Guiding Questions for Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - Chapters I-IX
Analyze the thought of a frightening childhood incident and its ability to imprint itself on a person’s long-term memory.
Review the following quotation: “I always took my doll; human beings must love something, and in the dearth of worthier objects of affection, I contrived to find a pleasure in loving and cherishing a faded graven image, shabby as a miniature scarecrow” (28). In your own words, what is Jane saying about the need for love?
Compare the religious attitudes of Helen Burns to those of Mr. Brocklehurst. With which views does Jane want her readers to agree or sympathize? Cite text to support your answer.
How do Miss Temple and Helen Burns affect Jane’s attitudes about life? Give examples to support your ideas.
Examine the harsh living conditions present at Lowood. What are some of the difficulties encountered by Jane and the other girls? What message does this send about the life of orphaned children? What statement does this make about those who are commissioned to run organizations that provide for the care of others?
Review the following passage: “If people were always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust, the wicked people would have it all their own way: they would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter, but would grow worse and worse” (57). Do you agree with this philosophy? Why or why not? How might this be applicable in today’s society?
Jane’s appearance is alluded to in this section. How important do you think Jane feels that physical beauty is? While Jane may lack in physical beauty, what other qualities are emerging as her strengths?
Jane comments: “It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it” (111). Analyze her statement in terms of politics, women’s roles, and contemporary society.
How does Rochester treat Jane during their initial encounter? What might this foretell about how their relationship will develop?
Rochester comments, “Most things free-born will submit to anything for a salary” (137). Do you agree with his philosophy? Why or why not? From what you know of Jane, will it be true of her? Use text-based examples to support your views.
Rochester states, “Remorse is the poison of life” (138). To what extent do you agree or disagree with Rochester? Support your opinion.
Why might the events of Rochester’s life (143) have seemed shocking to Victorian readers?
The book Jane Eyre talks a lot about how people are viewed during this time and how poorly women are treated. During this time society really only cares about status, how much money you have and what you look like. Women weren’t valued for their thoughts or intelligence but just for their beauty and ability to carry children. Specifically Jane has to deal with all of these problems during the time. She is not the prettiest girl or has a good status. In fact the servants are in some ways above her in status and although she is smart this is not important during this time. Due to her situation and how she is an orphan she has to grow up quite fast. “I began to recall what I had heard of dead men, troubled in their graves by the violation of their last wishes, revisiting the earth to punish the perjured and avenge the oppressed; and I thought Mr. Reed's spirit, harassed by the wrongs of his sister's child, might quit its abode—whether in the church vault or in the unknown world of the departed—and rise before me in this chamber. I wiped my tears and hushed my sobs, fearful lest any sign of violent grief might waken a preternatural voice to comfort me, or elicit from the gloom some haloed face, bending over me with strange pity” (16). Her thoughts for her age are very mature and almost to a fault. A ten year old girl should not be thinking of such things in the way that she does. She is able to analyze very adult ideas as an adult even though she is a child.
ReplyDeleteSince she grew up as an orphan which has really messed up how she grew up. She grew up alone and never really felt love which has a huge affect on a person and their attachment and how they interact with other people and toys. “I always took my doll; human beings must love something, and in the dearth of worthier objects of affection, I contrived to find a pleasure in loving and cherishing a faded graven image, shabby as a miniature scarecrow” (28). This quote shows how she loves and how she doesn’t care what she loves but as a human being she must love something even if it is as “shabby as a miniature scarecrow.”
The book also implements many philosophies which connect to today. “If people were always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust, the wicked people would have it all their own way: they would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter, but would grow worse and worse” (57). I disagree and agree with this philosophy because people are cruel and unjust for a reason so sometimes they just need love to help them and for some just treating them well just enables them more. I think it depends on the situation.
Jane Eyre did not have the typical life of the average Victorian era young girl of her social status. I think because she was raised as she was with her aunt, she had to go through a lot that normal girls her age would never have to go through. She was forced to think like an adult and act like an adult but yet she was never taught how, just punished when she did not act as she was supposed to. When she said, “I thought Mr. Reed's spirit, harassed by the wrongs of his sister's child, might quit its abode—whether in the church vault or in the unknown world of the departed—and rise before me in this chamber.”(16) I think this adds to the gothic element because you see how scared she was to be in that house and of course she had nowhere else that she could go because she was an orphan. I think that this is a topic that a 10 year old should not have to be concerned with. 10 year olds should be outside playing, learning, and having fun and no person, whether 10 years old or 50 years old, should fear whether their dead uncle is going to come out of his grave and haunt them. I think this will affect her for the the rest of her life because I think that would be traumatic for someone to get those thoughts put into their head. It’s terrifying and it may never leave her.
ReplyDeleteI think it’s really sad that Jane had thought the way she did about love. I think everyone should deserve to love from a young age and they should be taught. I think it's really sad that she had to come to the realization that “human beings must love something”(28) because that means she, at one point, never even loved anything or anyone. She was too young when her parents died to truly consciously love them. She never had someone like her parents that you get when you’re a child who will always be there for you to love them. I think with that quote she is saying how necessary it is to love even when you have no one worthy of love in your life because it could really eat you up inside if you can’t push your emotions onto someone or something.
I feel like Jane’s physical beauty is really not something that she really feels is an important aspect of someone because I think she was always told she was less than her cousins and I think she must have felt that had more to do with who she was as a person and not just what she looked like. I think she feels her intelligence is really important to her and that people should look at her for how smart she is on paper and not how she looks.
I think that Jane Eyre’s Gothic style is reflected in her orphanhood at an early age as she is fostered in her uncle’s house. Unfortunately, Uncle Reed died of illness, and Jane Eyre was bullied by her cousins and abused by his aunt. One of the most typical examples is that once her aunt locked her into the Red House, she almost died there. The Red House is the place that the author focuses on. It is a symbol of the Reed family and a symbol of confinement.
ReplyDeleteJane Eyer’s did not have a fortunate childhood. After escaping Ms. Reed, the school teachers and classmates bullied her. The only warmth she could feel was her friend, Helen. Her childhood experience had a great impact on her. The difficult life and unfair treatment she endured led to a strong desire to or love and be loved. At the same time, she pursued independence and equality. When Mrs. Reed accused her of being a liar, she clearly expressed her desire for love for the first time. “You think that I can do without one bit of love or kindness, but I can not live so…”(34) Because nobody loves her, so she put all her love on her doll. "Human beings must love something, and, in the dearth of worthier objects of affection, I contrived to find a pleasure in loving and cherishing a faded graven image, shabby as a miniature scarecrow ... "(24) When Mr. Brocklehurst declared that Jane Eyre is a liar in front of the teachers and students of the school, she thought she would be abandoned by her teachers and classmates, and she expressed a stronger desire for love again. "...If others do not love me. I would rather die than live..."(70) Love is a warm fireplace for an orphan, especially for an orphan who has never been in love. Jane Eyre cannot lose love and would sacrifice everything, even life, in exchange for love.
The orphanage had strict rules and the dean is a ruthless hypocrite. Jane Eyre continued to be physically and mentally tortured in the orphanage. Due to poor living conditions, children were often dying because of their illness. Jane Eyre's best friend, Helen, died in a severe typhus. But the good thing is, the typhus greatly improved the orphanage. I think that the poor conditions in the orphanage are a means for Mr. Brocklehurst to control the girls. Because there is no food to eat, girls must work very hard to meet their teachers' expectations, otherwise, there will be no meals. Militarized management made these children dare not resist.
In modern society, people are used to understanding equality as the balance of power or the balance of access to resources and opportunities. Jane Eyre wants equality and respect for her civilian identity, which is an expression of her valuable social personality. However, I see that Jane Eyre advocates that everyone is equal not just because everyone deserves the same benefits, but because she believes that everyone has the same soul, and the soul has the right to maintain purity and tranquility. To be respected and to be happy, the soul should also respect the souls of others and value love and compassion. Jane Eyre has a generous and sincere compassion towards others.