The story of Jane Eyre can be seen as the story of one woman's search for love. A neglected orphan, Jane spends her childhood longing for someone to love her. As she becomes a young woman, she is finally offered the love she has long dreamed of. However, Jane chooses to reject this love. Jane's refusal is based on her deep and sincere morality and spirituality. Jane's moral conscience was formed very early in her life, and it is her principles that guide her through life's difficult paths. At the beginning of the story, Jane Eyre is a poor and abused orphan, dependent on her aunt's charity. Unfortunately, instead of being treated with kindness, she suffers from love abandonment. Mrs. Reed excludes Jane from “privileges” meant only for her own children (Brontë 13). John Reed has a "dislike" for Jane. He constantly "victimized and punished" her (16). Georgiana and Eliza view her with “indifference” and Mrs. Reed treats her with “dislike” (22). Jane is treated as “less than a servant,” because she does “nothing for her support” (19). Mrs. Reed sees Jane as a “burden” (260). He “hated” Jane from the first moment he saw her (260). Jane's mother had married someone of lower social status than hers. Mrs. Reed cannot bear to be responsible for a “poor man” (261). He then treats Jane with contempt, punishing her, even though she is silent and docile. She pampers her children, even though they often mistreat Jane. Jane is unhappy because she is not loved. His misery explodes in indignation. She confronts her aunt with biting words: “You think I have no feelings and can do without a little love or kindness; but I cannot live like this: and you have no mercy” (45). Jane is hungry for love; she craves even a little drop…half of paper…absolutely bone of her bone and flesh of her flesh” (500). Jane has finally found the love she has sought all her life, and now she can enjoy it with God's approval and blessing. Primary Source Brontë, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Penguin, 2003. Print.Secondary SourcesThe Bible: Authorized King James Version with Apocrypha. New York: Oxford UP, 1997. Bolt, Peter. "Rochester versus St. John Rivers: or why Jane Eyre preferred a cynical sinner to a religious fanatic." Victorian Web. . January 19, 1999. Web. September 16, 2011. Mason, Michael. "Introduction." Jane Eyre. New York: Penguin, 2003. vii-xxxi. Print.Melani, Lilia. "Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre." Department of English. Brooklyn College, March 29, 2005. Web. September 16. 2011. .