I desired liberty for liberty I gasped for liberty I uttered a prayer it seemed scattered on the wind then faintly blowing In Jane Eyre the protagonist Jane Eyre expresses her intense longing for freedom and independence in this passage These lines sketch the novel's core themes including Jane's quest for self-determination and autonomy in a society where she is often oppressed and restricted I desired liberty for liberty I gasped - Jane Eyre has always desired freedom from the injustices she faces As an orphan she is mistreated by her aunt and cousins and later as a governess she is subject to the command of her employers Her yearning for liberty symbolizes her longing to escape these oppressive circumstances for liberty I uttered a prayer - Jane's longing for freedom is so profound that it becomes a passionate prayer She hopes for a life where she can make choices