2.2. Adrienne Rich's "Jane Eyre: The temptations of a Motherless Woman"

In Section 3 of Rich's article she clearly states that it is her belief that the moment in the red room was the true turning point of Jane Eyre. As if Jane was framed as a character through the scope of the things and emotions she went through within those four walls.

"[i]t is at this moment [in the Red Room] that the germ of the person we are finally to know as Jane Eyre is 

born: a person determined to live, and to choose her life with dignity, integrity, and pride" (471)

Rich states that the incident with John Reed was the first temptation of Jane Eyre as a powerless little girl in a hostile household. The moment at which she snapped at John Reed was merely the choice to overcome her victimisation of his psychic and physical violence against her. Even though she was punished and told to ask forgiveness, Jane still feels as if her actions were justified and that she is merely the scapegoat of the household. 

Even though her time in the Red Room reaches a climax through manner of her hallucinations and the powerlessness through her illness she still hangs on to the realisation she had in the Red Room. Her dependency on the sharp-tongued but gentle of heart Bessie allows her to experience true affection, Bessie becomes an alliance to Jane that makes her believe in hope and a future which prevents her from any further self-destructive actions.

When Jane verbally attacks Mrs. Reed through an outburst of anger of her powerlessness she is only pulled out of it by the appearance of Bessie due to the sense of respect the maintain. Bessie still encourages Jane to act in a manner that will not cause others to dislike her and thereby allows her with some advise just before she left for Lowood Institution.

Yes, I agree with Rich's argument that the Red Room was the critical moment at which Jane Eyre's perspective of life and how to approach it changed and was the reason behind many of her choices that followed from that moment.