I had left this woman in bitterness and hate, and I came back to her now with no other emotion than a sort of ruth for her great sufferings, and a strong yearning to forget and forgive all injuries—to be reconciled and clasp hands in amity.
Chapter 21 · Narrator
Context
Jane recalls the bitterness she felt toward Mrs. Reed when she left Gateshead as a child, and contrasts it with her present desire to forgive and be reconciled before her aunt's death.
Analysis
The sentence is built on a stark before-and-after structure: 'I had left... in bitterness and hate' versus 'I came back... with... ruth... and a strong yearning to forget and forgive.' The archaic word 'ruth' (pity, compassion) elevates Jane's emotion to Biblical register, while the physical image 'clasp hands in amity' makes reconciliation tactile and human. The em-dash after 'injuries' creates a pause before the goal—'to be reconciled'—which enacts the effort it takes to move from hurt to forgiveness.
Essay Tip
Support a thesis that Jane's moral development is defined by her capacity to forgive without requiring repentance from her oppressors—this quote shows her offering reconciliation unilaterally, asserting her own emotional freedom rather than waiting for Mrs. Reed to apologize.