Jane hates Gateshead Hall because it makes her feel locked up and secluded. Jane feels all by herself here. Gateshead is a dull place, so Jane feels bottled up. Jane's only company at this setting (her aunt and cousins) are not friendly towards Jane. The setting is not welcoming and does not give off a feeling of hospitality. Since Gateshead is such a boring (and almost scary) place, Jane can't let go of any feelings that she may be stifling. Gateshead leaves Jane with only one possession, her books, which cannot make up for what is missing at Gateshead. She feels like “a discord in [this place]” and “like a nobody there” (11). Gateshead turns Jane into an independent person. Jane leaves this place without looking back.

Lowood was not very beneficial towards Jane either because although she was not alone, Jane felt like she was in a prison. Jane did not have freedom to do what she wanted here or live the life of a normal person. Lowood made Jane feel hated and low-class. The building was not very inviting and Jane did not like the way she was forced to live (with bad food and living conditions). She did not have many friends here either. Jane felt that her “first quarter at Lowood seemed an age; and not the golden age, either” (63). She felt it hard to survive here and the weather and climate did not help. The winters were very brutal and the plague made it very unsafe to be at Lowood. After being here, Jane thought that she would rather go back to Gateshead, where she lived in luxury rather than poverty. This setting taught Jane to cherish what she has.

Thornfield had a positive effect on Jane as it was interesting and pleasant. Jane could enjoy the luxury of the place while not having to suffer horrible oppression. Thornfield was the first place that sufficed as a home for Jane. It was located in a nice area and the climate was not bad, and Jane had friends here. Jane felt a kind of “domestic comfort” at Thornfield (106). There are many options opened up to Jane as Thornfield offers freedom to her. This setting finally allows Jane to be herself, as Thornfield was by no means boring. Jane was easily able to adapt to her new way of life in the manor, and she enjoyed the features such as the garden. She could walk around and do whatever she pleased most of the time. Jane obtained her own personality here, as she wasn't crushed in any way by her surroundings.

Jane could never have been the same person if she had not lived in Gateshead, Lowood, and Thornfield. Each place had many significant effects on who she was. Jane received a lot of knowledge and experience from her environment. In literature, the setting can be used in numerous ways; especially to shape the main character or characters. The setting usually portrays the aura of the whole period of the book that it is included in, defining the personality of the other characters and how the main character is going to be treated. The location has great importance throughout Jane Eyre.