness. This wrong is righted when control of the school's money is taken away from the miserly Mr. Brocklehurst. After this conditions at the school improve.

The requirement that Mr. Rochester stay married to a woman whom he does not love and who does not love him is also unjust. Since Bertha has been diagnosed as insane, Mr. Rochester is not allowed to divorce her. His choices are to either care for Bertha himself or put her in an asylum. At this point in time, asylums were both cruel and inhumane to their inmates. Despite these injustices, however, Mr. Rochester is wrong for not telling Jane he was already married when he proposed to her.