Jane Eyre was written in 1847, but age of consent laws did not come under intense public discussion in England until the late 1800’s, particularly after an expose on the so-called "White Slave-Trade." In 1885, The Law Amendment Act was passed which raised the age of consent for sex outside marriage from 13 to 16 years of age. However, girls who were perceived as "older than their age." were excluded from the benefits of these laws and many men were not persecuted for breaking this law if they made such claims about her age and appearance.

Brontë writes a letter expressing her anxeities that surround the production of Jane Eyre. She fears it will not be succseful and a century and a half later, it is being studied in Universities! An ecerpt from the letter states: