Jane Eyre

Bronte's life was definitely an inspiration in her writing. Like her heroine, Jane Eyre, Bronte too was forced to use her intellect in order to gain economic independence. She worked for several families as a governess, attended the harsh evangelical Cowan Bridge School, which became the model for Lowood, and most importantly, referenced the deaths of two of her sisters at Cowan through the character of Helen Burns. Lastly, the character of John Reed very much resembles her real life brother, who died after years of alcohol and opium addiction the same year her novel was published.