THE PEDAGOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF CHARLOTTE BRONTË’S ‘JANE EYRE’ ON THE FORMATION OF THE FEMALE INTELLECTUAL

Abstract

This thesis explores the features of the Bildungsroman genre in Charlotte Bronte’s "Jane Eyre", focusing specifically on the diverse educator characters who influence the orphaned protagonist's development. It examines the impact of Mrs. Reed's unjust upbringing, Bessie Lee's complex emotional support, and the sharply contrasting pedagogical models at Lowood School, represented by the oppressive Mr. Brocklehurst and the enlightened Miss Temple. Furthermore, the study analyzes the spiritual mentorship of Helen Burns as a "peer-educator" and the authoritarian, duty-driven influence of St. John Rivers. Ultimately, the paper demonstrates how the novel critiques the systemic failures of 19th-century Victorian education while proposing a progressive model for female intellectual and personal autonomy.