Chapter eleven

Jane travels to Thornfield and meets Miss Fairfax for the first time, but is accidentally mislead about her job, and Jane thinks her to own Thornfield. Jane meets Adela, a little french child that Jane must govern. Jane is given a tour of Thornfield, and hears a strange laugh that is said to be Grace Poole

Themes

Mrs Fairfax's feeling of isolation is emphasised, as Thornfield is quite out of the way and not many people visit, and the servants aren't that talkative. This shows how Jane may feel later on at Thornfield, suggesting that maybe she moved from on place of isolation to another.

characters

As you are in a new act, as it were, there are quite a few new characters...

• Mrs Fairfax, the lady who meets Jane at Thornfield, Jane mistakes her for the owner of the house, but in reality she is the house keeper, like a manager. She is addressed as 'Mrs' but later says that she has no family, so where her husband, if she ever had one, is a slight mystery. She seems to be a stereotypical old woman from that period, complete with the cat and the knitting.
• Adela is Jane's pupil, the whole reason she is at Thornfield. Mr Rochester's ward, she originally came from France,and when she arrived at Thornfield six months ago, she knew no English. Her mother is dead (this is contested later on in the book), and she seems to be a very stereotypical young french girl, very excitable and perhaps slightly pushy.
• You also briefly meet grace Poole, a very mysterious character, of whom you know nothing about for most of the novel. Her laugh is the first thing you hear of her

Places

We are now at Thornfield, the house that Mr Rochester owns. Not much description is given about the front of the building, but inside seems to be a grand place, with drafty corridors and "a very chill and vault-like air", as it is empty but for a few people. Individual rooms ,however, seem much cosier, Jane seems particularly fond of her room, describing it as "such a bright little place"

Narrative Voice

Jane seems quite excited in this chapter, as she is in a new and interesting place, as so there are lots of descriptions, but not of them too long, as she is off again, talking about something else. The language used represents this, as she uses happy words to describe things

Words and Phrases i liked

I like Jane's description of the grounds, with the azure sky, velvet lawn that surrounds the house, and the path, "greener with moss than the trees with foliage", as it creates such a wonderful image

Response

Not a bad chapter, i liked the way the narrator seemed excited, as you start to get caught up in it as well. Everything happens rather fast in this chapter, so there is less description, which is not necessarily a bad thing

Chapter ten

Jane briefly accounts the changes that are made in the school after the public find out about the appalling conditions and deaths. Then she skips a few years, mentioning a few important facts, but not much else. Jane decides to start advertising for a position outside of Lowood, as she felt that nothing was keeping her there anymore. Jane is offered a position at Thornfield, and Bessie reappears just before Jane leaves for her new job.

Characters

• Bessie’s back for a brief period, she is now married, with a child; to the coachman (this demonstrates something about class systems). She shows how, despite the difference in their upbringing, Jane has equaled, is not surpassed, her cousins

Narrative voice

Jane seems both certain and uncertain in this chapter, as Lowood has been her only proper home for a very long time. It also shows Jane’s need to keep busy and herself occupied.

Response

Don’t really have a strong opinion on this chapter, as nothing much really happens.

chapter nine

A very depressing time of Jane’s life. Most of Lowood school is ill with typhus, and, although Jane is not ill, many of her schoolmates die, and it is found that Helen is very ill, but not with typhus. Whilst Jane is out enjoying her freedom from disease, Helen is slowly dying of consumption (is this the same as tuberculosis?). Jane sneaks up to visit Helen, who ends up dying in her arms.

Themes

A slight mention of religion in this chapter, when Jane questions the existence of God, as he is letting one as wonderful as Helen dies. Helen is quick to quiet Jane’s fears, but Jane carries on doubting, in her head. It also shows a huge contrast between Helen and Jane's views of god and themselves; Helen believes that her going to heaven is a certainty, and that by dying young, she is avoiding all the suffering of later life. Jane, however, does not seem to fully believe she is going to get into heaven, and believes that to avoid hell she must try to avoid death.

Characters

• Mary Ann Wilson is a new friend for Jane, whilst Helen is bedridden. A funny girl, slightly older than Jane, she seems patient and a good person for Jane to interact with, although, according to Jane, she is nothing compared to Helen.
  

Narrative voice

This chapter starts with a joyful sounding voice, but with a bitter edge, as Jane realizes she was out enjoying the spring whilst her best friend was dying. As the chapter goes on, the writing gets more and more melancholy, as Helen's life slowly ebbs away

Words and phrases I liked

I loved the description of the woodlands and gardens of Lowood, with the tall hollyhocks and all the flowers in bloom.

Response

A very upsetting chapter, with a huge contrast between Jane’s time out in the spring, surrounded by new life and beautiful sights, whereas Helen is stuck in a world of sickness and death (is contrast a motif?). I thought the idea of Helen dying in Jane's arms was sweet, but slightly clichéd

chapter eight

Jane completes her punishment (standing on the stool) and Helen comes to cheer her up, in her own tranquil way. Miss Temple then invited the pair to her room, where they eat seed cakes and toast, and tells Jane she is cleared off all charges of lying.

Themes

For the first time, there is no theme of isolation in the chapter (yay!). Instead the main theme is love, or Jane’s interpretation and experiences of it. As a child, Jane was not loved, so at Lowood she suddenly finds herself surrounded by it. This makes it all the more painful when Jane feels this will all be taken away because of Mr. Brocklehurst's accusations. She also notices peoples love of other people too, and compares it to hers. For example, she states that Miss temple held Helen longer than her, and cried for Helen, and sighed for Helen.

Narrative voice

Jane seems very upset (understandably) at the start of the chapter, using many emotive words to demonstrate this. As she calms down, due to Helens presence, she sounds less panicked, and takes more time to notice and describe things. She also gave the first indications that Helen is seriously ill.

Phrases I liked

I liked Jane’s description of her first drawing of a cottage, whose wall "outrivaled in slope those of the leaning tower of Pisa"

Response

This Chapter is yet another example of how much of an influence Helen is having on Jane, as Jane seems to have trouble coping without Helen beside her, and is also the first time when it is hinted at that Helens illness is something to be worried about.

Chapter seven

In this chapter Mr Brocklehurst finally makes his next appearance, and, after slating the teachers and pupils, notices Jane. He then tells the whole school she is a liar, based on what Mrs Reed has told him, and publicly humiliates her, by forcing her to stand on a stool for half an hour, in the middle of the room.



Themes



The most obvious theme in this chapter is isolation. Jane is again separated from the rest of her peers, being made to stand in the middle of the room, elevated above them all (slightly strange, as in their eyes they have the moral high ground). Mr Brocklehurst also states that she should be completely shunned, as she was back at Gatehead. Religion is another theme, but its a very twisted and warped idea of religion. Mr Brocklehurst claims that by denying the children decent food and drink, he is helping them to become better in body and soul. He also uses many bible verses to supposedly back up his points, but he takes them out of context, and twists them for his own means.



Characters



No real new characters in this chapter. Mr Brockhursts children are mentioned, but rather to demonstrate his hypocrisy and create a contrast, not as characters who will play a part in the actual novel



Motifs



Another (very slight) reference to red, where the girl with red curly hair is told her head must be shaved. The hair colour may be a coincidence, or it may show that red shows and/or causes trouble.



Narrative voice



Jane seems quite worried in this chapter, which helps the reader understand how nervous she was during this time, and rightly so! Towards the end of the chapter, when she sees Helen, she takes on a different tone, and sounds quite wise and ready for anything life may throw at her.



Words and phrases i liked



"such is the imperfect nature of man! Such spots are there on the disc of the clearest planet; and eyes like Miss Scatcherd's can only see those minute defects, and are blind to the full brightness of the orb". I love the imagery this conjures up, although it seems a very strange thing to come out of the mouth of a child as young as Jane.



Response



I really object to Mr Brocklehurst, as he is the kind of person that discourages people from becoming Christians, but i admire Jane for her attitude towards it. What i didn't understand was why Miss Temple doesn't seem to contest anything that Mr Brocklehurst says with conviction. She seemed to speak out about something, but then just accept it when Mr Brocklehurst disagreed and carried on as before.

Chapter six

In this chapter Jane sees her new friend Helen flogged for failing an impossible task (cleaning her nails with frozen water), and has a big conversation with Helen afterwards, where they discuss religion and people’s attitudes.

Themes

Isolation (is this going to feature in every chapter?), but this time it's Helen who is isolated, and you can see Jane’s opinions of her own isolation, expressed through Helen (if that makes sense). Religion is also a major part of the chapter, as Helen is very religious, and tells Jane she should be to.

Characters

• You meet Helen Burns properly in this chapter, a girl who also lives at Lowood Institute, and is very much like an opposite of Jane in personality, being subservient and docile, but in the same kind of situation, namely being in a hostile environment, and being bullied or picked on. Helen is very religious (and dies of tuberculosis later on in the novel)

Narrative voice

As a lot of this chapter seems to be dialogue, it’s harder to get a proper impression of the narrator at this point. However, you can see Jane’s outrage at Helen's treatment, and feel the mood of the School, as the older Jane seems almost melancholy in her descriptions, with lots of gloomy words and drab description

Response

Started to find all the all the dialogue at the end slightly boring, as it’s in big blocks and kind of hard to follow

chapter five

Jane Eyre leaves for Lowood School, and is introduced to how her new life there will be

Themes

This chapter shows a contrast to Jane’s previous isolation, as she is readily accepted into the folds of Lowood School. The people at Lowood seem to understand much better how Jane needs company, commenting that she is “very young to be left alone”.

Characters

There are loads of new characters introduced in this chapter, but I will only write about the ones speak, and will describe others later on.

• A mysterious lady (later named as Miss Temple) is the first person Jane meets at the school, and is described to sound like an upstanding member of the community
  
  
• Miss Miller, an “under teacher” (what is this?), sounds like a very busy person, with a lot to do. She seems to be the person in charge of controlling the children, and giving the orders.
  
  
• Helen Burns (the girl Jane speaks to at the end of the chapter) sounds a very quiet girl, who is so wrapped up in her book that she doesn’t really answer any of Jane’s questions with her full attention, preferring to read. She seems accepting of whatever happens to her, as Jane describes when she is made to stand in the middle of the classroom, an act which would embarrass most people, but Helen just seems to take it in her stride.
  

Motifs

Still unsure whether or not books qualify as a motif, but they are mentioned again here, although this time it’s Helen who is lost inside her own little book-world. She, I think, has the same reasons as Jane for wanting to escape, as she seems to be picked on an awful lot by some teachers, as Jane was back at her last house.

Places

We are now at Lowood School, a Christian institute for orphaned girls (it never mentions that it is solely for girls, but no guys are mentioned in this section of the book). Again, the only real description of outside the school is the weather, and it seems very wet and dreary outside. Inside it seems more like a prison than a school, with rows of benches and beds, which, although practical, seems a little drab and dull.

Narrative voice

Jane seems very negative again, and also gives a lot of description. This is probably to show the reader how strange it was to be in a completely new place, and how she feels about being there.

chapter four

Jane is isolated from the family even further, and Jane questions this, asking Mrs. Reed “What would Uncle Reed say?” Mr. Brocklehurst appears and questions Jane to find if she is suitable for his school. Mrs. Reed states that Jane is a bad child, and Jane speaks up about how she feels.

Themes

Isolation plays a part again, as Mrs. Reed further cuts out Jane from life, telling her children to ignore Jane, and cutting her out of Christmas and other joyful things. Jane seems to spend most of her time in her room. Religion also plays a major part with Mr. Brocklehurst’s questioning, showing how Jane has not fully grasped the whole idea of Christianity, saying that to avoid hell, she must not die. Fire is also mentioned in connection to this, saying that hell is just a huge pit of fire, where Jane will be eternally burnt if she's not good.

Characters

• Mr. Brocklehurst, the owner of Lowood Institute, is a very religious man, who also seems pretty up himself. He is more ready to believe Mrs. Reed than Jane, as Mrs. Reed is older, and Jane just a disobedient child.

Motifs

Couldn’t find any in this chapter, but perhaps others disagree

Narrative voice

Jane seems much more outspoken here, with less of a curb on her emotions. This shows the reader how she is breaking free of her quiet demeanor and growing into whom she is now.

Response

I like the way Jane finally stands up to her tormentors, and how she interprets the religious teaching that had been drummed into her since birth.

Chapter three

Jane recovers from her fainting spell, or fit, at the end of the last chapter. She tries to explain to Mr. Lloyd, the doctor, why she is so miserable.

Themes

Yet again, the theme of isolation is touched upon; in the ballad Bessie sings about the orphan child, (I love this bit). Religion is also brought into the equation, both with the idea that god is protecting the orphan child, and also where Jane says, “…I ought to forgive you, for you knew not what you did”, which is a reference to Luke 23:34, where Jesus says, “father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”

Characters

• Mr. Lloyd is the apothecary (doctor), who comes to visit Jane to ensure she is well. He is puzzled to find that Jane is not happy where she is, and suggests school is the answer. Jane seems to feel she can confide in him, and unburdens all her sorrows onto him.

Motifs

Books are starting to crop up a lot in the novel, and they may be a symbol of Jane’s escape to other worlds, and how this can affect her real life, and vice versa. Another slight motif that may be significant is fire, as it comes up in important scenes in many times in Jane’s life.

Places

We are again in the main part of the Reeds house, although no description is offered.

Narrative voice

At this moment in time Jane seems to switch between her older and younger self, as she speaks directly to us (or rather the late Mrs. Reed), coming out of character, as it were. The voice as a child has a bored tone to it, demonstrated in the descriptions of the books Jane usually enjoys. It is again very negative.

Words and phrases I liked

I liked the ballad sung by Bessie, about the way God watches over and protects the lonely child. I won’t copy it all out, for that would take forever!

Response

don’t know about what other people think, but I found Mr. Lloyd to be slightly patronizing, or this may only be because Jane sounds and acts older than she actually is (by the way, actually how old is Jane?).

Chapter 2

This chapter described Jane’s experience in the red room, and how it affects her

Themes

Again, isolation is a major factor, and the way Jane is literally forced to stay away from ‘civilized’ people. The way that Jane is always struggling (and failing) to meet people’s impossible standards is also a recurring theme. In this chapter, superstition is mentioned, which becomes a minor theme throughout the novel.

Characters

• Jane’s character is built upon, showing how she was a determined and willful child, who just wishes to be accepted. It also portrays how intelligent she is.
  
  
• Bessie Lee is the nurse of the four children, and, although appearing mean, is obviously liked by Jane, as it is Bessie’s hand she will not release when out of the red room. Bessie also defends Jane on two separate occasions in the chapter.
  
  
• Abigail, Bessie’s servant, is a very minor character, who is very condemning, especially of Jane, and is not inclined to forgiveness.
  

Motifs

The most obvious motif is the mention of red, as Jane is in the Red room. A red room, although it means something different in this case, was usually a term for a place where a person with measles stayed, as the colour was believed to help cure them. Red may mean sickness or fear in this chapter.

Places

This chapter is set in the “red room” of the Reeds house, where Jane is locked in as a punishment. Believed to be haunted, it is a scary sounding room, and the décor doesn’t help much. Most of the furnishings are different shades of red, and as the light fades, the room must have been oppressive and dark, a spooky place for a frightened young girl like Jane.

Narrative voice

Jane pays a lot of attention to detail in this chapter, perhaps showing a child’s method of trying not to focus on their predicament, and think of other things. The voice sounds slightly nervous at the least, especially as the chapter goes on, but anger also shows though at the thought of the lack of punishment for John’s actions.

Response

Due to the creepiness of the language chosen, and the description of the red Room as the darkness slowly crept in, I found I could feel Jane’s fear. I also found myself able to sympathize with Jane’s feelings of injustice, as,I can often see the unfairness of punishments.

Jane Eyre Journal, chapter 1

Chapter 1

This chapter mainly shows how Jane Eyre sees her life (depressing and solitary) and shows peoples attitudes towards her. Her cousin John throws a book at her, and she is condemned to the red room.

Themes
Isolation. Frequently Jane is told she must be "kept at a distance", and all the images she picks out from the book are solitary ones.
Characters
This chapter introduces the characters from Jane's early life

• Jane Eyre, the main character and the narrator, a solitary and quiet child who feels isolated from everyone
• Mrs Reed, Jane's benefactress, who obviously prefers her children to Jane, and if frequently mean to her. For example, when her son John throws a book at Jane, Jane is punished for fighting back.
• John Reed, Jane's cousin, and son of Mrs Reed. Described as "not quick either of vision or conception", so is definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed. Treats Jane as a servant, and is a cruel bully.
• Eliza and Georgiana are mentioned briefly, there are Mrs Reeds two daughters
• Bessie is also introduced, but is currently portrayed as quite a mean character

Motifs
Red - There are many mentions of red in this chapter, including the red (scarlet) moreen, and the red room, where Jane is taken as a punishment. Red can represent a lot of things, anger, pain, hate or suffering.
Places
This chapter is set in the Reed Residence, although the only description about the place describes the grounds, with "leafless shrubbery"s and"ceaseless rain sweeping wildly away before a loud and lamentable blast". No description is offered of the inside.
Narrative voice
As always, Jane is the narrator, and from this you get a strong feeling of her mood. The first sentence of the chapter, indeed the whole book, is negative, and so are many others that follow it. This makes you feel more sympathy for Jane, because of her miserable childhood in a place nobody wants her.