In this passage from chapter 14, Jane is responding to Mr. Rochester after a conversation where he tells Jane that he wants to reform himself. Looking back, Mr. Rochester hired Jane to come and be Adele’s governess at Thornfield. When Rochester first arrived home, Jane commented on how Thornfield was a changed place with his presence, and she liked it better with him there. One night after dinner, Mr. Rochester calls for Jane and Adèle to join him, which is unexpected since Jane has barely seen him since he has returned home. At dinner, they speak about each other’s personalities and about about how people should be treated directly and on equal terms. After this, Rochester tries to explain his attitude toward Jane; he says that while he may…show more content… Jane’s response to Rochester illustrates her desire to be treated as an equal during a time where women were viewed as being inferior to men. It was expected that women would not voice their opinions, especially in the company of men, but Jane dares to talk to Mr. Rochester in this manner, even though he her employer. This response serves to highlight the supposed superiority of men, who try to make choices for women. However, Jane’s decision to voice her opinions demonstrates how she is breaking the mold of the typical woman of her time. In addition to this, in her response, Jane also comments on the subtle difference between having experience and having grown or improved as a result of those experiences. When Rochester ties to command Jane to respond to one of his questions, Jane responds by saying that in spite of his life experience, he has no right to command her because superiority is not determined by how much experience one has, but by how one uses that experience. For example, simply attending school does not make one more intelligent; the act of learning and then doing something with that experience is what differentiates oneself from others. This is the essence of what Jane is trying to impart upon Rochester in this statement- having lived longer and experienced more does not make him superior to her, as he may have done nothing useful with that experience. Jane, on the other hand, has