I feel like this book has really shed a light on individuals either sticking to what they have always known or being open-minded to change. This is rather clear when Jane returns back to the Reeds’ home to accompany Mrs. Reed on her death bed.
“Human behaviour refers to the range of behaviours performed by humans, influenced by a wide range of factors like culture, attitudes, emotions, values, ethics, authority, rapport, persuasion, coercion, and/or genetics. The way a human being acts is based on different factors like genetics, social norms, core faith, and attitudes” (Lundborg, 127). This is aparent as during this day of age those that were considered to be well-mannered stuck to being obedient and did not rebel like Jane. Jane was the exception to which she did not want to behave like others she wanted to change for the better. Compared to the Reeds who remained like their environment; stagnant.
Close-minded to change
“Doing well! He could not do worse: he ruined his health and his
estate amongst the worst men and the worst women. He got into
debt and into jail: his mother helped him out twice, but as soon as he
was free he returned to his old companions and habits. His head was
not strong: the knaves he lived amongst fooled him beyond anything I
ever heard. He came down to Gateshead about three weeks ago and
wanted Missis to give up all to him. Missis refused: her means have
long been much reduced by his extravagance; so he went back again,
and the next news was that he was dead. How he died, God knows! –
they say he killed himself” (Bronte, 304).
“The inanimate objects were not changed:
but the living things had altered past recognition” (Bronte, 311).
“The well-known face was there: stern, relentless as ever — there was
that peculiar eye which nothing could melt; and the somewhat raised,
imperious, despotic eyebrow. How often had it lowered on me menace and hate! and how the recollection of childhood’s terrors and sorrows revived as I traced its harsh line now! And yet I stooped down
and kissed her: she looked at me” (Bronte, 314).
“Again she regarded me, so icily, I felt at once that her opinion
of me — her feeling towards me — was unchanged, and unchangeable” (Bronte, 314).
Open-minded of change
“Educational models, encouraging reflection on practice, the use of feedback, and small-group learning including discussions are more likely to change behavior” (Lundborg, 128). This explains why I think Jane was so comfortable changing the way she behaves and simply discovering who she is as an individual during her time.
“A sneer, however, whether covert or open, had now no longer that
power over me it once possessed: as I sat between my cousins, I was
surprised to find how easy I felt under the total neglect of the one
and the semi-sarcastic attentions of the other -” (Bronte, 312).
“It had
heretofore been my habit always to shrink from arrogance: received
as I had been today, I should, a year ago, have resolved to quit
Gateshead the very next morning; now, it was disclosed to me all at
once, that that would be a foolish plan. I had taken a journey of a
a hundred miles to see my aunt, and I must stay with her till she was
better – or dead: as to her daughters’ pride or folly, I must put it on
one side: make myself independent of it” (Bronte, 312).
“It is a happy thing that time quells the longings of
vengeance, and hushes the promptings of rage and aversion: I had left
this woman in bitterness and hate, and I came back to her now with
no other emotion than a sort of ruth for her great sufferings, and a
strong yearning to forget and forgive all injuries — to be reconciled,
and clasp hands in amity” (Bronte, 314).
Source:
Cecilia Lundborg. “Understanding and changing human behavior—antibiotic mainstreaming as an approach to facilitate modification of provider and consumer behavior,” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4034549/pdf/UPS-119-125.pdf
