Jane Eyre

Davis

Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre is a story filled with many forms of abuse and bad customs. In this essay I will bring you close to these. I will point out tyrants and abusers that Jane faces throughout her life. Jane Eyre Is also filled with hypocrisy and I will expose that. The suffering that Jane endures will be discussed. The book Jane Eyre starts out very powerful. Our first meeting of Jane is at Gateshead. Jane is an orphan who is being taken care of by Mrs. Reed her aunt by marriage. There is no love for Jane here; not only that the only thing here for Jane is abuse. “Why was I always suffering, always browbeaten, always accused, forever condemned?”(Pg.11) Keep in mind that this girl is only 10 years old. She is all alone. She is on her own. “I was a discord in Gateshead Hall; I was like nobody there”(Pg.12) Within the First ten pages we learn of the harshest abuse Jane has to face in the book. The infamous “Red Room.” Jane is sent to the “Red Room” after a dispute with John. John is Mrs. Reeds favorite, but he is a little tyrant. The foul part is that Jane was injured by him and she got punished. The reason the “Red Room” seems scary is that it is the room Mr. Reed passed away in. “ And I thought Mr. Reed’s spirt, harassed by the wrongs of his sister’s child, might quit its abode.” So Jane feels that his spirit is present and her harassment of him might keep him from showing himself.” As Jane sits in the “Red Room” a shadow of some kind begins to move about the wall like a dancer. Jane starts to worry to the point that her mind becomes overwhelmed and she passes out. When she wakes up, she begs Bessie and Miss Abbot the help to let her out. They run to Mrs. Reed to tell her of Jane’s high fever. As the sunsets a new found factor of worry is thrown at Jane. It becomes evident that she may not make it through the night. Mr. Lloyd the doctor arrives to tend to Jane, and he recommends that Jane attend a school called Lowwood. Jane makes it through the night but her abuse and torments have just begun. She will soon face a monster and a tyrant far worse than that of young John known as Mr. Brokelhurst. He is a bad and abusive part of Jane’s life. He quotes biblical scripture to instill fear amongst the young girls in Lowwood. Jane has no voice she can’t be heard. It is as if her lips are supposed to be super glued for ever. Why? All because she is a little orphan girl in sexist and times of social caste. And she is at the bottom of the system. And there is no way of climbing up. If Jane was born in modern times her devotion and her voice would probably land her a high job for a powerful business company or maybe a high job in parliament changing women’s rights. No instead it has landed her in a situation where she will get more abuse if she even thinks. Left in this situation Jane still manages to have hope and will. She even finds a friend Helen Burns. Helen’s character serves in the story to teach Jane about social conformities. Helen endures the abuse and has grown quite custom to it. But even with Helen Jane still felt trapped at Lowwood. “Ardently I wished to die.”(Pg. 58). Helen still continued to be Jane’s companion and partner. Up instill the dreadful news of her death. Let down after let down Jane is faced with. First her parents, then the cruel and wicked Mrs. Reed and her evil little children, the evil tyrant Brokelhurst, and now the only person Jane has even entertained herself with and thought of liking is gone to. Jane doesn’t seem that effected by it though in fact the next eight years in Lowwood passes by in a flash. True examples of Jane’s options of roles in life are evident when she leaves Lowwood and when she’s looking for a new job. She thanks God for granting her another place of servitude. By this she means new chance to serve because in those times that is all women were for. She was to be the new governess at Thornfield and she would serve little Miss Adele. Servitude is not for Jane what happened to the little girl with a voice, hopes, and dreams. I’ll tell you what happened cruel social and religious customs got the best of her. Jane was forced to conform . . . Or was she. Religious and social conformities are two things that play a major role as themes in Jane Eyre. Jane defies both of them. She is a woman of the 1920's in the middle of 19th century England. Jane is about women’s rights. “ It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine, and millions in silent revolt against their lot. Nobody knows how many rebellions besides political rebellions ferment in the masses of life which people earth.