Independence = Money and Solitude

One of the most interesting changes in Jane’s life is how she becomes independent. Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre depicts that independence can only be gained through money and solitude. When I think of this, I think it's true. Jane does receive her independence through this process. She leaves to have a time of solitude and after a while, she inherits money. Bronte clearly writes how these factors can lead to independence.
After she leaves Thornfield, Jane actually learns that life can be harsh. Jane lives the life she could have had with her deceased family. Jane describes her life as hell: " Nature seemed to me benign and good; I thought she loved me, outcast as I was; and I, who from man could anticipate only mistrust, rejection, insult, clung to her with filial fondness."(329). What good is a life if people think of you as an abominable person? This is what Jane asks after awhile of solitude. In my experiences in life, I can see how Jane sees that her life is worthless and meaningless now. I asked myself the same question in some point in my life. I said that life puts you out in the open and in the wild to learn to take care of yourself. This is the way to independence. Jane is learning the answer to this question while she was in poverty.
Bronte writes about how Jane inherits twenty thousand pounds as her uncle dies. Bronte also metaphorically states that your place in society was marked by how much money you have. Jane is ignored by many when she searches for a new life because she doesn't have anything. She is then given a new start after she learns that her uncle has died.Mr. Rochester and St. John also refer to money as a way to gain independence. St. John says, "Your own fortune will make you independent of the Society's aid; and thus you may still be spared the dishonour of breaking your promise and deserting the band you engaged to join"(421). Even Mr. Rochester has a conversation with Jane about how she became independent:

"'No, sir! I am an independent woman now.'
'Independent! What do you mean, Jane?'
'My uncle in Madeira is dead, and he left me five thousand pounds.'
'Ah! this is practical--this is real!' he cried: 'I should never dream that. Besides, there is that peculiar voice of hers, so animating and piquant, as well as soft: it cheers my withered heart; it puts life into it.--What, Janet! Are you an independent woman? A rich woman?'"(442)

These are examples of how money is depicted as a factor of independence. But even in modern times, money still illustrates how high in society are you. Ale in her blog, You got what you wished for Jane, says, “She doesn’t have to live in someone else’s house, and depend on someone else’s money. Jane has her own school and a small apartment, but even though Jane is independent; she has now found happiness." To me, that says that Ale believes that money does make a person independent.
The biggest question is: how does these factors work? The answer is that they are sufficient and necessary conditions.What I mean is that one can't live without the other. Money is necessary to become independent. For example, a rich person has people doing all his jobs. Technically, he is not independent. He doesn't not know how to live by himself and therefore it is not sufficient. Solitude woks the same way. In order to be independent, you have to learn how to take care of yourself. In order to do that, you have to have money. Therefore, you need both to be independent.
In the end, it all works out. I will agree when Angelica says, "Over the years she has become independent and has control over her own life. She has grown morally and I believe she is now ready to marry"(Things do happen for a reason). She definitely grew up to be an independent person. There were also little factors like faith that made her who she was. In Marcus' blog, Time to break free, he states, "I believed it happened by faith that Jane finally gets married to Mr. Rochester, but that faith was influenced by Jane's will to find her true self and gain her independence from the normal society." He was right about this. It was Jane's will that made her keep on going when she was down and her luck and faith that she became rich.