As I read the first 12 chapters of Jane Eyre, it was evident that Jane was experiencing an overwhelming amount of oppression and suffering. According to Lorde she states, “For women, the need and desire to nurture each other is not pathological but redemptive, and it is within that knowledge that our real power I rediscovered. It is this real connection which is so feared by a patriarchal world.” We can see Lorde’s realization about women play out when we see Jane enter into Lowood. Mr. Brocklehurst’s cruel and aggressive authority over the girls at Lowood, bolster the patriarchal world Lorde paints in her article. Charlotte Brontë’s male alias on the cover of the first publication of Jane Eyre, also bolster Lorde’s picture of out patriarchal world. “The need and desire to nurture each other..” is best shown when Helen Burns and Jane look out for each other. It is evident when Jane and Helen do interact, Mr. Brocklehurst is displeased; this supports Lorde’s second point: “…and it is within that knowledge that our real power power I rediscovered. It is this real connection which is so feared by a patriarchal world.”

-Danny Lee