I would say Jane Eyre. Jane came from a well-to-do family, lost her parents and was taken into the charge of an aunt who hated her. Jane was mistreated and abused by the aunt and her son and daughter. She was finally sent to a strict school for girl's, suffered more abuse by the benefactor of the school and most of the teachers, yet made two dear friends. One of her friends was a young girl who died, the other was a young woman teacher who had a gentle spirit. From the teacher, Jane learned to have faith in herself.
Jane grew up alone in spirit, became a teacher at the school and struggled to overcome great odds. She found a position at a home where she was welcomed by the family, made dear friends with the housekeeper and the little girl in her charge and fell in love with the master of the estate. Yet torment and suffering still followed her in life. She left the only man she had ever loved, when she found out he was married to a mentally ill woman he kept locked up in his estate.
She ran away, nearly died, met cousins, nearly married the male cousin who did not love her but wanted her to be his symbol of strength in a foreign lands which would be a bitterly hard struggle.
Jane was spiritually connected to the master of the estate she ran away from, dreamed he was in trouble and needed her. She went back to him, found he had lost his estate, his health, his eye sight, and the mentally ill wife who killed herself. He nearly lost his mind for love of Jane and called out to her spiritually.
She came back to him and stayed with him, bringing him back to life by loving him even when he thought he was worthless.
Wow! I did not mean to give out the story -- I just wanted to say I so admire the faith, courage, determination, and capacity for love that Jane had even though she had been so abused and hurt by others all her life. She had courage, strength and faith and managed to stay alive and believe in herself, against all odds.
I see in Jane the spirituality and faith in self that we all strive for in life. The Jane Eyre character is an inspiration to all who are looking for the strength to find their true path in life.
Last edited by PhyllisFolkMythAppalachia; 10/14/11 02:24 PM.