Explore Bronte's approach to the theme of suffering in Jane Eyre (Chapters 1-10). How is this theme influenced by the social/historical context?

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Explore Bronte’s approach to the theme of suffering in Jane Eyre (Chapters 1-10). How is this theme influenced by the social/historical context?

Jane Eyre is a book written by Charlotte Bronte in 1847. The author was, undoubtedly, influenced by the social and historical context of that time. In this essay, I will be exploring the theme of suffering in the first chapters of the novel and will explore how Bronte approaches this theme.

Suffering occurs several times throughout the novel and Bronte clearly uses these occurrences to influence our emotions. The first sign of suffering we see is in the very first chapter when Jane is attacked by John Reed. Jane appears from behind the curtain where John attacks her verbally and physically. Before the attack actually happens, Bronte builds up tension and fear through Jane's narration:

‘He bullied and punished me…every nerve I had feared him…my care was how to endure the blow which would certainly follow the insult’

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John Reed, in contrast to Jane is superior in strength, age and mind; this is evident from the following quotation:

‘Humbled by the consciousness of my physical inferiority to Eliza, John and Georgiana Reed’

Jane tells this story from her point of view, so the description of John is most likely to be biased and not completely true. John Reed attacks Jane with a book, which makes us hate John Reed, and also makes us feel sympathetic towards Jane. Bronte uses words such as tyrant, murderer and fear, this use of language shows us the cruelty of ...

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