Why do the differences between Bertha and Jane appear and...

I agree with Sydnie that Jane and Bertha were two very different characters, but I think it's also important to note that they had similarities as well. For one, they fought against people who tried to mold them into being the submissive women that the 19th century society wanted them to be. Jane never let Mrs. Reed, Mr. Brocklehurst, St. John, or Rochester take away her passion or her rights. With each character, she learns a lesson and moves on. Basically, Jane removes herself from people who try to oppress her. Similarly, Bertha fought against Rochester and Grace Poole. While Bertha could not physically go somewhere else like Jane could, Bertha still never became the submissive wife that they wanted her to be.

The biggest difference between them is their options. Jane had the option of moving on, whereas Bertha was trapped in an attic. Sydnie said that "women, like Jane, can end up in a happy place if they stand up for themselves and figure out what is important," and this is true. However, we should not forget the fact that Bertha did try to fight for her own rights, but it didn't work out for her because she did not have the same freedom that Jane had.

If Rochester had treated Jane the same way he treated Bertha (in other words, locking her up in an attic), do you think Jane would have still ended up living happily in the manor house by the end of the book? Or do you think she would have followed a path that is more similar to Bertha's?