How does Charlotte Bront evoke the reader's sympathy for Jane in the opening chapter of the novel?

September 2007 GCSE English Coursework Jane Eyre

How does Charlotte Brontë evoke the reader’s sympathy for Jane in the opening chapter of the novel?

The purpose of this coursework is to analyse focusing on how Charlotte Brontë evokes the reader’s sympathy for her heroine through the use of a variety of literary devices in the first chapter of Jane Eyre.

The novel was published in the middle of the 19th century (1847) at the start of the Industry Revolution. Queen Victoria was on the throne. Many people moved to cities which were growing, but the country life did not change. There were still landowner’s who employed; people worked on farms. The position of women remained unchanged. Daughters from rich families had a limited education, it was just important that they marry well. Women had no power, rights, vote or voice. For poor women it was even more difficult. They were taught what they would need for their job, as a teacher or governess. This included French, cooking and needlework. Boys went to school and were educated for future opportunities. 19th century England was a society in which males dominated. They were powerful even in the household. Many novelists who were writing in the middle of the 19th century for example Dickens, highlighted the social and moral problems of this time such as poverty, poor health, lack of education and limited role of women.

Women had no status in society at all and were financially dependent. They would have to choose between being financially dependent on a husband or living in a house where they were employed as a governess. In the middle of the 19th century marriage was the goal of every woman but the class structure was very strict and you could not marry above your social class.

Jane Eyre is a fictional autobiography written about the life of Jane Eyre. It is written in first person which affects the structure of the plot. It provides an ideal way to create suspense and tension. The reader can only understand events as quickly as Jane does herself. For example; later on in the book, due to the false lead of Grace Poole, who is a servant in Thornfield Hall, Jane thinks that she is the culprit of all the mysterious occurrences. The novel is a close reflection of Charlotte Brontë’s life. Many of her own experiences are mirrored in those of her heroine Jane Eyre. In 1847 Brontë had to publish her novel under a pseudonym – Jane Eyre: An Autobiography ‘edited by Currer Bell’. This was because women were not allowed to publish books at this time; this is another example for male dominance, that just men had the right to publish novels. Her novel reflects the peaceful country life and contrast with Charles Dickens who wrote about the negative effects that the Industry Revolution had on the city population.

Charlotte Brontë lived in Yorkshire, where the society did not change and where Jane Eyre is set as well. Jane Eyre had no parents but Charlotte Brontë had been brought up by her father, who was a priest, because her mother died early. She grew up in very humble conditions; her education came mainly from books. She went to a school for children from poor backgrounds where she was reminded of her background and this made her very unhappy. Religion played an important part in Charlotte Brontë’s life. The education was very narrow, based on Evangelism. Brontë loved clothes ...

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woman because she is truthful, not hypocritical or materialistic. Charlotte Brontë’s language reflects her upbringing and education, she refers to the stories of birds and quotes from psalms.

An important literary influence at this time was the Gothic novel. It is easy to find this feature in Jane Eyre; for example the red-room in Chapter 1 or Thornfield Hall. This is a novel of education, journey through life full of experiences to be encountered and lessons to be learned. Charlotte Brontë’s message about women has to do with independence and choice. Jane is an example of a woman who thinks for herself.

“There was no possibility of taking a walk that day”, is the first sentence of the book. Jane tells us that the weather was too terrible to take a walk. In Victorian times physical activities and good looks were very important for women and social status was needed to attract a man. Jane Eyre had no social status because she was a woman and an orphan. Jane was on the bottom of the hierarchy in the social status in Victorian times. Even the servants get more respect than her. Charlotte Brontë uses pathetic fallacy which means that the weather is affected by the feeling of the main character. When Jane is feeling sad, the weather is very gloomy: “cold winter wind” and “clouds so sombre and rain so penetrating”. This use of repetition emphasises the weather outside to mirror Jane’s feelings. Charlotte Brontë presents her as emotionally frozen, depressed and negative. This immediately arouses our sympathy as we know she is young and defenceless.

The language is commanding and imperative: “The said Eliza, John and Georgiana were now clustered round their mama…” Jane is isolated, like she says: “with her darlings about her”. This highlights that Jane is not part of the circle and so we sympathise with her. The use of positive words “perfectly happy” contrasts Jane’s feelings. It makes us also feel sorry for her when we see how brutal the Reeds are to her. “Me, she had dispensed from joining the group;[…]”. Right from the beginning we can see how Jane stands up for herself; she stands up by using a challenging question: “What does Bessie say I have done?” The Reeds speak to Jane without any respect, the only dialogue between her relatives and her is harsh like “Be seated” and “remain silent”. Jane tries to be unnoticed “I slipped in there”. Her only escape is the world of fantasy, books and pictures help her. Jane dreams of being protected, but this does not happen in reality.

There is again a use of pathetic fallacy – “mist and cloud”, “rain” and “wildly”, that reflects Jane’s feelings. We are aware that she is a child so young and feels so badly, she is a victim. Jane reads a book about birds “Bewick’s History of British Birds”. This book symbolises her desire to escape from this world. Although Jane wants to escape from reality the book does not take her away because the context set in the book (“bleak, “forlorn and “winters”) brings her back to her situation. A little girl of ten should not be reading such a depressing book. “Solitary churchyard” refers to darkness and discomfort what emphasises her sense of loneliness and depression.

The servant, Bessie, is Jane’s only friend in Gateshead but she cannot count on her friendship because even if she is in a good mood, Bessie scares her. Bessie also owes her loyalty to her employers, the Reed family; so Jane can not rely on her. Jane

does not know real happiness “I was happy; happy at least in my way.” The use of sarcasm on John Reeds side (“Madam Mope!”) shows that he does not understand Jane. John Reed symbolises this particular Victorian society. His father is dead and now John has inherited his possession but he is just a few years older than Jane. Only sons were considered rightful heirs, so even though John has not done anything to deserve respect, he gets it because it is his right. He has no good qualities, is a despot and has nothing done to get this possession. John shows no respect for Jane because she is an orphan, female and financially dependent on the Reeds. His language reveals his lack of respect. He uses bestial metonyms “bad animal” abusing her verbally.

We feel sorry for Jane when she says she “trembled” because a little girl should not be so frightened. John shows male oppression when he talks to Jane “Say, ‘What do you want, Master Reed?”. When Charlotte Brontë describes John Reed she creates a picture of disgust and selfishness: “unwholesome skin”, “heavy limbs” and “his mama had taken him home for a month or two” (from school).

We feel that it is not acceptable that a girl is so terrorised when Jane says “I was bewildered by the terror he inspired”. John could do what he wants but no one is here to protect and help little Jane. “Mrs. Reed was blind and deaf on the subject”. She has blind respect for her son and is afraid of him what was very common in Victorian society.

“Struck suddenly and strongly” is an example which emphases John’s brutality and here he physically abuses her. John has to use physical violence suggesting he has to prove his power because he is unconfident. “You rat” is again a use of bestial metonyms. John has to use this language because he can not control himself and always has to show his power and as consequence he always has to argue and express himself in ugly words. Jane uses sarcasm when she answers John’s question “I was reading” suggesting that John never does this and is intellectually inferior to Jane.

By saying “you are dependent” and “not to live here with gentlemen’s children like us” John Reed shows that he disrespects Jane and is insensitive to her disadvantaged background. John throws the book on Jane “I saw him lift and poise the book and stand in act to hurl it” showing that he has no respect for education. It is even harsher because Jane loves books suggesting that John tries to destroy everything that Jane likes. However Jane fights back, “You are like a murderer – you are like a slave-driver – you are like the Roman emperors!” We feel sympathy as her innocent quotes from books reflect what she is reading; she has only her knowledge out of books as weapons to resist male oppression.

Another example of male oppression is used by John Reed when he says “Did she say that to me?” Nobody helps Jane, the servants just say “What a fury to fly at Master John!” and “Did ever anybody see such a picture of passion!” At the end of the opening Chapter the servants take Jane to the red-room. This symbolises something to be feared, she is terrorised and introduces the Gothic novel. This little suspense should perhaps also keep the reader interested in the story and keeping reading.

The main contextual feature that is used to evoke the reader’s sympathy is that Jane is isolated. She is not part of the family circle and so we sympathise with her. Jane tries to escape from this world by reading books but the context set in the book brings her back to reality. Jane does not know real happiness as her relatives were never nice to her since the death of her uncle. John Reed shows no respect for Jane because she is an orphan, female and financial dependent on his family. John throws the book on Jane showing no respect for education and Jane loves books so it looks like John tries to destroy everything Jane likes. Jane fights back and we feel sympathy because her quotes from books reflect just what she knows. The use of language and contextual features help to support one of Brontë’s aims in writing this novel, to highlight the hardship women had to suffer in Victorian times.

I think Charlotte Brontë has been very successful in evoking sympathy for Jane Eyre in the opening chapter of the novel. I did feel strong sympathy for Jane the very first time when she is dismissed from sitting in the living room with the other children. I especially feel sympathy for Jane because she has the problem that people around her can not appreciate her intelligence and depth. The fact that she is an intelligent child with serious questions brings her into trouble with other people that can not stand that she is not a blind follower.

I think it is a kind of vicious circle that when Jane is treated badly by other people (especially by John Reed) she rebels against them and makes them angry which leads her into more trouble. I am touched as I think she is quite rebellious because she is treated with injustice.

Jane’s emotional intensity and openness cause the reader to identify with her, so that her experiences and feeling temporarily become those of most readers.

Milena Rivka Meixner -