Jane Eyre’s is the opposite of Billy’s home life. Jane lives in the south of England in Rochester, in a large mansion with a wealthy family, Jane is an orphan she lives with her aunty the benefactress Mrs Read who has three children, John, Eliza and Georgina. Jane is also excluded from any activities that they do. Mrs Read neglects and ignores Jane. When Jane reads a book John bullies Jane and when Mrs Read sees this she immediately takes John outside without hearing both sides of the story, she accuses Jane of hitting John. She pushes Jane cruelly by sending Jane to the red room. The red room is where Mr Read last breathed when he was alive. Jane is sent there to be punished, to frighten her and bring back memories of Mr Read, so that she is sorry of what she has been accused of doing. John Read is a bully; he bullies Jane physically by hitting and throwing books at her he mentally bullies Jane by calling her abusive names. John calls Jane dependant as she relies on Mrs Read as an orphan. “He bullied and punished me not two or three times in a week nor once or twice a day but constantly.” Jane has no understanding of why she is bullied.
Billy’s relationship Jud is the same to Jane’s relationship with John Reed. Both of these people are cruel, abusive and physically violent. They are both unsympathetic to the main characters.
School Life
Billy’s school is a modern, strict, religious and comprehensive school. In Billy’s school they sing hymns and the boys are more misbehaved than the girls. Good treat teacher is Mr Farthing; Mr Farthing is the only person who takes interest in Billy’s home life. “That’s on the reason why McDowell’s always picking on me” this shows he is picked.
Jane’s school is an old fashioned boarding school for girls. It is far stricter “silence! To your seats.” The school is also disciplined “Disciplined prevailed” In Jane’s school there was poor health and living conditions. Jane’s school is a religious school as they read their prayers, sing hymns and read the bible; the school is lifeless and dull. The school has longer hours and there is no freedom to express the student’s individuality. The teacher that treats Jane in a good way is Miss Temple, this teacher comforts her when Jane is humiliates her by saying it was an accident “Don’t be afraid, Jane, I saw it was an accident, you shall not be punished
Both ‘Jane Eyre’ and ‘Billy Casper’ have a positive relationship with one teacher they are
- Jane Eyre and Miss Temple
- Billy Casper and Mr Farthing
Mr Farthing empathises with the boys who have been caned by Mr Gryce.
Miss Temple stands up to Mr Brocklehurst-the cruel clergyman who is in charged of Lowood. She defends the girls against his strict regime. She is not afraid to defend the children when she feels he is inflicting too much unnecessary suffering.
Relationship with same age group
Billy does not get along with students his own age, for example McDowell who bullies him. McDowell takes the mick out of Billy’s mother he deliberately winds Billy up. Mr Farthing takes Billy’s side, he teaches McDowell in one of his lessons. The only thing that he can talk to is kes (a trained bird).
Jane gets along with only one person her own age; Helen Burns is a close friend to Jane, she smiles at Jane as sign of warmth. Helen is kind and compassionate, she is the only one who understands Jane, and she talks and listens to Jane so that Jane can get her problems off her chest. She also sometimes takes food for Jane, “I started up again, Helen Burns was near me, the fading fires just showed her coming up the along, vacant room, she brought my coffee and bread” Helen also restores Jane’s confidence.
Treatment by teachers (unsympathetic)
The teacher that treats Billy unsympathetic is Mr Sugden, this teacher a P.E teacher. This teacher needs an audience when he humiliate a child in his class e.g. in the novel he humiliates Billy, the teacher also violent “I bounced the ball on Billy’s head” he also physically abuses him “Backhanded him hard across the cheek”. This teacher also mentally tortures Billy this happens when Billy does not want to take a shower “O, go on sir, I’ve to get home”
“You can get home, Casper”
“Can I sir”
“As soon as you’ve had a shower”
Jane is treated unsympathetic by the head teacher Mr Brocklehurst. This happens when she drops the slate accidentally after this has happened she is told to stand at the front of the class. “Let the child who broke her slate, come forward”. Mr Brocklehurst is torturing Jane mentally, this is because she is told to come to the front of the class, because the slate was dropped she feels humiliated. When Jane thinks she has been humiliated enough Mr Brocklehurst calls her a liar “this girl is a liar”. The head teacher also tells the children and teacher to avoid he “You must be on your guard against her avoid her company… teachers. You must watch her…” what the head teacher is doing hear is trying to get the children and teachers against her.
Characters response to the treatment
Billy most of the time does not fight back when he is bullied. Billy is a victim of people’s aggression but he does fight back when he is bullied by MacDowall.
Jane Eyre is passionate and defends herself against Mrs Reed. But jane does not understand why she is bullied, she is treated badly and she is also neglected.
Differences about the two novels
‘Jane Eyre’- A love story and the relationship between Jane and Rochester is the main focus of the plot. The theme of religion and the nature of Christianity is explored in great detail.
‘A kestrel for a Knave’- main themes include the natural world and the countryside close to Billy’s home. Billy’s character changes when surrounded by the natural world. Animals as part of the natural world are an important theme.
