How was Jane Treated in the Reed family nbsp Jane Eyre the protagonist from Charlotte Bront 's novel Jane Eyre was mistreated by the Reed family Jane was an orphan Her Uncle Reed took her in After Uncle's death her cruel aunt Mrs Sarah Reed treated her with cruelty and unkindness Outsider The Reed family treated Jane as an outsider She was often bullied and physically abused by her cousin John who was her primary tormentor Jane's cousin John says You have no business to take our books you are a dependent mama says you have no money your father left you none you ought to beg and not to live here with gentlemen's children like us and eat the same meals we do and wear clothes at our mama's expense John Reed Chapter They treated Jane as inferior because of her social and economic status She was constantly reminded