Jane Eyre- The Unexpected Prejudice

Upon initially choosing Jane Eyre to read, I was immediately apprehensive manily for the book's literal size. Hundred's of pages? All about one girl? I was not sure my attention span could handle the story, but reading the first two  chapters in class helped me become interested in Jane. I couldn't help but wonder how her curiousity and maturity developed despite the oppression from her family. I expected a story about how this orphan learns to adapt to her abusive family, but I soon saw the discrimination and prejudice she faced as a female as she grew older.

Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre depicts a patriarchal society characteristic of male dominance and female submission typical of Victorian Society. Protagonist Jane Eyre is undisruptive and passive towards the Reed family that is allowing her to live with them following the death of her immediate family. In Chapter Two when her cousin John Reed physically abuses the young girl, Jane retaliates in self-defense and yet is the one who gets reprimanded for antagonizing John. This type of mistreatment pursues Jane throughout the novel, in which the women in Victorian society are respected as inferiors, or sometime like children. Though Jane furthers her education, assembles into a middle-class role, and becomes a governess at Thornfield, she still earns a meager wage and remains under the control of the master of the house. Jane soon falls in love with her wealthy master Mr. Rochester, but due to culture’s perception of women she feels forbidden to act on her emotions. She says, “He is not of your order, keep to your caste”, showing her lower-class mindset of social inequality that prevents her from true happiness. The inadequacy of females is further demonstrated through the development of their relationship. Mr. Rochester intentionally talks about his marriage to more beautiful women other than Jane, thus torturing her emotions and making her feel substandard. Although the master claims it was to “assure Jane’s feelings” for him, it depicts the typical male-manners of twisting female emotions for his own pleasure and advantage. Additionally, his deceit towards Jane and infidelity towards his own wife epitomize the lack of reverence females possessed in the Victorian era. Conversely, Bertha Mason represents the contrast to expected female behaviors by acting boisterous, violent, and aggressive in pursuing her desires. However, her captivity in Thornfield and disregard by her husband show society’s disapproval of outspoken and whereas Bertha’s eventual death symbolize the Victorian era’s censure for aggressive women.

J. White

Jane Eyre

After some vacillation between the two novels that we had to choose to read at the start of this semester, I eventually chose Jane Eyre because its opening chapters, as shown to us in Mrs. Elliott's class, were far more interesting than those of Tess of the D'urbervilles, in my opinion. Although I initially dreaded to read the novel, intimidated by its sizeable stature and its miniscule font, the exposition of the book turned out to be much better than I had imagined, although still fairly slow. However, upon reaching the "meat" of the novel, I became increasingly engrossed in it, interested in how the relationship between Jane and Mr. Rochester would turn out.
In addition to the solitary reading that I did, one of Mrs. Elliott's lessons was serendipidously focused on one of the passages of the novel that I had spent some time ruminating about. Although I had formed in my psyche a dislike of Mr. Brocklehurst, there were various points in that passage that brought me some confusion. Much to my surprise and pleasure, Mrs. Elliott's lesson on Thursday, January 21 answered every question I had about the passage, as well as showing me a new perspective on "reading between the lines;" honestly, I felt as if I was dissecting every word and examining it for any significant meaning.
In short, Jane Eyre, although slow at its start and slightly confusing in certain areas, is a great piece of literature. I felt that the book really captured the essence of 19th century England, and brought to me a new viewpoint about the situation of females in that era. Also, the characters are amazingly detailed, and Jane's sophistication despite her young age never ceases to surprise me. By reading this novel, I think that I will gain an idea on how someone else would view life, and possibly become more attracted to reading classic literature.

-Byron C

Chapter by Chapter: Quote Responses

Chapter 1

Quote:

“Accustomed to John Reed’s abuse, I never had an idea of replying to it: my care was to endure the blow which would certainly follow the insult” (Brontë 7).

Response:

Jane’s reaction to John’s abuse displays the imposition of male dominance during the Victorian Era and further depicts society and future outcomes. Women of the period were accustomed to male abuse and dominance. At the beginning of John’s assault, Jane did not try to oppose him, as if she was used the maltreatment from him. Besides describing the society during the setting of the novel, this event foreshadows the submission of women to men’s will, which will affect the story, because Jane tends to be rebellious against anyone that tries to harm her.

Chapter 3

Quote:

“Heaven is a home, and a rest will not fail me; God is a friend to the poor orphan child” (Brontë 23).

Response:

Bessie’s song is symbolic of Jane’s life. The song portrays the life of a miserable orphan child, which can be interpreted as Jane. The song also exclaims that eventually the life of the orphan child will improve. In other words, Bessie’s chant also serves as a foreshadowing of Jane’s life—she would have to endure many arduous and miserable moments, but, at the end, her life will improve.

Chapter 7

Quote:

“You are aware that my plan in bringing up these girls is, not to accustom them to habits of luxury and indulgence” (Brontë 76).

Response:

Mr. Brocklehurst is a cruel individual with extremist Christian’s beliefs. He believes that deprivation and harsh conditions would make an individual a better Christian. Mr. Brocklehurst is a hypocrite and does not follow his own beliefs; though he forces the Lowood’s students to follow his idealistic form of living, depriving them from nourishing meals and decent clothing.

Chapter 8

Quote:

“No; I know I should think well of myself; but that is not enough; if others don’t love me, I would rather die than live—I cannot bear to be solitary and hated, Helen” (Brontë 84).

Response:

Jane is worried of what people might think about her, in the same way a high class individual would. While Jane resided at Lowood, the Reeds’ mentality of social perspective foiled onto her. Jane cannot surmount what other might think about her, while someone from her social class would more easily disregard the perspective of others. Jane’s foil of high class attributes has interfered with her mentality; thus on her actions.

Chapter 11

Quote:

“But you see they are only servants, and one can’t converse with them in the terms of equality” (Brontë 120).

Response:

Mr. Rochester’s words of partial equality towards Jane depict his captivation of her. During the Victorian Era, servitude personnel, such as Jane, were rarely treated in terms of equality; thus Mr. Rochester’s exclamation that he can talk to her in terms of equality portrays his feelings for her. One can even claim that it is love at first site, since Mr. Rochester and Jane just met.